120
My Villains Episode 120
31. Phantom Hunter (3)
Aside.
After seeing Atalante's equipment, I realized what kind of character she was.
Of course, I didn't remember the specific characteristics of a supporting character. I couldn't even recall the nickname of the Phantom Hunter I was raising. Probably something like 'Grind 11' or 'Farming 22'.
I just looked at her equipment, estimated her level, and recalled the build of a 'Farming Arcane Hunter', no, a 'Grinding Phantom Hunter'.
And by my standards, a Grinding Phantom Hunter has no PvP capabilities.
"'Arshdni raby.'"
With a small muttering, Atalante's momentum changed. 'Whisper of the Wasteland'. A decent buff.
Inwardly ridiculing this, I overlaid a red filter on my vision. The best buff I know, 'Blood Thirst'.
Atalante stretched out the Void Spear again. Glancing briefly, the first Void Spear still hadn't recovered its form.
I stopped running and regulated my breathing. The Void Spear, which had been shooting at an arrow-like speed, suddenly slowed down.
"Hup—"
And then, a strike.
Swish!
The Void Spear shattered with a full-force slash.
"Kkoaaak!"
Unable to withstand the consecutive mental strikes, Atalante let out a sweet scream.
"Grr—"
Then, gritting her teeth, she began to gather the power of the Void. The purple energy erupting from her back converged at her fingertips.
And that energy began to form a small sphere. The alpha and omega skill of a Grinding Phantom Hunter, the 'Void Sphere'.
A skill like a mine that deals enormous damage to enemies within a certain range when it explodes. In terms of damage and area, it's much more powerful than a fire mage's fireball.
If this explodes, neither I nor my companions who are now retreating would survive. The reason I rushed at Atalante alone was precisely because of this skill.
But the Void Sphere is not a PvP skill.
"Chup!"
I immediately threw the throwing spear I was holding with the shield.
From the dust-raising vibrating foot, the power transferred through the waist, shoulder, elbow, and wrist to the throwing spear, drawing a streak of light.
Swoosh!
U—f W
The throwing spear, charging like lightning, made Atalante grit her teeth and lean back.
Tsssk.
Her left ear was shallowly torn, and a few strands of purple-dyed hair scattered. At the same time, the Void Sphere dissipated pointlessly.
The fresh blood scent piercing my nose makes my feet move faster.
Atalante, who had been staggering momentarily, took a lower stance with her white spear. The blood flowing from her ear, staining her chin and nape, looked ferocious and unbearably beautiful.
"Hoo, ho—"
As I gathered my mental power while catching my breath, Atalante's body emitted a faint radiance. The 'Void Power' enhances physical abilities and physical resistance.
How high would her stats be? She would have invested quite a bit in magic, so her strength and agility would be relatively low. She wouldn't be a match for me with the Dragon Slayer's Seal and Hrunting.
After completing a calculation almost out of habit, I swung Hrunting.
"Hsst!"
In sync with the timing, Atalante's well-trained body swayed softly.
As the muscles exposed between her torn clothes softly relaxed and then tightened again, the white spear rotated sharply inward.
It was quite a clever spear technique, but it was far from blocking a piercing strike as persistent as Sir Ankir's binding or as unavoidable as Sir Langbolt's.
Clang!
The unique one-handed sword Hrunting and the unique long spear 'White Thorn' roughly entangled.
"Kkeudt!"
Atalante tried to retreat with a defeated expression, but couldn't shake off the Blood Blade that was licking its tongue greedily.
For a moment, the red and pure white light intersected, and with a clang! Hrunting's cross guard flicked the White Thorn high into the sky.
"Lu, Alka—"
Atalante, with both arms thrown back, muttering something. I directly drove the shield's edge into her armpit.
Bang!
"Kkeuheok,"
The faint light surrounding her body scattered into pieces, and Atalante fell backward. But only for a moment, before rising with a leopard-like movement, rolling on the ground.
"Kahak, Kkyuk!"
Atalante, coughing roughly, looked up at me as I approached close to her face. A brilliant red blade extending about a foot long rushed toward her neck, covered in sweat and dirt.
"Kkeue-"
Facing the blade, Atalante mustered her last bit of mental strength. A light exploding from her eyes.
The moment I saw that light, I twisted my waist to retrieve Hrunting. At the same time, Atalante's entire body was surrounded by a purple membrane.
Whoom.
The elastic shield, 'Void Shield', repelled the attacking enemy several dozen meters away.
I stared at that strange light membrane and counted numbers to myself.
One.
"Heu."
A familiar timing calculation.
For some reason, it felt nostalgic. The exact same sensation I felt every time I killed hundreds, maybe even over a thousand, Phantom Hunter characters.
Two.
Should I just kill her?
...No, no. These days, it's somewhat livable. Being full and indulgent in delicacies could become a bad habit.
I stepped my left foot deeply beside Atalante and twisted my waist to pull out my right foot.
Three.
As the membrane lifted, a solid shin guard was driven into Atalante's side.
Bbaek!
"Kkeohk!"
Atalante crumpled forward. Before her face could hit the ground, I reached out and grabbed her now-dim hair.
I pressed Hrunting against her face, covered in blood, saliva, and tears.
"Kkeohk, Kkeoheo-"
Her mouth was wide open, drooling. The moment I felt like putting the knife inside, the red filter before my eyes lifted.
"Whew..."
A hot breath. I withdrew the blade and raised my fist.
Corpses were burning in the shallow pit near the three-way path. Perhaps because they were using magic as fuel, the flames rose high without any additional kindling.
Utequais chewed on jerky while quietly watching. Knowing that the spirits of the heretical god did not wish for his farewell, Utequais simply prayed for their peaceful rest with his eyes. The gentle Jenesa and the archer Cole were treating the captured Nude tribe warriors. Though the treatment was nothing more than stopping bleeding and applying splints, they would somehow be able to keep their breath.
On one side, various equipment collected from the corpses was piled up. The bald Steedman and the lanky Boonie rummaged through them for a while, picking out anything useful or potentially revealing.
While watching this scene from a low hill, the leader Amias approached.
"It's Uncle Jo's group."
"...Jo? The name sounds familiar."
"You might have seen it on the hunting bulletin board. I heard they're mercenaries mainly active in Mültingham."
'Mültingham' is considered the capital city of the Marva region.
"Are they from this area?"
"Yes."
"If they're posting on the bulletin board, they must be quite skilled."
"Uncle Jo is a former adjutant of a Count. Most of the others were soldiers too."
"A Count? Which Count?"
"Well, since they're from Mültingham, probably Count Tristan?"
As I narrowed my brow, Amias added more.
"We should probably inform the lord soon."
"Why?"
"Why? We caught those who were tailing us. We might even get a reward."
"...Well, investigate a bit more first."
After sending Amias away, I turned to Ellen beside me.
She had been examining the glass bottles and their contents collected by the mercenaries.
"Got anything?"
Ellen, who had put the clay bottles and deer skin gloves back into her sling bag, hesitated before speaking.
"This is a potion of blurriness."
"....What?"
The 'potion of blurriness' is a lower-grade version of a transparency potion. Once consumed, it blends with the surrounding environment and becomes difficult to perceive, but the effect immediately breaks if one moves.
"They were carrying this. That means the ambush was real, right?"
"...Most likely."
A sigh of relief escaped me unknowingly. It was thanks to realizing that my sub-character, Atalante, wasn't exactly a bad person.
"But why do you look so gloomy?"
"...No, it's nothing."
"Nothing?"
Ellen closed her mouth and slightly turned her head away. Well, I somehow seemed to understand her feelings.
"Ellen."
"Yes?"
"Come here."
When I smiled and tapped the spot next to me, Ellen deliberately frowned.
"What. Why all of a sudden."
"Come quickly, while I'm being nice."
"What will you do if I don't?"
"Shh, you'll get bounced again."
Ellen pouted her lips for a moment before softly landing next to me. I quietly looked down at her face and suddenly spoke.
"Want a hug?"
"What?"
"Your expression looks like you want to be hugged. Want a hug?"
At my sudden words, Ellen's face turned bright red and she stammered for a moment.
"...W-what are you talking about, crazy guy."
"Really? Then never mind."
"This is the last time. Want a hug?"
She hesitated with her lips for a while before finally nodding slightly.
"Oh, you cute thing."
I embraced Ellen's shoulders and stroked her soft hair. She clenched her fists and leaned her head against my chest.
"I'm glad."
"...Huh?"
"I'm glad. That you reflected on it, even if late." Ellen is more tender-hearted than she looks, and actually a good girl. The troubled expression from just moments ago was probably because she felt bad about throwing harsh words at Atalante due to prejudices about the Nude tribe.
"...Reflection?"
"Yes. I'm really thankful that you told me about that potion. If you had kept your mouth shut, those people would have all been hanged."
Ellen quietly fidgeted with her fingers. I stroked her hair a couple more times, and then suddenly—
"Kyak!"
—I put her in a headlock.
"Instead, yo, yo, mouth."
"Ooowp-"
I firmly gripped Ellen's lips and shook them a few times. She wildly waved her arms, pushing me away and screaming.
"What are you doing, you idiot!"
"How many times do I have to tell you to speak nicely? How long are you going to be like this?"
"What did I do!"
"Don't say things like burning someone alive, or making statements about the Nude tribe. Don't say such things."
"Why, when did I say that!"
"I told you before, I'm worried. What if you accidentally create a grudge? There are so many crazy people in the world."
"Tsk."
Ellen softly grumbled and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. Then she brightened her wing decoration, lifted her body, and returned to her original spot.
Then she grumbled while rummaging through the scattered glass bottles, muttering ‘Ugh’ and suddenly looking back at me.
"Don't tell the guard corps."
"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"I mixed the cocoon of a transparent moth with Bogart's beard."
"...Why?"
"It's a quite tricky recipe for making a potion with cheap ingredients and fewer side effects. Bogart's beard is a difficult ingredient to handle."
She continued while putting a few glass bottles into her sling bag.
"And Master Caslight is the second-best person I've seen among alchemists in using Bogart's beard."
"...Master Caslight? The territorial Mage of Longville?"
"It might be a miraculous coincidence, but we probably shouldn't gamble on it."
These mercenaries from this region, and the suspicious potion they were carrying. This is quite a headache...
Just as I was slowly organizing my thoughts,
"Oh, oh oh-! She woke up!"
The freckled Mira shouted.
I quickly got up and approached Mira. She was pointing a knife at the tightly bound Atalante.
"She woke up?"
"She moved just now."
I drew out Hrunting and approached Atalante. Sensing my presence, Atalante, with a cloth wrapped around her head, slightly shrank her neck.
"Atilia."
"Are you Nix?"
"I'll remove your blindfold. But the moment you do anything reckless, I'll stab you. Got it?"
With a quiet nod, I removed the cloth.
Woo-ah
The sun tilting westward stung Atalante's eyes, causing her to furrow her brow deeply. After blinking a few times, she finally looked at me squatting in front of her.
Afterward, discovering the pure white blade hanging from her neck, Atalante gave a bitter smile.
"...I've been caught."
"What do you mean 'caught'? You flipped your eyes and attacked, then got knocked down."
I continued with a bitter smile.
"If you had just a bit of patience, this wouldn't have happened."
"Patience?"
"Yes. Our Mage discovered a potion of blurriness."
"...A potion of blurriness? How did you get that?"
Atalante looked dazed. It seemed she didn't expect the magical traces to be found so easily.
"Consider it fortunate. Ellen has some expertise in alchemy."
"Anyway, it seems you drank it and set up an ambush."
"...So, so now you believe us?"
I let out a slight snort.
"Believe what? How can I believe someone who tries to fight first instead of trying to persuade?"
"Ha, persuasion? When did you first doubt us because we're from the Nude tribe?"
"Well, racial discrimination isn't a good thing either. But that doesn't justify your attempt to silence us."
"... Milanol."
Atalante mumbles something and looks up at me with fierce eyes.
Oh, the atmosphere shouldn't flow like this.
"Hey, can you lighten up your expression? If you come at me with this attitude, we can't resolve this smoothly."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I'll let you live if you're someone I can reason with."
"...I am a warrior of the wasteland. I'd rather die than become a slave."
Determination resonates in her tone. Somehow, I've become the villain in this atmosphere.
"Oh, I see. But I have no intention of making you a slave."
"...Then what do you want?"
"Can you give me something if I want it? From what I heard from your friends, you don't have much."
Atalante hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I'll give you money."
"How much?"
"...200 silver coins."
"That's quite expensive for the ransom of four people. But isn't that money supposed to be for your clan's winter expenses?"
Atalante glanced at her companions with a look that said, 'Did they really say that?' I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't take it too hard. They were begging to spare your life while saying they could be killed and have everything taken."
"And I don't really need money. If possible, I'd like to receive points for the hunting festival, but points can't be exchanged..."
"Then?"
I stared directly into Atalante's eyes.
A Phantom Hunter Atalante. A sub-character of mine raised for farming and then forgotten.
Will Atalante become Ellen, Utequais, or Luke? Right now, it's impossible to know.
Eyes tinted golden by sunlight quietly looked up at me. Composure and desperation mixed equally, an almost emotionless gaze.
I couldn't help but smile.
"I'll just let you go."
"Just?"
"Yeah. Well, since we fought due to a misunderstanding and no one got seriously hurt, let's consider it a goodwill gesture worth 200 silver coins."
Suspicion seeped into her complex eyes.
"Goodwill?"
"Yeah. Don't like it?"
"...What's the reason for showing us goodwill?"
"Because you and I seem to be in somewhat similar situations."
Atalante furrowed her brow silently. I scratched my eyebrow and continued.
"Actually, I've somehow earned the lord's dislike."
"...The lord? We have no ill feelings toward the lord."
"No ill feelings? Do you think the lord would like you?"
"...If it's about the hunting festival, the lord clearly..."
"Don't be naive, Atilia."
Lord Malory, the lord of Longville, hosted this hunting festival and offered various prizes. The highest prize was the right to nominate the lord's adopted son, and currently, that right was closest to Atalante.
"When there's doubt about even transferring the territory to strangers, would he willingly hand over land to people with different ethnicities and cultures?"
When Atalante remained silent with a hardened expression, I also told her about the potion used by the mercenaries, Bogart's beard, and Master Caslight.
"...Meaning it could be the lord's doing?"
"Just a speculation, for now."
"...chati, lil shay'an?"
"What do you keep saying?"
"No. It's nothing." Atalante, who had been hanging her head, sighed softly and then looked up.
"If you're offering goodwill, I'll gratefully accept. If you release me, I promise not to point my spear at you again."
"Okay, I'll release you right away. Amias! Release your friends too!"
Released from her bonds, Atalante staggered to her feet and received a water pouch from me. She rinsed her mouth several times, took a few sips of water, and then poured some over her head to wash away blood and dust.
Honestly, I almost lost my composure.
The water streaming down her sharp nose and falling to her chest, tracing the lines of her abs was as impressive as the Rhine Falls I saw in Germany... No, what am I even saying?
"Thanks."
"...Oh, yeah."
As I stepped back and took the water pouch, Atalante rejoined the Nude tribe warriors. She glanced over the bandages, splints, and cloths wrapped around her companions' bodies, then stared directly at me.
I tried to maintain a nonchalant expression and shrugged.
"Anything else?"
"...No."
"Alright. Take care."
"Is this it?"
"Of course. Want a farewell hug?"
As I blurted out nonsense, Atalante gave a subtle smile.
"Wouldn't hurt."
"Huh?"
Atalante naturally burrowed into my embrace and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Wha, what-"
Though I heard a shocked voice from somewhere, I couldn't pay attention due to Atalante clinging to me.
"Madyan 'ahyua, frais walasim."
Soft whispers, ticklish breath, damp hair.
"Uh, what?"
While I stammered, Atalante smiled and stepped back, rejoining her companions. Then she took the path leading to the mountain lodge.
'Madyan ahyua, frais walasim.'
My quiet murmur continued until Ellen flew over and grabbed my neck.