103
My Villains Chapter 103
26. Fever (4)
"Is he really that famous?"
"Of course! In South Harbor, there wasn't a single person who didn't know him!"
The shaggy-haired boy who had lived his entire life in a boring rural village called Invery longed for adventure and the city. South Harbor, the largest city in the south, was very intriguing to the boy.
"Ah, you're lying. How many people are even in South Harbor?"
"That's how famous he was. But, this is a secret. You must never tell anyone."
"A secret?"
"Yes. That he's the bloody swordsman. It's a secret."
"Why?"
"Dad said it was a secret. Maybe he's on a secret mission."
"A secret mission..."
As the shaggy-haired boy swallowed hard and nodded, the chubby boy from South Harbor started chattering excitedly.
"When he gets angry, he breathes flames from his sword, and it's not just an ordinary fire, but an incredibly hot flame summoned from the flame realm."
"Flames from the flame realm..."
"Every time he swings it, dozens fall. The thieves can't even handle him. They say he cut down the Bandit Baron and the 'Underground Lord' in one strike."
"The Crawling Dragon? My uncle told me that Prince Ulkar killed the Underground Lord."
"They killed him together. That's why Prince Ulkar made the bloody swordsman a knight."
"Wow, a knight."
As the shaggy-haired boy made a dreamy expression, the girl sitting quietly poked his side.
"Brother, let's go quickly. Mom said to pull all the weeds in the oat field before lunch."
"You go first. I'll be right behind you."
The shaggy-haired boy dusted off his bottom and stood up, then grabbed the chubby boy's hand.
"Rupert, want to see the wooden sword at my house?"
"Wooden sword?"
"Yes. I made it myself, and it's really strong. I could probably take out goblins in one strike?"
The boy called Rupert hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
"No. Dad said I'm not allowed to enter the village."
"Oh, right. Then should we gather some branches and make one?" At the shaggy-haired boy's words, the girl was startled.
"Brother, have you forgotten that you almost got bitten by a stray dog last week while making a bow? If you do this again, you'll be kicked out of the house."
"If you just stay quiet, I won't get scolded. Weren't you the one who told mom about that incident last time?"
"Why are you mad at me!"
"Because you're annoying. Go quickly and pull the weeds!"
"Ugh...."
As the girl whimpered and turned away, the shaggy-haired boy sighed as if frustrated and sat back down.
"I'm sick of everything. I want to leave the village and adventure in the world."
"Adventure isn't that easy. The world is full of thieves, heretics, and monsters. How dangerous can it be?"
The shaggy-haired boy, Navari, lay down on the grass and replied, "I wish I had an ability like blood magic. Then I'd be super strong like the bloody swordsman you mentioned."
"Blood magic is such a rare ability. Besides, most blood mages are just doing minor medical work."
The chubby boy, Rupert, also lay down.
"I'd rather have divine power."
"Divine power? But if you become a priest, you can't get married."
"I can become a holy knight."
"Holy knight? Not a church knight?"
"Yes. A holy knight of the Callandari Order." At the mention of the Callandari Order, Navari's expression clouded slightly.
"But... Isn't that a heretical order?"
"What are you talking about? Are you saying Lady Theodora is a heretic?"
"Lady Theodora is a woman and no longer a person of our kingdom, so whether she's a heretic or not doesn't matter. That's what my uncle said."
"If I had divine power, what would it matter which country I'm from? Money and power would come rolling in."
Navari's eyes wavered slightly at Rupert's words.
'Is this why my uncle told me not to associate with city people?'
That was when it happened.
Boom boom boom boom.
Along the path between wide fields, a group of mounted people came rushing.
There were six of them, all wearing black cloaks and black chain armor.
Navari's eyes widened when he spotted them.
"It's the 'Black Wolves'."
"Black Wolves?"
"Yes. Bounty hunters."
Curiosity filled the two boys' eyes. Like being entranced, they ran towards the village entrance following the Black Wolves.
"How do you know these people?"
"They came to our village a few weeks ago."
Navari recalled the bounty hunters he had seen before, especially their leader - a man as silent as a rock but with wolf-like sharp eyes.
The two boys ran to the village entrance and hid by the roadside as if conducting a secret operation.
Navari scanned the Black Wolves and soon wore a disappointed expression. The leader was nowhere to be seen.
"What brings you to our village?"
"We're looking for someone."
"What kind of person?"
"...There's no reason for me to tell you. Didn't merchants come to the village a few days ago?"
The one-eyed man, who was talking with the village militia leader, scanned the surroundings. Then he discovered a group camping near the wooden fence and pointed his chin.
"Are they the ones?"
"Yes."
"Has anyone entered the village?"
The militia leader scoffed at the one-eyed man's question.
"There's no reason for me to tell you."
"Hm."
The one-eyed man sneered and rummaged through his clothes. Then he pulled out a piece of parchment and displayed it.
"We're working for the Viscount Alphard. You'd better cooperate if you don't want to be cursed."
Threatened by the low voice, the militia leader shut his mouth. Then he sighed and shrugged.
"Three have entered the village."
"...Three? Who are they?"
"I don't know well. Just a knight, a barbarian, and a patient, apparently."
"A knight, a barbarian, and a patient?"
The one-eyed man frowned and pondered for a moment. Then he asked the militia leader,
"Where are they staying?"
"...At the elder's house."
The one-eyed man turned around and gave an order.
"Tobias, come with me. The rest check over there."
After saying that, he threw two silver coins to the militia leader and rode his horse into the village.
Rupert and Navari looked at each other.
"Where should we go?"
"I can't enter the village anyway. Let's go towards the campsite."
"But..."
Navari glanced towards the village. He was more curious about the fire-breathing knight than ordinary merchants or mercenaries.
Noticing his look, Rupert said,
"Then let's split up. We'll tell each other what we found out later."
"Okay!"
Navari ran quickly to the village. By using a narrow shortcut, he arrived at the elder's house before the two bounty hunters. The boy quickly hid himself in an elm tree.
"Are you inside? Come out!"
The one-eyed man shouted, but there was no response from the elder's house.
"If you don't come out, we'll enter!"
After shouting several times, the gate finally creaked open. Navari let out a small gasp.
"...Wow."
The boy had never seen someone so large in his life.
The knight in black plate armor was also surprised, but the barbarian who revealed his upper body was of an incredibly massive build.
"Who are you?"
A low voice came from the knight. He was a handsome man rarely seen in the countryside, but his cold and expressionless face made him feel unsettling.
The one-eyed man, seeming to sense this, swallowed hard and spoke,
"...Greetings. We are people hired by Viscount Alphard."
"And?"
"We're looking for someone."
"Who?"
"I cannot say."
The knight stared directly at the one-eyed man.
Despite the man being on horseback, the knight was so tall that it didn't feel like looking up.
Navari was reminded of a viper he had once seen in a wheat field. A cobra lowering its posture and flicking its tongue.
"...What are you going to do?"
"I heard there are three in total."
"And?"
"Where is the other one?"
The knight placed his hand on the long knife's handle.
"Why?"
"...I need to see his face."
"His face?"
"Yes. To confirm whether he's the person we're looking for or not."
"Who are you looking for?"
"I cannot say."
Navari felt a strange tingling in his legs. It was as if a snake was about to spring.
Hihi-neigh.
As the horse stepped back in panic, the two bounty hunters quickly pulled on the reins.
"Are you looking for a Mage?"
"...I cannot say." The black gauntlet creaked as it gripped the knife handle.
"...Is that so?"
The knight's lips twisted.
"He's not here."
"...What do you mean?"
"I mean get lost."
"If you show me his face, I'll leave."
A brief silence.
"Utequais."
Just as the viper was about to strike.
"Phoenix?"
A small but clear voice.
The knight turned around, his eyes wide open.
"Ellen?"
Following the knight's gaze, Navari saw a woman who appeared to be in her mid-teens.
'...What is this?'
The woman was floating about two spans above the ground, her golden hair slowly swaying as if surrounded by a light breeze.
Her skin was so white it was almost transparent, with blood vessels visible. Her long eyelashes, pointed nose, and pink lips were reminiscent of a fairy from legends.
Navari believed she was something other than human. Her appearance was that mysterious.
"How, when did you wake up?"
The knight's expression changed dramatically. His face brightened. Navari thought it looked really good.
"...Whew." The one-eyed man, who had his hand in his pocket, sighed. Then he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
The knight standing next to the woman glanced back. Then he surveyed the one-eyed man's atmosphere and made a momentarily bewildered expression.
"...No, I'll be going now."
"No?"
At the knight's counter-question, the one-eyed man shrugged his shoulders.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"What does that mean?"
"...What do you mean? I mean the Mage we're looking for is not here."
The knight narrowed his brow and stared at the one-eyed man. Then he put his sword away and nodded.
"...Good."
"...Yes, good."
The one-eyed man looked over the knight, the barbarian, and the woman for a moment, then turned his head.
As the two bounty hunters disappeared from view, the woman suddenly spoke.
"By the way, Phoenix. What's that inside?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"There's a smelly fur ball."
"Oh, a pig? I picked it up nearby. More importantly, how are you feeling?"
"Yes, I think I'm feeling a bit better."
"Thank goodness. The fever has gone down, but you weren't waking up, and I was so worried."
"...But why did you pick up the pig?"
"It seemed sick or had a fever. I brought it thinking of you. Are you hungry? Want to eat?"
"You thought of me when you saw a pig?"
"That's not what I meant. Oh, the milk here is fresh and good. Should I make some gruel?"
"What's gruel? And why do you keep talking about food? Do you think I'm a pig?"
"No, you haven't eaten properly for days while being sick."
"I'll just have some bread. And get rid of that quickly. It smells."
"...Hey, why are you so cold-hearted?"
Navari felt slightly disappointed listening to their conversation. The snake-like man and fairy-like woman now looked like ordinary people.
That was when Navari made eye contact with the knight.
"Huh!"
The startled boy inhaled sharply. A pair of black eyes with a reddish tinge stared directly at the boy.
Like a frog facing a snake, the boy was completely frozen and couldn't move until the knight disappeared with a smile.