105
My Villains Chapter 105
27. Mountain Lodge (1)
"Oh, right. Did you hear?"
"What?"
"About Sergeant Moon Jung-hyuk."
"Why Sergeant Moon Jung-hyuk?" (suspicious glancing around like a thief)
"Private Byeon Il-su saw Sergeant Moon Jung-hyuk's private message. In the internet cafe."
"...Private message?"
"Yeah. Apparently he didn't log out."
"No way, did he actually look through it?"
"Yeah."
"Wow, Private Byeon Il-su has some serious guts. If he gets caught, he's dead."
"I'm telling you, that guy is crazy. But do you know what's really shocking?"
"What?"
"Sergeant Moon Jung-hyuk was messaging someone a lot."
"Who?"
(A sinister laugh)
"His ex-boyfriend."
"...You mean ex-girlfriend?"
"No, a real ex-boyfriend."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Ex-boyfriend?"
"Oh, you idiot. Gay, I'm saying he's gay!"
"...Sergeant Moon is?"
"Right? Isn't that crazy?"
"But why would Sergeant Moon..."
"Who knows. Anyway, Kim Seung-soo, you be careful too."
"Me? Why?"
"Sergeant Moon was totally into you. During the special forces training and all."
"Are you crazy? He was just taking care of me as a squad leader, not hitting on me."
"This punk, he's already fallen for Sergeant Moon. How far has this gone?"
"You crazy bastard. Don't say such creepy things."
(A loud voice)
"Hey, Seung-soo!"
"Private! Kim Seung-soo!"
"Come here for a moment!"
(The thief laughs quietly)
"Wow, he came as soon as you mentioned him. Hurry, your boyfriend is looking for you."
"I'll kill you, seriously."
"Hey, Kim Seung-soo! What are you doing!"
"Coming right now!"
An uneasy feeling grips his ankle.
Suddenly, it was August.
We left South Harbor during the last week of June. It took ten days to get out of the Seventh region, and fifteen days passed while crossing the Reed region. And we only entered the Marva region ten days ago.
Damn, we still haven't reached Longville. We'll apparently need to walk diligently for at least two more days. It's been an incredibly long journey.
The journey was long due to several factors.
First, the absolute distance was enormous. The Milanol Kingdom is divided into five regions: east, west, north, south, and central. South Harbor and Longville are at the southernmost and northernmost ends of the southern region. In other words, we've traversed the entire kingdom's length. An incredible distance.
Secondly, there were too many interruptions.
The first things that come to mind are the monsters and bandits that keep attacking. While incidents were rare, they always consumed an enormous amount of time.
Sometimes when stopping at large villages or territories, trading would easily consume two days. Additionally, wagon wheels would break, horses would collapse from heat exhaustion, we'd misread landmarks and go back the way we came... All sorts of things happened.
So on days with a lot of walking, we'd feel like we'd traveled 40-50 km, but there were also many times we couldn't move a single step.
The only consolation during this hardship was that my level and Ellen's levels increased.
Let me write down my character sheet:
Name: Me
Level: 19
Class: Blood Knight
Abilities: Remaining Bonus - 2
Strength - 24(42)
Agility - 23(39)
Health - 21(33)
Magic Power - 12(14)
Skills:
Blood Blade 5pt, Plunder 2pt,
Blood Shield 2pt,
Flowing Blood 5pt, Hot Blood 2pt, Thirst 4pt, Blood Thirst 1pt, Blood Storm 1pt
If you calculate a bit, you'll realize this isn't a sheet you could obtain at level 19.
Thanks to receiving free points several times, my stats are at level 21, and my skills are actually at level 23. If my past self saw this, he'd think it was Photoshop or a hack. Well, it's strange but a positive phenomenon.
And strangely, Ellen's sheet is the same:
Name: Ellen
Level: 18
Class: Elemental Mage
Abilities: Remaining Bonus – 1
Stats:
- Strength - 10(10)
- Agility - 12(14)
- Health - 16(22)
- Magic Power - 32(68)
Skills:
Wind Punch 3pt, Dance Spirit lpt, Fire Arrow 4pt, Burning Weapon 2pt, Fireball 2pt, Frost Spray 3pt, Frost Butterfly lpt, Frost Spike lpt, Lightning lpt
There are certainly strange things, and there are two incomprehensible phenomena.
First, let's look at what's visible: Ellen suddenly learned the 'Lightning' spell.
Of course, this wasn't something I allocated points for. I was trying to raise her as a three-attribute mage. I had no intention of having her learn electrical-type spells.
Although she learned it for free and not by spending bonus points, it still feels uncomfortable. Well, maybe because it's growth beyond my control.
There's a lingering regret that if she was going to learn a spell, she could have learned Cold Wind, which I haven't allocated points to yet.
There's something else strange.
Previously, Ellen lost a significant amount of strength and agility due to a disability. Then, while taking the covenant, her symptoms improved, and her stats gradually recovered.
By the time she finished taking all the portions, her stats had completely recovered. Yet, she still couldn't shake off the disability.
Her senses were intact, no, even more sensitive than before, and her movements became quite natural, but she still couldn't walk. I began to worry if the covenant couldn't cure this.
At that moment, the girl receiving all my worries opened her mouth with a blank expression.
"What are you doing? Don't just stand there like an idiot, push quickly."
"...Damn it."
I muttered this while applying force to my waist.
"Ugh."
As the wheel stuck between the stones came loose and the carriage jolted, Ellen, who was sitting on top, urged me cheerfully.
"Good job! Push a bit more!"
"Huh, let's go up and see."
As the carriage shook, the wagon driver pulled the reins. The old draft horse and the spotted horse put in effort to pull the carriage.
Kwek-!
The 'Lump' tied in the cargo area cried out as if cheering.
This Lump is the piglet I gave Ellen when she had a fever. Naturally, it name became Lump because Ellen always called it a 'smelly fur lump'.
"Lump, come here."
Thanks to the treatment I occasionally provided, Lump's broken leg had almost fully recovered. I fed it whatever was at hand, and it had grown to the size of a medium-sized dog.
"Oh, yes, here."
Kkuk.
Now it walks quite well, maintaining balance even on the shaking carriage, following my hand.
Just the other day, it was wildly trying to escape and causing a fuss. These days, it comes and rubs its head when I extend my hand, which is incredibly cute.
While stroking it and chuckling, Ellen asks with a sullen expression.
"Why did you stop pushing the carriage?"
"The knot seems loose. If the rope comes undone, you'll cause a riot again."
I say this while tightening the knot around Lump's waist. Ellen clicks her tongue.
"What's so cute about this little pig that you're being so attentive?"
"It's not just some pig. Lump is so smart."
"It's still a pig. A dirty, smelly pig."
"It's not dirty, and he doesn't smell. I've been washing it thoroughly. Can't you see its fur is soft and fluffy?"
"Ack, get that away from me!"
When I lift Lump to show her, Ellen panics and waves her arms.
We are on a narrow path through a dense forest in the mountains.
It wasn't a good path for travelers to pass through, but... The bridge we originally planned to cross had been washed out during the rainy season. So we're enduring the hardship of climbing the mountain by taking a long detour.
I continue to push the carriage while sweating profusely. With a jolt, the carriage gains speed, and Ellen laughs for some reason.
"Hey, *haa* you're not even helping,
"*Whew* Are you laughing there?"
"What else can I do?"
"Fly for a bit. Magic, *gasp* how much would that take?"
"Mountain paths are so dangerous. You must conserve magic no matter what."
Conserve magic, my foot... I'm about to collapse...
Milanol's August was as hot as in South Korea. Moreover, the southern region is especially hot, so perhaps comparable to Daegu... No, maybe even worse? At least nothing was melting. Anyway, it was incredibly hot.
As a result, I had long since discarded my heated plate armor and was wearing only a padded jacket. Worried about monsters or bandits attacking? To hell with that. If I wore armor, I'd be cooked to death before any attack.
Besides, this padded jacket is meant to be worn under armor, so it's still just as hot. It feels like wearing a fleece hoodie in summer...
"Ugh, ugh, I can't stand it!"
"Hey, hey!"
"Don't stop me!"
Driven by an unbearable impulse, I threw off my padded jacket and even tossed my thin tunic onto the carriage.
"A-are you crazy? What are you doing!"
Ellen stammers, probably startled by the carriage's sudden stop. Lump also gets surprised and lets out a kkuk sound.
But I was too focused on feeling the wind on my bare skin to pay attention to them.
"Ah, I can live…”
Having caught my breath, I pushed the carriage again. After pushing for a while, Phoenix comes down from the hill, brushing sweat from his forehead with a refreshing laugh.
"What are you laughing about?"
"Phoenix, you're slow."
"Shut up and come help push."
He chuckles while attaching himself to the carriage. As blood vessels bulge in his arms as thick as Ellen's waist, the carriage rolls up as if on flat ground. Seriously, his strength is just incredible.
"Uhaaa!" As we reach the top of the slope, I involuntarily scream. Falling onto the carriage, I uncork the leather water bag and turn it upside down, letting lukewarm water wet my lips.
"Ah, it's hot. I'm dying from the heat."
"If you stay in the shade, it'll be fine. Stop making a fuss and sit still."
"...This guy, has learned to be snarky."
"It's not snark, it's advice. Wise people engrave advice in their hearts."
"Ugh— haa." Yeah, it's already hot, no need to get worked up. If I just stay still...
"Why are you so impatient? It looks unsightly, so quickly put your clothes back on."
Ellen this time picks a fight. When my gaze turns to her, she turns her head away innocently.
"Sitting in the carriage and chattering, and you talk about patience? How presumptuous."
"Eck."
As she says this and tries to pinch my cheek, wait a minute.
"...What? Why is your body so cool?"
As I massage my face and ask, Ellen starts squirming, not knowing what to do.
"C-cool? What?"
"What?"
Despite the scorching heat, she was still wearing her robe tightly wrapped around her. That robe isn't particularly thin, so why... Wait a minute.
"Hey. Could it be..."
"Eh, eh, stop!" Not just her face, but her hands, arms, and calves were cool.
"Is this robe immune to heat?"
Ellen's face turns bright red as she swats my hand away.
"Really, if you touch me one more time..."
"You're sitting still and enjoying this benefit?"
"What? It's originally my item, what benefit?"
"Really, you're just too cheeky."
"Ack!"
I stretched out both hands and grabbed her face. Pinching her cheeks while her face turns red, I laid down the law.
"Quickly, pull out Frost Butterfly."
"This, this... Hai!"
"Quickly!"
Her fist tapped my arm, but the resistance was weaker than a cat's. Ellen eventually surrendered to my not-quite-a-threat.
"Really, what a crazy guy..."
She muttered this while still chanting the spell.
"Ostende te, quod papillon."
A white, glowing butterfly bloomed at the tip of her hand.
"Wo-wow."
Perhaps due to the weather, the usually deadly cold was absent. However, it was cool enough to beat the heat.
*Wheung.*
The Frost Butterfly slowly flapped its wings, wrapping around my body in a linear fashion. A cool breeze like winter wind.
"Ah, now I can live."
"A woman's trick, quite useful."
Phoenix had somehow come nearby and was also enjoying the cool breeze.
As the heat subsided and I regained my senses, my face felt hot. Glancing around, I saw people scattered near the wagon and cart.
"Hey! Are you guys the only ones enjoying this?"
"Those traveling groups without a Mage can't survive the heat!"
These chattering guys were 'Jori', a merchant from Ailant, and 'Eode', a mercenary from Abiden. Both were young men around my age.
I raised my middle finger and gave a sly smile.
"Want to enjoy the cool breeze? Pay up."
"How much?"
"Hmm, one silver coin?"
Some people looked tempted by the joke I casually threw out. These crazy people, would they really pay a silver coin?
After cooling down adequately, I put on my tunic and padded jacket and spoke to Ellen.
"Ellen, send some cooling over there too. We're going to be delayed at this rate."
Ellen pouted her lips but complied with my request.
"Friscant quod lis."
With her whispered command, the Frost Butterfly rises. Following its wing beats, a cool air is sprinkled throughout the midsummer forest.
Every time exclamations of magic's wonder, satisfied sighs, and words of gratitude burst out, Ellen's lips would twitch.
Just as the Frost Butterfly was about to exit after cooling the summer heat—
Sarreuk.
A sound of something brushing through the bushes.
It's a common sound in the forest, but hearing it simultaneously from all directions is clearly suspicious. I immediately shouted.
"On guard! Something's coming!"
Saying this, I quickly pulled on a helmet and took out my sword and shield. There's no time to put on full armor.
While mercenaries and soldiers grabbed their weapons, merchants and workers were hiding.
"Ellen, get inside!"
"I want to fight,"
"Ellen, the rules!"
At my firm words, she shut her mouth.
This is a forest with dense undergrowth. The limited visibility narrows the engagement distance. And close-quarters combat is extremely dangerous for a Mage.
Ellen knew the rules we had set well. Instead of being stubborn, she took out her wand and hid behind the luggage
Lump had also silently hidden in a corner. Like a wild animal, it must have sensed something was wrong.
Around that time, a smell rode the wind. A terrible stench mixed with sweat and excrement... The judgment wasn't difficult.
"It's the Greenskins!"
No sooner had my shout ended than arrows began to rain down from the forest.