Chapter 131: Catfight (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131: Catfight (3)
We finally arrived at Aztera.
Despite it being midday, a thick, deep blue fog had settled over the area, turning the space into something where you couldn't tell if it was midnight or the crack of dawn.
The city gates were mangled beyond use. It didn't feel like a dungeon city anymore; it felt as if the entirety of Aztera had become one giant haunted house or a paranormal hotspot.
"I shall bestow a blessing upon you."
As soon as we stepped off the carriage, Yarismal granted us all a blessing to ward off the chill of the dead.
Once a bit of warmth returned to our bodies, Yarismal and Diane—who had already heard about Villen’s traits from me—held hands and vanished using a space-time leap.
"Everyone, gather 'round. I'm starting the briefing."
I called over Levantello and Macherite, and we began our strategy meeting in front of the Aztera gates.
"Levantello, I’ve got a question."
"What is it?"
"You and Donovan’s Andantoni Brigade were the ones who took down Villen, right? How did you not notice things had gotten this bad? Was there some new pattern?"
"Alto, as you know, the only ones in the brigade capable of sensing Villen’s chill or demonic energy were Yobeste, Mirachi Bichante, and you."
The horses were snorting restlessly, clearly agitated. Levantello patted them to calm them down.
"The Duchy failed to see through the smoke screen operation disguised as the Black Rose Movement. On top of that, after I was exiled to the border, not a single update regarding domestic trends reached me. It was the same for Donovan. Right before Aztera was seized, the pastor informed the Church of Villen’s presence, but they say the Duchy refused to listen until the very end. The Church ordered the pastors to withdraw, but most of them stayed to protect their posts and were murdered."
"That’s the important part. I heard the Church Elders are absolutely furious about it. Villen has been designated as the Church's number one target for execution. They say he’s even insulting them by using the pastors and nuns as undead."
"That’s what that bastard Villen does best."
The guy is a total lunatic.
Excluding Vulcanus, the Four Heavenly Kings are all bastards obsessed with their own self-preservation, but Villen takes it to an extreme.
"Everyone, Levantello is going to tell you about Villen. Listen closely, and then I’ll explain the plan."
"Me?"
"You’re the Villen expert."
"Being called an expert on that piece of shit makes me feel like shit."
"Hey, what a coincidence. I feel the same way whenever someone calls me a Vulcanus expert."
"Sigh."
Levantello glared at a horse that was so terrified it looked ready to bolt, then suddenly slapped it across the face with his palm.
The animal only quieted down once it felt a fear of Levantello that outweighed its fear of the surroundings. It seems humans and beasts aren't all that different.
"Villen of Dependence. He got that pathetic title because he’s the biggest coward among the Four Heavenly Kings. He doesn't make a single decision on his own unless it concerns his survival. That’s why he’s always looking for a target to depend on or sacrifice, both mentally and physically."
And the easiest targets for physical sacrifice are the undead—corpses.
Unless they are hacked into tiny pieces, they keep moving. Villen’s mana capacity is enormous, making him specialized in overwhelming enemies with sheer numbers. That’s why it took at least a brigade-sized unit to mark him.
Can you imagine a battlefield filled with nothing but writhing undead as far as the eye can see?
"What’s particularly vile is the host he uses to act as his proxy. He finds thinking difficult and tedious, so he looks for a host to do it for him and move on his behalf."
"And those are usually the priests from the Church?"
When Narupa asked, Levantello’s expression turned grim. It wasn't because he disliked the question, but because he hated explaining the concept of a 'host' itself.
To be honest, I had dumped the explanation on him because I didn't want to do it either.
"Correct. He targets female believers who exhibit deviant behavior or fanatical tendencies. He injects his demonic energy into them so it sounds like the voice of God, then leads them straight back to his nest."
"A nest... then Aztera must be Villen’s nest. Ah! Come to think of it, I’ve never heard what he actually does with the nest and the hosts. It’s not in any books, and the Church has obviously kept quiet about it."
"Well... of course they would."
As both Levantello’s and my faces soured simultaneously, Narupa looked flustered.
"Do I really have to be the one to say this part?"
"Uh..."
"Alto, isn't she your wife? I don't want to describe such a hideous sight from start to finish to a comrade's spouse."
"Fine, I get it."
But before I spoke, I held up my index finger. It was a signal that I needed a moment to compose myself.
I’m fine when explaining the other Heavenly Kings, but Villen is just so revolting that it’s hard.
Barion is just a coward, and Liras is a grooming pervert, but Villen is just... just... a filthy, disgusting son of a bitch. Something like that.
For the record, Vulcanus is just irredeemable trash.
"I’d rather cover my ears."
"Fine, you do that. Macherite, you come here too. You need to hear this."
"Do I have to?"
"If you don't hear about his traits, you'll get possessed by his demonic energy and end up in a bad way."
"P-Please..."
I took a deep breath and tried to open my mouth, then took another deep breath. As I repeated this, Narupa’s expression darkened, and Levantello, with his ears covered, gestured for me to hurry up.
Damn it, I really don't want to say this!
"Sigh, listen well. That guy Villen..."
I had to say it. I had to explain so they wouldn't fall prey to him.
But throughout the explanation, my face and mood only grew more rotten. Narupa and Macherite were no exception.
"For your information, a host under sensory deprivation is..."
This was the climax, and I honestly wished my tongue would just burn away.
Macherite had her eyes closed, breathing only through her nose as she desperately fought back the urge to gag. Narupa’s brow was deeply furrowed, as if she were looking at something utterly loathsome.
"That’s all."
"So, to summarize, the host... urgh... BLEGH!!!!!!"
Impressive, Villen.
Even Narupa, a mage, couldn't handle it and ended up vomiting.
Macherite busily patted her back while I handed her a canteen.
"Ugh... ah... my head hurts... I feel dizzy..."
"Are you okay?"
"I am really not okay..."
Narupa was even complaining of a headache.
I wanted to avoid this too, but it was essential information.
"That crazy bastard, seriously... fuck... what a disgusting piece of shit... no wonder the Church made him their top priority for execution..."
Narupa spat out curses as if she were vomiting them.
Macherite seemed to feel a sense of vicarious satisfaction just listening to those curses.
Once she had regained some semblance of composure, Macherite whispered quietly.
"That bitch Krima has crossed the point of no return."
"Yeah, unlike you."
"Pardon?"
"You ran to my side, just like Diane. You were a bit late, but you're working hard. But the others... I don't know what makes them think they're so special, trying to force their own methods of atonement. In the end, Resin became a lump of magic stone, and Krima... well, she’s not in a good state. I don't even have a clue what Mirei is up to."
Still, for Macherite, the biggest difference between her and Mirei’s party was this:
"If this mission ends successfully, I’m going to reinstate you as the Carriage Station Manager."
"What...?"
"You risked your life to follow me to a place that’s been completely turned into a dungeon, from the Magic Tower to Aztera, just to protect your post. You deserve praise. This is your reward."
"I... I was merely doing what I must to atone for my sins."
Macherite took off her sweat-soaked hat, looking overwhelmed. She probably never expected this.
I heard she had been spending her days at the Dakuren Carriage Station doing the most menial tasks, like shoveling horse manure and guiding customers.
Word had spread, and people’s attitudes toward her weren't great. It couldn't have been easy.
It’s awkward for me to say it, but my status in Hus is truly something else. There’s literally a statue of me, not Rune, standing in the Dakuren plaza.
Anyway, Macherite had been subjected to petty bullying.
If she was hunched over eating in a corner and someone bumped her arm, causing her food or tray to fall, she would just silently clean it up. If she was about to get even a simple task, other drivers would whisper to the customers, ensuring she was met with looks of disgust.
They needed a vent for their anger. Because in Dakuren, the standing of the Carriage Station itself had plummeted.
"The Carriage Station Manager of Dakuren failed to properly inspect Krima Mountain and even ran away with her, didn't she?"
Rune had been absolutely furious, summoning the deputy manager and chewing them out until the atmosphere there turned sour. But Macherite had reportedly proposed over ten plans to fix those issues, even while being ignored, and eventually got them implemented.
I suppose that’s when she started gaining a little bit of recognition from those around her.
"Just focus on surviving and getting back. After that, you’ll get what you worked for."
"I still have a long way to go."
With her eyes welling up, this woman politely declined. Was she really the same manager who had acted so arrogantly alongside that one-eyed branch manager in Lukart?
They say people don't change. I still believe that.
However, a small few among those who have crossed the threshold of death do change.
What? Am I forgiving her too easily?
Well, are you being serious?
"Yeah, I get it, so just stay alive for now."
"Huh...?"
I gave her shoulder a pat and walked through the Aztera gates.
Narupa and Levantello followed suit, each giving Macherite’s shoulder a tap as they passed.
"Uh, wait?"
"If you really can't protect the carriage, feel free to ditch it and run!"
Levantello shouted one last time as we fully entered Aztera.
That’s right.
If she manages to survive here on her own and even protects the carriage, there’s no reason I can't forgive her, right?
"I-I will do my absolute best!"
And if she dies, well, that’s just how it goes.