10
My Villains Chapter 10
4. South Harbor (1)
After finishing the meal, I started a simple workout behind the inn.
I asked Ellen to come along, but she said no. She said she was going to meditate or something?
I was a bit worried about leaving her alone since she's a useless human who can't do anything.......
Sigh. I'm not her babysitter, what can I do? And she might learn the skill I gave her through that meditation thing anyway.
In any case, after doing some intense stretching, I did push-ups and sit-ups.
Even though I was wearing heavy armor, it wasn't very difficult. I could easily do 120 in a minute?
While I was at it, I also tried a 'planche'.
A planche is a type of bodyweight exercise - to simply put it, it's a static exercise where you lift your feet off the ground from a push-up position.
When I was Kim Seung-soo, even in my prime I couldn't get past the frog position, but Phoenix's body easily succeeded in doing a proper planche.
It seemed that not only was he much stronger, but his flexibility and motor skills were on a whole different level too.
Next, I went jogging around the harbor like I was the protagonist of Rocky.
I ran past the docks and the square filled with street vendors, past the tower where the lord resides, and around near the castle walls.
Thanks to Phoenix's superior leg length and the fact that South Harbor isn't a very large city, the jog took less than ten minutes.
Even though I ran at a decent pace, my breathing hardly quickened and my body still felt energetic.
To really train my stamina through running, it seemed I would need to do at least a half marathon.
The physical check-up I conducted throughout the morning was truly a special experience.
Just a few days ago I was an ordinary office worker, but now I had the physique of an Olympic national team athlete, or perhaps even beyond that.
It gave me a thrill far beyond the satisfaction I felt while washing my body yesterday.
They say a healthy body houses a healthy mind, right?
It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I felt confident that I could accomplish anything.
By the way, on my way back to the inn, I saw a bathhouse.
Of course, it wasn't anything as grand as a public bathhouse in Korea.
The bathhouse was a thatched building painted white, with several piles of firewood stacked against the outer wall.
In one corner of the yard, several women and children were sitting around doing an enormous amount of laundry.
It seems they do laundry at the bathhouse too.
Despite my conscience's objection, I peeked inside through a small wooden window that was emitting steam.
In the corner of the building, there was a large cauldron boiling water, and in the rest of the space, people were soaking in wooden tubs that came up to about waist height.
But my goodness, men and women were bathing in the same space without any curtains or partitions!
There were even a few tubs with a man and woman in them together.
As an ethics man who scored 50 points on the college entrance ethics exam and minored in Eastern philosophy, I have the saying ‘boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven’ engraved in my heart. This is mind-boggling.
Still, to adapt to this new world and to wash off my sweat, I thought about using it - but of course, money was the issue.
The fee was four copper coins, but I'm in a situation where I need to save money, so I decided to come back to the bathhouse another time.
......What a shame.
After returning to the inn, I tried using my skills.
Here I learned a rather annoying fact - unlike in the game, to use skills I had to actually draw blood.
When I reach level 15 and get the passive skill 'Boiling Blood', I'll be able to use blood other than my own as skill material, but not now.
Well, even if I had 'Boiling Blood', there are no enemies around right now so I would have had to use my own blood anyway.
Eventually, after hesitating for a moment, I used my multi-purpose dagger to draw blood from my palm.
I steeled myself and made quite a long cut, but it felt a bit strange, like I was self-harming. No, it's not like self-harm, it is self-harm.
Using that blood, I tried the three active skills in order: 'Blood Blade', 'Blood Shield', and 'Blood Thirst'.
I had already experienced 'Blood Blade' before. When I used it, the blood flowing from my palm writhed and enveloped the Falchion.
In the game, it was just a skill that enhanced attack power, but in reality it was a bit different.
Of course, the sword did feel a bit sharper... But honestly, I'm not sure. It's not like I try cutting myself.
Anyway, in reality there was a slightly different additional effect.
The blood covering the sword felt just like a part of my body. So if I concentrated, I could even change the shape of the blade a little.
Although changing the shape just meant extending the length a bit, it seemed like it could be quite useful once I became proficient.
How tricky would it be for an opponent if the blade suddenly lengthened by 30 centimeters in the middle of a fight?
'Blood Shield' was a skill that covered the shield with blood, but it felt quite different from 'Blood Blade'.
Maybe because I had only put 1 skill point into it, I didn't feel any particular sensation. I couldn't change its shape, and the shield didn't feel like a part of my body.
'Blood Shield' was a skill that required quite a lot of skill points to learn essential Blood Knight skills like 'Iron Blood Armor' or 'Red Ice'.
Maybe something will change when I invest more points later.
Lastly, 'Blood Thirst' was a somewhat unique skill.
In the game, it was a buff skill that consumed health to increase attack power and accuracy, but in reality, it was naturally different.
When I used the skill, I literally felt thirsty. No, rather than thirst... It was a feeling hard to explain, like feeling deficient in something, or a rising desire.
Along with a strange stress, I felt my senses becoming clearer, but it wasn't a very dramatic effect.
Maybe it's because I only invested one skill point in this too.
'Blood Thirst' was a skill that, even if not top priority, eventually needed to be maxed out with 10 skill points. This too would probably change as I invested more points.
By the time I had tried all three active skills, I could also feel the effect of the passive skills.
The wound on my palm, which would normally take over a week to heal, had already closed up.
I quietly looked down at the dried scab crumbling away.
I felt amazed anew.
Is this body really human?
I ate duck eggs and sparrow skewers I bought on the way while chatting with a waitress working at the inn.
The waitress is named 'Daria', a woman who looked to be in her early to mid-twenties with red hair and moderately tanned skin.
Her slim waist and ample bosom were nice, but what I liked most was her attitude of kindly answering my questions.
"You didn't even work, just sweated from running around since morning?"
"Yeah. It feels refreshing and good."
"Pfft, you're a bit of an odd one, aren't you?"
"I hear that sometimes."
Daria laughed constantly even at my trivial stories. She seemed to quite like me.
If I were Kim Seung-soo, this would have been wishful thinking, but now it was different. Phoenix had slightly sharp eyes, but a face that anyone would consider handsome.
In my personal opinion, among the Dark World series characters, the Blood Knight male and female characters are the best-looking and prettiest.
Anyway, my purpose in chatting with Daria wasn't to seduce her, but to gather some information.
The situation in South Harbor wasn't much different from the game, but I wanted to know the details.
I collected information while making notes on a piece of cloth with a borrowed quill pen.
Daria seemed a bit surprised that I could write, but she didn't ask any questions about it.
Phoenix was supposed to be a fallen nobleman, or maybe an illegitimate child of a noble family. Something like that anyway.
Perhaps because of this, Phoenix was an elite who could speak and write Milanolian and Gelan, and could also read and write Shupacht.
To give an example from Earth, it's like knowing French and German, and being able to read and write Latin.
...This character is totally overpowered.
"So, the city isn't currently under attack?"
"Well, that's a bit ambiguous."
"Ambiguous?"
"Yeah."
Daria nodded and continued her explanation.
"The last direct attack on the city by the bandit group was two weeks ago, and I've heard they've been hiding in the reed fields since then. The pirates too, they're said to be circling around the city, plundering people coming and going."
"So does that mean the bandits and pirates are in cahoots?"
"Probably, I think?"
Ah, this is why I shouldn't have skipped the story.
It seems like the bandits and pirates are somehow connected... But I can't remember if they're cooperating or if they're actually the same group.
In the game, well, I was just busy rushing in and beating them up.
All I can remember is that the bandit leader was called the 'Robber Baron' and the pirate leader was the 'High Priest of the Deep Sea'.
"Hmm... Are they trying to starve out the city?"
"That could be, or maybe not. But I've heard we have so many stored supplies that we don't need to worry for a while."
"I see..."
I continued to ask various questions after that.
What kind of person the lord was, what the atmosphere in the city was like, if there was any work suitable for a mercenary, and so on.
Suddenly, I wondered if my landing in South Harbor, which corresponds to Chapter 2, might have been arranged by someone (a Trickster or a Transcendent).
The situation in South Harbor was just too delicate.
South Harbor was surrounded, but not to the point of immediate destruction.
However, if the player, no, if I didn't take any action? The city would inevitably wither away or be destroyed by the bandits' attacks.
Breaking through the crisis facing the city was precisely the scenario of Chapter 2.
In other words, I'm in a situation where I have to do something if I want to save my life.
What would have happened if I had started in Ailant, which corresponds to Chapter 1?
Would I have faced the pack of Dire Wolves attacking the pastures? Would I have dealt with the Goblin tribe and saved the village? Would I have boarded the ship heading here, to South Harbor?
Well. I can't say for sure, but there's a high chance I couldn't have done that. I probably would have just cowered in the starting point farmhouse, shaking with fear.
"Are you okay? You don't look well."
Hmm, I must have unconsciously made a sour face. I lifted the corners of my mouth and said as if it was nothing.
"Huh? Oh, just... A bit hot. Can I use the well?"
"Of course. The owner's not here right now, so I'll let you use it for free."
"Oh, really? Thanks."
See, being handsome pays off. Well done, Phoenix!
The good feeling was short-lived. Even as I went to the backyard and drew water from the well with a bucket, a corner of my heart felt heavy. It felt like I was holding an invisible time bomb.
"Are you done talking?"
"Jeez, you scared me!"
Startled by the sudden voice behind me, I dropped the bucket.
"What? Why are you so surprised?"
The one who suddenly appeared was Ellen, wearing a beige shirt and thin cloth pants.
I glared at her while pulling up the bucket again.
"Wouldn't anyone be surprised if you suddenly pop up from behind?"
"What do you mean suddenly? I've been here for a while."
"...Really?"
I must have been lost in thought for a moment.
As I splashed the well water on my face with an awkward expression, Ellen leaned against the inn wall, arms crossed, and asked, "Were you imagining flirting with that whore?"
"Watch your language - what do you mean whore?"
"Seems I guessed right?"
"Don't pick fights for no reason."
I suddenly frowned and turned to Ellen.
"Were you watching me talk to Daria?"
"I just saw as I was passing by. You looked ready to bury your face in her cleavage."
...I don't remember, but somehow I feel like that might be true, so I have nothing to say.
"Weren't you meditating? Why are you out here?"
As I said that and took off my top, Ellen slightly turned her head and said, "...It's not like meditation changes every day."
"Hey. Whether it's studying or exercise, you have to do it consistently to improve. You're still young... Ah, nevermind."
I stopped talking as I felt like I was lecturing.
When I suddenly closed my mouth mid-sentence, she muttered quietly, "If everything improved with consistency, there'd be no one in the Middle World who couldn't use magic."
Come to think of it, she must have done plenty of meditation while learning magic at the La-Palais Palace.
Even after all that, she couldn't use magic, so it was ridiculous for me to lecture about consistency.
Her sigh-like murmur stirred up feelings of guilt.
But that was only for a moment. Ellen smiled faintly and said in an excited voice, "But today, I felt something different. Maybe coming to a new environment stimulated my spiritual senses... Kyaah!"
Ugh, that scared me. Why did she scream?
I looked around in an awkward posture, having stopped in the middle of taking off my pants.
"What? Why? What is it?"
"You pervert, why are you taking off your pants!"
"What?"
Wait, was she surprised because of me?
"No, uh- Did I do something wrong?"
"Ugh, you crazy pervert!"
Ellen, her face red, said that and disappeared into the inn.
Damn, what's going on? I thought this place was open-minded about sexual stuff since the inn rooms were mixed and the bathhouse was co-ed?
Ellen, that idiot, isn't it obvious that if someone's shirtless and drawing water at the well, they're going to wash?
If you don't want to see, just look away!
But you were just standing there staring, right? I thought it was the norm to not mind each other in situations like this.
So honestly, I felt a bit shy about undressing but forced myself to do it naturally...
"Damn, this is annoying."
After grumbling and washing myself, I casually asked Daria about this.
"You really are a weird guy, aren't you?"
"...Am I the weird one?"
"Hahaha, of course!"
But she also says what I did was indeed strange.
I had forgotten for a moment, but the cone-shaped tent by the well was set up for guests to go in and wash. Even here, it was embarrassing for men and women to show their naked bodies to each other.
Ah, no wonder people passing by were staring so much while I was washing.
How did I, an ethics man and Confucian bug, become like a pervert exhibitionist in this world? The situation that made me misunderstand was because of that bathhouse.
As it turns out, the bathhouse wasn't mixed gender - it was something quite different.
I'm not sure if it's just this city that's strange, or if it's all of the Middle World... But they don't just bathe in the bathhouse.
Swallowing my curses, I went up to the second floor of the inn to find Ellen.