Chapter 4: Banu
Footsteps approached from behind.
Otto, his elder brother, walked up beside him with a smile. "I knew I'd find you here. You always come up here to clear your head when you're troubled."
"It's a good place—open, refreshing."
Lothar frowned. "Did you need something?"
Otto chuckled warmly. "Little brother, I just thought you seemed... tense."
"You're imagining things. Why would I be tense?"
Lothar's words lacked conviction. In his past life, he hadn't even killed a chicken, and now he was about to ride off to war, spearing and slashing enemies with steel. How could he not be tense?
Otto's expression turned solemn.
"Lothar, the Crusade is a holy cause. The Holy City is besieged by wolves, teetering on the brink. We fight for God—this is our duty."
He paused, his voice tinged with melancholy. "If the Emperor hadn't been excommunicated by the Pope, our great German Empire would already be mobilizing."
Lothar sighed.
"Otto, do you truly believe the Crusades are holy? Marching thousands of miles to burn and pillage in someone else's land—can that really be called justice?"
Otto's brow furrowed. Without hesitation, he replied.
"The Pope has said: "Killing heathens is not murder. We save them from falling into the Devil's grasp."
Lothar smirked. He remembered how, in the Fourth Crusade of his past world, these so-called holy warriors had turned on their Christian brothers, sacking Constantinople in an orgy of looting and slaughter.
And the Eastern Empire's Orthodox faith was still Christianity—just a different branch!
"You're right. I'm overthinking it."
He turned away, not in the mood to argue with someone of this era. 'Better not say too much—Otto might brand me a heretic.'
***
The day of departure arrived swiftly.
Lothar, accompanied by two carefully chosen attendants, led his warhorse to the castle gates, fully equipped for the journey.
One attendant, Ryan, was a crossbowman. The other, Moder, was a shield infantryman—both seasoned men-at-arms from Hawk's Castle, trained for years and highly skilled.
The packhorses they led carried supplies and gear.
Strictly speaking, these two weren't "squires." A knight's squire was a noble-in-training or a rich country man.
Some impoverished knights exploited this, taking wealthy merchant-class boys as squires in exchange for gold, allowing those families to climb the social ladder.
But Lothar had only just become a knight. Finding true squires would take time, and their practicality was questionable. Squires were light cavalry, expected to charge alongside their knights on proper warhorses—requiring even more supplies.
In the narrow mountain passes, where bandits lurked, two trained men-at-arms would be far more useful than two green squires.
Before leaving, Count Werner handed him a sealed letter bearing his personal sigil.
"Lothar, at the Battle of Montgisard, I fought under King Baldwin, charging at the Egyptians beneath the light of the True Cross. We tasted victory, crushing heathens four times our number."
"Even now, I dream of that day."
"Remember this: King Baldwin is a born ruler. He is worthy of your sword—and will reward you beyond measure."
"Deliver this letter. Tell him 'Werner of Swabia sends his deepest respects to his former liege.'"
Lothar accepted the letter. "I will, Father."
'Baldwin'—Baldwin IV, the Leper King of Jerusalem.
In Lothar's past world, some hailed him as a military genius, while others dismissed him as weak. Some even claimed Montgisard was a fabrication by his knights.
But in this world, Baldwin IV was the real deal—a commander of exceptional skill and charisma. Even Emperor Henry hadn't earned such praise from Count Werner.
***
After bidding the Count farewell, Lothar set off with Ryan and Moder down the mountain path.
Not far along, hoofbeats echoed behind them.
Otto rode up on his warhorse, looking down at Lothar.
"Something else?" Lothar raised an eyebrow.
Otto hesitated, then tossed him a heavy pouch. Lothar caught it, shaking it slightly. The clink of coins rang out.
"Where'd you get this?"
Otto grunted. "I stole Father's favorite silver goblets. The rest is my savings."
Lothar laughed. "Otto, aren't you afraid I'll come back alive and fight you for the inheritance?"
Otto dismounted, clapping Lothar's shoulder. After a pause, he ruffled Lothar's short hair.
"If that day comes, we'll settle it fairly. Truthfully, I hope you return safely."
Lothar fell silent, then smiled. "I'll be back. But not to fight over a measly county."
"When I return, it'll be with a title grander than Count of Aargau."
Otto burst into laughter, hearty and unguarded.
"I believe it. Habsburg will honor you, Lothar."
Lothar nodded, his smile fading as he swung onto his horse. not waiting for Otto's reaction or his two attendants. He spurred his mount forward, racing down the mountain trail.
From today onward, he was a wandering and landless knight.
But unlike most landless knights—who were usually penniless—he had:
- A full set of quality armor
- A hand-and-a-half sword
- An arming sword
- A lance
- A warhorse and two packhorses
- Two well-equipped squires
With such resources, any lord would welcome him.
Behind him, Otto traced a cross in the air, whispering: "May the Heavenly Father grant my brother Lothar good fortune. May no blade or arrow touch him in battle."
***
By dusk, Lothar's group reached a village at the mountain's base, under the Count's direct rule.
In the manor house reserved for the Habsburg family, Lothar hurried into a private room and opened the system, summoning his first squire: Banu.
The room blazed with golden light.
Brilliant, Regal
Majestic, Cold
As if a deity had descended to bless the mortal realm.
When the glow faded, a tall woman stood before him, clad in anachronistic black biker gear, gripping a massive triangular shield adorned with a demonic face.
Her stats materialized in the system.
[Banu
- Rating: Legendary
- Level: 1
- Affection: Indifferent
- Strength: 18
- Agility: 12
- Constitution: 30
- Endurance: 30
- Spirit: 15
Talents:
- Unbreakable (Active): For 3 seconds, Banu becomes immune to all physical damage.
- Inspire (Active): Allies within 300 meters gain +10 Endurance.
Skills:
- Bloodlust (Passive): After killing 10 enemies, Banu gains +50% to all stats for 1 minute.
- Thorn (Locked – Requires Elite Promotion)
- Hellgate (Locked – Requires Elite Promotion)
The black-haired woman was tall, just a little short of matching Lothar's 6' 3" frame.
She met his gaze coolly, her voice detached.
"Are you my Master?" Her tone held zero reverence.
Lothar's smile stiffened. Ah, right… the affection system.
The affection system had been his own design. In the game, raising affection unlocked new dialogues and stat bonuses, even granting shared bond abilities between player and squire.
But in reality?
This woman—Banu, the Gatekeeper of Hell—wasn't some NPC to be wooed. Would she truly submit to a freshly minted knight?
Even at Level 1, without her stats and missing her high-tier skills, she alone could easily crush him barehanded.
Lothar kept his tone neutral. "Yes, it was I who summoned you."
To his relief, Banu merely frowned slightly before bowing her head.
"Then from this day forth, I fight for you, my lord."
Lothar exhaled inwardly. "Banu, where do you come from?"
She arched an eyebrow. "My lord, as the guardian of Hell's Gate, I come from... 'Hell'."
'So, she follows her backstory.'
Lothar studied her. "You don't seem to think much of me."
Banu's gaze was unreadable. "My lord, whether I respect you or not, my shield will block every arrow and blade aimed at you. I exist for you. Serving you is my purpose."
"That's enough."
Lothar drew his sword, resting the flat of the blade on her shoulder.
"I accept your oath, Banu. And in time... I will prove myself worthy of it."