Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Curse of a Handsome Face
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For hundreds of years, Northerners and barbarians had fought for one reason and one reason only: mana stones.
That was how valuable mana stones were in this world—a resource coveted by all.
Which meant there were plenty of others after the mana stones as well.
Monsters were a prime example.
Monsters instinctively lingered around mana stones, and some high-level individuals had a habit of periodically consuming them.
And that wasn't all.
Mages, too, would often build their own laboratories or dungeons here in Kuberin, which was rich with mana stones, and hole themselves up for years, sometimes even decades, for their magical research.
And among the mages who stayed in Kuberin, the most numerous group was none other than…
‘Right, a paradise for black mages.’
It was no surprise at all that Kuberin was a paradise for black mages.
Not only was Kuberin rich in mana stones, but it also swarmed with monsters used as materials for magical experiments.
And ‘humans’ and ‘corpses,’ the materials for black magic, could be obtained with ease.
Therefore, from a black mage's perspective, Kuberin was an irresistibly attractive location.
It was easy to find abandoned bodies, and perfect for kidnapping living humans for live experimentation.
Why?
Because if someone disappeared, people would assume something had gotten them and wouldn't even think to look.
The hidden dungeon nearby, [Antiros's Laboratory], was a case in point.
‘Did he really send me here to die?’
Carlyle looked at the map, then let out a scoff of disbelief.
‘If this was the plan, you might as well have just killed me yourself.’
Carlyle shuddered, thinking of his father, Grand Duke Guntram, who had sent him here to Bowden Fortress.
Bowden Fortress was a hellhole swarming not only with [Antiros's Laboratory] but all sorts of other dangers.
‘…That bastard Crowley’s dungeon is right around here.’
Crowley was a wicked black mage, and his dungeon was located about two kilometers from Bowden Fortress.
‘And this place… wasn’t it an area that gets completely conquered by those barbarian bastards?’
It was a fact he hadn't had the presence of mind to recall until now, but the Bowden Fortress area was destined to be occupied by barbarians.
At least, that was the case at the start of the game [Overlord].
Since it was now about nine years and four months before that time, he couldn't know exactly when it would happen.
‘I need to get out of here quickly…’
Poke. Something jabbed Carlyle in the back.
“...!”
Startled, he turned around to see the slit-eyed Kudo smiling, as always.
It seemed to have been Kudo's finger that had poked his back.
“You just died in an enemy ambush, Sir Carlyle.”
“Ah.”
“And thanks to you, our hardworking combat engineers will die too.”
“I apologize.”
Carlyle apologized quickly.
He'd been caught slacking off while on watch, so he had no excuse.
“Sir Carlyle, what were you staring at so intently that you didn't even notice an enemy sneaking up behind you?”
“I was looking at a map and must have gotten lost in it.”
“You were studying the surrounding terrain?”
“Yes.”
“A good attitude.”
Kudo gave a gentle smile.
“Private Recruit Carlyle, you're quite different from the rumors. Studying the terrain in advance. But slacking off during guard duty is forbidden.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“...?”
“By any chance, could you tell me what that sword style was from back then?”
“That sword style?”
“The one you used to slice the enemy in two.”
“Ah, that...”
Carlyle couldn't find a suitable answer.
It wasn't the Sigmund family's ancestral swordsmanship, but rather a secret technique from an ancient hero.
“Ah, is it something you can't talk about? If so, you don't have to…”
“No, it's not that.”
Carlyle shook his head.
“I happened to inherit an ancient ancestor's swordsmanship, so it's difficult to explain.”
“You mean it's a lost sword art?”
“Probably…”
“By any chance, could I see it? That sword art.”
Seeing the curiosity flash between his narrow eyelids, Carlyle realized Kudo hadn't approached him just to reprimand him.
“Ah, of course, I'm not forcing you. If you're uncomfortable…”
“I'll show you.”
Frankly, it was a hassle, but Carlyle decided to make time for Kudo.
[Noble Proof] was a quest that could only be cleared by maintaining good relationships with his squad mates, not just through combat, so drawing a line and acting difficult would only hurt Carlyle.
If anything, he should have been grateful to Kudo for approaching him with goodwill.
Kudo was a well-respected figure within the reconnaissance team, so befriending him would surely help in clearing [Noble Proof].
“You'll really do that?”
“It's no trouble. Shall I show you right now?”
“There are too many eyes right now, and you're on duty, Sir Carlyle, so that wouldn't be right. I'll arrange a separate time this afternoon.”
“Whatever's convenient for you.”
“And while I don't mind, don't get caught by Sergeant Begman or Wilson. They'll see it as a perfect opportunity to chew you out.”
With that, Kudo gave a wink with his long, narrow eyes and disappeared.
***
For a long while after, Carlyle stood there blankly, watching the combat engineers mine the mana stones.
Clang, claaang!
The combat engineers, drenched in sweat, used mining equipment coated with finely ground mana stone particles to excavate the stones, repeating the process of loading them onto carts.
They were called combat engineers, but in reality, they looked no different from laborers in military uniforms.
‘Anyway, how can I get out of here quickly?’
Carlyle found Bowden Fortress deeply unsettling and wanted to escape as soon as possible.
Setting aside the fact that it would later become barbarian territory, there were just too many dangers around.
Around Bowden Fortress, at least, the barbarians were just one of many threats.
He might be lying low now, but Crowley alone was a terrifying black mage.
He was destined to later confront Frey, Carlyle's younger brother and one of the main characters of the game [Overlord].
‘I just want to live a quiet, long, and uneventful life.’
Carlyle wanted to live a life far removed from the kingdom's future civil war.
Since he wasn't the main character, Frey, anyway, he had no desire to be swept up in the vortex of history.
‘I'll leave this place as soon as possible, finish my mandatory service, and then…’
Just then.
“Agh!”
Thump!
A female combat engineer with a small frame fell ungracefully right in front of Carlyle.
It seemed she had been carrying a sack full of mana stones and had tripped over a rock.
“Are you all right?”
Carlyle approached the fallen, groaning engineer and offered her a hand.
“Thank y— Aah!”
The engineer suddenly let out a piercing scream.
“What is it?”
“What's going on?”
The sudden commotion drew the attention of the engineers who had been engrossed in their work.
“Why did you suddenly scream like that?”
“B-Because you're so handsome.”
“Excuse me?”
What is she talking about?
“I was just surprised to suddenly see someone so handsome. I-I'm sorry, honey.”
“My rank is lower than yours.”
Carlyle looked dumbfounded at being called ‘honey’.
She was a private, same as Russell, a rank higher than Private Recruit Carlyle.
“I'm sorry! N-no! I mean, sorry! It's just... hard to breathe... Heh...”
“...”
Carlyle was so baffled by her rambling that he was left speechless.
He figured she was just flustered, but he couldn't help but think…
‘This army is a real mess.’
Even if she was a combat engineer, a non-combat role, she was still a soldier in uniform. He couldn't help but wonder if this was acceptable behavior.
Besides, wasn't this Kuberin, the so-called Blood-Soaked Land?
Such naivety in a place where the threat of death always loomed…
“Get away from her right now!”
He turned at the furious shout to see a crowd of angry combat engineers rushing toward him.
“You pervert! Get away from Gwen!”
“Finally showing your true colors!”
“I'll chop your dick off!”
The engineers threatened Carlyle, each gripping their own tool—pickaxes, hoes, and shovels.
“...What's with you people now? Haaah.”
Carlyle sighed heavily, shutting his eyes in exhaustion.
Of course, it wasn't that he didn't know why they were acting this way.
Carlyle van Sigmund was infamous for harassing and assaulting women regardless of time or place, so it was ‘not at all’ surprising that he would be misunderstood like this.
It was just that, from Carlyle's perspective, it was unfair.
“It's not like that…”
Carlyle tried to explain the situation, but the engineers refused to listen.
“What's all this commotion?”
If their commander, Helen, hadn't appeared just then, Carlyle would have been turned into minced meat by the angry engineers' swinging tools.
“Commander Helen! That piece of trash was... with Private Gwen in broad daylight…”
“Is that true?”
At the engineers' denunciation, Helen turned to look at Carlyle.
“N-No, that's not it, Commander Helen!”
Gwen stepped forward to defend Carlyle.
“Private Recruit Carlyle was only trying to help me after I fell! That is all!”
“Then why did you scream?”
“Th-That's because.”
Gwen answered, her head bowed low.
Seeing her earlobes turn bright red, it was obvious what her face must have looked like.
“...It was because Private Recruit Carlyle is too handsome. I apologize.”
“...”
At Gwen's answer, everyone, including Helen, was at a loss for words.
To think she'd give an answer like that…
‘Still, it's a relief she's not a bad person.’
Carlyle sighed in relief inwardly.
If Gwen had harbored any ill will, he would have been framed with no way out.
It was a worry a normal person wouldn't have had, but for Carlyle, whose credibility was not just at rock bottom but rolling in the gutter, it was unavoidable.
“Private Recruit Carlyle.”
“Yes, Commander Helen.”
“Follow me.”
And just like that, Carlyle found himself being summoned for a meeting with the commander.
***
‘Is this some new form of harassment?’
Summoned to Helen's office, Carlyle felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Helen said nothing to Carlyle.
She just stared at him with a cold gaze…
A suffocating silence filled the room.
“Private Recruit Carlyle.”
Helen broke the silence.
“Yes, Commander Helen.”
“From now on, I'd prefer you not get close to your female comrades.”
“Excuse me…?”
Carlyle furrowed his brow, wondering what on earth she was talking about.
When had he ever gotten close to the female soldiers?
The incident just now was simply him trying to help someone who seemed to have taken a bad fall…
“I've never approached any female soldiers in the first place. What just happened was…”
“I know.”
Helen cut Carlyle off.
“I know you were a profligate son who used to engage in all sorts of filthy and sordid behavior, but you're living quietly now and trying to adapt to unit life, are you not?”
“Then why would you say that…”
“You, of all people, should be well aware of your own appearance, shouldn't you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Haaah.”
Helen let out a deep sigh, then shut her eyes tight and said.
“You… you are excessively handsome.”
“...Excuse me?”
Carlyle's face contorted.