123
My Villains Chapter 123
32. The Mage and the Druid (3)
After a long conversation, I accepted Siren Lao's proposal.
Listening to the story, Baron Malory was completely obsessed with breaking through the northern passage. If I didn't step in, it seemed a dimensional collision or something would really happen.
And I was also concerned about Akanku Karamek. He was definitely one of my sub-characters, but hearing that he was doing some strange things made me unusually uneasy.
From what I heard, he seemed like a messed-up villain, similar to the case of the Necromancer Luke. I wanted to deal with him quickly, either by meeting and talking or killing him.
However, I couldn't leave Longville immediately.
"We just arrived here, so we need time to prepare our spells."
"Prepare spells?"
"I need to make a new doll, and Ethan needs to carve a few runes."
Making a doll and carving runes while preparing spells? What the hell is this?
Seeing my confused expression, Ellen opened her mouth.
"Ordinary Mages need a medium when using magic."
"What's a medium?"
"Well, briefly explained, general magic is an act of begging the world to make a change happen."
"...Begging?"
Wow, that's a rough word. Can I really say this in front of the parties involved?
Knowing my thoughts or not, Ellen continued her explanation with a calm demeanor.
"Yes. Just praying with words and supplying magic is not enough, so we prepare a gift. That gift is the medium."
The young Mage Ethan, sitting on one side of the table, raised his voice with a slightly reddened face.
"Watch your mouth."
"Ethan!"
"We're making a deal, not begging."
Ignoring Siren's restraint and looking at Ethan who was retorting, Ellen let out a sneer.
"Oh, really? A deal, you say? I hear you receive the same items every time, and sometimes even get scammed? Why don't you improve your business skills?"
"...Looks like a sorcerer who just uses combat magic, running her mouth without any foundation."
"Ethan, that's enough."
"Why? Am I wrong?"
Ellen's expression cracked slightly at Ethan's words.
"...No foundation? Who?"
"I'm talking about you sorcerers. How can you call yourself a Mage when you just engrave a few spells on your soul and keep using them? How is it any different from siege weapons like catapults or ballistas?"
"Oh, is that so?"
Ellen, holding a crystal ball in one hand and a wand in the other, flew into the air. Powerful magical energy poured out, creating a small whirlwind around her.
"Uh, uhhh—"
"Oh no, take cover!"
Tables and chairs rolled around, and the tavern's guests scrambled to avoid the commotion.
"Uh, how is such magical power..."
The Lao siblings were shocked by Ellen's magic. Especially Ethan, who looked like his jaw might drop at any moment, stared with his mouth wide open.
"This woman, she's starting again."
"Does this happen often?"
Utequais and Atalante, who had retreated to the wall with their beer mugs, conversed in a rather calm tone.
"Indeed. As common as a rooster crowing."
"As expected. But shouldn't someone stop her?"
"Don't worry. There's someone who will stop her."
"Who might that be?"
Who else? Me.
I let out a deep sigh and stood up.
"How dare this brat insult me with his childish nonsense. I'll—umph!"
As I grabbed Ellen's lips mid-sentence, she began to flail her arms.
"Ow, mmph!"
"Ah, I can't just sew this up either."
I held Ellen in a headlock and gave a glance to Siren and Ethan.
"I'm sorry. She's not that bad of a person, just prone to speaking out of turn."
"...Oh, well, I see."
"Mmph, mmph!"
"How long will it take to prepare the spell?"
Siren, who had been looking back and forth between me and Ellen with wide eyes, answered a beat late.
"Oh, half a day will be enough."
"Half a day. Then let's prepare today and depart early tomorrow morning."
"Yes, okay, understood."
I looked around at Siren's group, who were standing awkwardly, and shrugged my shoulders.
"Do you have any more business?"
"Hmm, no."
"Atillia, what about you?"
Atalante, leaning against the wall, let out a chuckle.
"Just come here by morning? See you tomorrow."
With a hand wave, she left with her two warriors. After Siren's group also left the tavern, Utequais also stood up.
"I'm preparing too."
"Preparing what?"
"Akanku is a powerful enemy. Need to apply battle makeup."
Then he left abruptly. I dragged Ellen upstairs and spoke to the Amias gang standing there blankly.
"What are you doing there? Go prepare the camp and do some training."
"We have camp supplies left from returning early yesterday?"
"It won't be enough for sixteen people. And prepare for two days, just in case."
"Got it. Is that all?"
"Oh, buy some food too, and retrieve my pauldron from the blacksmith! Serve a beer to the guests!"
Ignoring Amias's groaning, I entered the room with Ellen.
After soothing and comforting Ellen for a while before leaving the tavern, she was sitting on my arm, touching the crystal ball with a sulky face.
"Do you like it that much?"
"What?"
"That crystal ball. You've been holding it since earlier."
"I'm just adjusting it."
The crystal ball Siren had handed over was a very useful magical tool.
To explain its function simply, it's like a kind of auxiliary battery where a Mage can store their magic and draw it out when needed.
"Do you need to adjust it?"
"If I don't tune it, magic will leak out elsewhere when used."
"Really?"
"Yes. So don't talk to me."
I had been nagging so much that Ellen seemed a bit sulky. It seems she was also displeased about being embarrassed in front of people.
But really, I'm being ridiculous. I couldn't help but find Ellen's sulky face looking at the crystal ball incredibly cute.
I always want Ellen to laugh, but on the other hand, I would feel sorry if I couldn't see her sulking or pouting expression. Am I addicted or something?
As I was thinking this, we arrived at Master Caslight's laboratory.
I reminded Ellen once more as she floated her body.
"Make sure to check that potion. Confirm it's really made here."
"I got it."
Master Caslight welcomed us as usual.
As she and Ellen began to have a conversation I couldn't understand, I quietly slipped out of the laboratory. Then I wandered around the vicinity of the lord building.
Hmm, normally this would be the time when Lord Killian would be riding his horse, but he's nowhere to be seen. I wanted to accidentally run into him and casually ask about the Anupad army subjugation.
Just as I was about to give up and turn back to the laboratory, I suddenly discovered a flower in a corner of the wooden fence.
A pile of stones beneath the wooden fence, and a flower blooming between them. The sparse flower stem and branches, and the purple petals bowing their head caught my attention.
"Is this a Grandmother's flower?"
No, looking closely, it wasn't a Grandmother's flower. It had no white fleece, and the bowed head didn't seem natural.
I crouched down in front of the flower. Like half the flowers I'd seen in the Middle World so far, it looked very strange when examined closely.
"...Looks like an azalea."
When I was around twenty-three or twenty-four, I went to Gunpo with my girlfriend. I was moved alone by the azaleas filling the hill. In my faint memory, only the purple waves in the spring breeze were vivid...
"...Lord Phoenix?"
"Eeek!"
As I crouched down, I suddenly sprang up like a spring, and someone screamed behind me.
"Eek!"
"My lady?"
When I turned around, a young woman was cowering, her clenched fist trembling. Dressed in tightly wrapped clothing with skin like white jade - it was Baroness Dionea.
I berated myself internally. How distracted was I not to notice a noble lady approaching so closely?
I quickly helped support the Baroness.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I was lost in thought and was terribly rude—"
"Oh, no. It's fine."
The Baroness, holding my arm and catching her breath, let out a slight forced laugh.
"I'm sorry. I startle easily."
"I'm the one who should apologize. But what brings you here?"
"I was passing by and happened to see the lord."
"Ah."
"What were you doing here, my lord?"
Curiosity sparkled in her dark green eyes. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I scratched my eyebrow and answered.
"I was heading to Master Caslight's laboratory when I noticed this flower..."
"...A flower?"
The Baroness turned her head following my gaze and gave a soft smile.
"It's a Latria."
"Oh, this flower is called Latria?"
"What?"
The baroness suddenly covered her mouth and laughed with a tinkling sound.
...What's going on? Did my expression look stupid?
"Hm, hmm. I'm sorry. Were you offended?"
"No, not at all."
The Baroness crouched down in front of the Latria flower.
"Someone must have stepped on it. Poor thing."
"But the stem isn't broken."
"If it gets some sunlight, it might raise its head soon."
The Baroness glanced around.
"But it seems difficult here?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure."
When I crouched down next to her, she silently gazed at the flower before speaking.
"Can you fix this flower?"
"...Fix it?"
"You healed my hand."
"Ah."
I thought to myself it seemed impossible. It's not like the flower has blood flowing through it.
Still, I cautiously extended my finger to the flower's base and tried to draw up my vital energy.
"...Huh?"
"What is it, my lord?"
"Oh, nothing, just a moment." Was it an illusion? I felt something just now.
I tried to manipulate my vital energy to recapture that sensation, but ultimately failed.
"Hmm, it's not working."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. In fact, this is the first time I've tried using vital arts on a flower. Oh, was healing you the first time?"
Another tinkling laugh. Unlike her melancholic appearance, the Baroness seems to laugh quite often.
"I'm sorry, I did it again."
"Why do you keep apologizing when there's nothing to apologize for?"
"Oh, sorry—"
"There you go again."
"Ah!"
She's quite amusing.
As I smiled and looked at her, the Baroness lowered her head and moved her lips, seemingly choosing her words.
"I grow a few flowers in the inner courtyard of the lordship."
"Oh, you have a flower garden?"
"Not quite a garden... I just have a few Latria flowers. Would you like to see?"
"I'd love to. Though I'm not sure your husband would be pleased."
"Oh."
The Baroness hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"It should be fine now. The Baron has gone to the gate."
"Ah, is that so?"
Since she insisted so much, I felt it would be rude to refuse, so I accepted her invitation.
The inner courtyard of the lordship was quite well-maintained. The red peonies, pink daisies, and purple Latria planted within the small wooden fence looked quite harmonious.
But... Why is it so quiet here?
"Come to think of it, I don't see any servants."
The Baroness, walking silently beside me, cleared her throat and replied.
"Well, the Baron took them to the gate."
Longville is a small baronage, with hardly any military facilities. At most, there's just a castle or a gate.
"So now the mercenaries and conscripted soldiers gathered by the lord are also camping near the gate."
"Do we need to mobilize even the servants?"
"I don't know well... But I'm worried that you're being too unreasonable."
"Did you say unreasonable?"
"Recently, you've been in frequent contact with the Count."
Count? Wait, the name of the Count who governs this region...
"You mean Count Tristan?"
"Yes. It seems to be because of the monsters blocking the road... Every time the Count's letter arrives, you become more sensitive."
Frequently exchanging letters with the Count. Come to think of it, the leader of the mercenaries who attacked Atalante was a former subordinate of Count Tristan.
Hmm, my head is complicated.
"You must be suffering a lot, my lady."
"What?"
"Though I don't know your husband well, I don't think he's the type to swallow his anger alone."
"Oh..."
When the Baroness closed her mouth, I subtly extended my hand.
"Could you lend me your hand for a moment?"
"Oh, me?"
"I can't fix Latria, but I think I can help you."
The Baroness hesitated for a moment before extending her hand to me. I grasped her trembling hand and slowly drew up her vitality.
"Ugh,"
Her thin hand tried to pull back, perhaps due to ticklishness, but I held her hand firmly and closed my eyes.
"Just a moment, just stay still."
"...Yes, yes."
Concentrating, I felt the blood vessels spread throughout the Baroness's body. Additionally, I could faintly sense the traces of violence scattered throughout her body.
After completing as much treatment as I could, I opened my eyes to see the restless Baroness.
Perhaps due to the blood flow, her face, ears, and nape were dyed bright red. Her transparent skin made this change particularly stand out.
At that moment, a murmuring sound came from outside the lord's residence.
As I listened quietly, the surprised Baroness, who belatedly sensed the presence, grabbed my hand.
"It's the Baron. This way."
I was led unexpectedly by the Baroness's hand and hidden in a corner of the inner courtyard. A small space between a large tree and the outer wall.
"...These numbers are insufficient. They're not typical Anupad, I'm telling you they're an army."
"We've gathered all the troops from the territory and mercenaries. Where else can we recruit from?"
The voices of a man and the lord grew closer.
The Baroness, holding my hand, leaned against the large tree and trembled. Feeling sorry for her, I unconsciously embraced her.
"Ask Count Tristan to support us with battle Mages and elite soldiers."
"Nonsense! Just considering the debt we owe the Count, our backs are already breaking. If we reach out further, we'll lose everything, including the mines."
"Brother, this isn't the time to be greedy!"
...Brother? Does Baron Malory have a sibling?
"Isn't this all for your sake! Do you want to live scraping by on a tiny plot of land like me?"
A refreshing fragrance, whether clove or mint, brushed past my nose. The woman in my arms, while trembling, slowly raised her head to look at me.
"My lord."
Her moist lips moved slightly. An indescribable heat rose in her dark green eyes.
"Dionea? Dionea!"
The Baron's shout made the woman's shoulders shrink.
"Damn it, where has this damn woman gone now?"
"Don't do this. The rumor that you mistreat your wife is already spreading in neighboring territories. You're just tarnishing your own face."
"Ulkar has already smeared my face with dirt. What difference will a little more make?"
I held her shoulders firmly. The trembling gradually subsided.
"Stop talking nonsense and check your subordinates. Find out if this damn woman is meeting with some guy!"
As the lord's shouting died down, I was kissing his wife.