124
My Villains Chapter 124
33. The Mage and the Druid (4)
"...Where are you coming from?"
"Ah, that's it."
I shook off the leaves stuck on my head and shoulders as I continued.
"I was just looking around the lord's manor, and the lord suddenly popped out. There's no point in running into him, so I hid for a bit."
"And you, a knight, is hiding? The prince will be quite pleased."
Ellen shook her head and flew into my arms. I quickly fixed my appearance and held the creature in my arms.
"I had some success."
"Success? What success?"
"...Have you already forgotten? The potion of blurriness."
"Ah, right. How did it go? Was it made by Master Caslight?"
Ellen was about to answer when she suddenly wrinkled her nose and furrowed her brow.
"What's this smell?"
"Huh? Smell?"
Ellen pulled the collar of my tunic to her nose and looked puzzled.
"Did you put on perfume?"
"Perfume? No. I must have picked up the scent from sitting in the bushes."
"What kind of bushes would give off such a fragrance?"
"Well, I'm not sure..."
Struggling to find the words, I shook my head and changed the subject.
"Anyway, the potion of blurriness, was it made by Master Caslight?"
"...Yeah, almost certainly. The glass bottle seems to be from the same workshop, and there were traces of Bogart's beard recently."
"I see. Hmm."
So the lord really did hire a gang to deal with Atalante and the Nude tribe mercenaries?
And from what I overheard earlier, it seems he has other people he's employing besides that gang. I should look into this so-called brother of the lord.
And as for Count Tristan, well, I don't have a way to investigate that. From what I've heard, this Count Tristan seems to be one of the nobles who was beaten by Prince Ulkar...
"And Phoenix."
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember the potion for wound healing I made in the lab the other day?"
"Ah, the new recipe? Did it work?"
"Not exactly, but something somewhat usable came out." Ellen pulled a small glass bottle from her sling bag, revealing a deep red liquid...
"Not a success? But it looks fine."
"The effect is a bit lacking, and the side effects are severe..."
Listening to Ellen's explanation, the lack of effect wasn't much of a problem. Since the original version was so effective, something a little weaker wouldn't be too bad.
The issue was the side effects.
Ellen handed me the glass bottle as she continued.
"If you drink or apply it, you'll feel ravenously hungry."
"Isn't that how it was before? Just getting a bit hungry."
"No, not just a bit. You'll be completely drained of strength, as if you haven't eaten for days. It's a side effect from not using troll's blood."
Hmm, based on the explanation, the healing effects of this potion seem quite similar to the regenerative ability of my passive skill, ‘Flowing Blood’. It consumes a significant amount of calories to heal wounds.
I held the glass bottle up to the sun and swirled the viscous, slightly gelatinous liquid.
"Well, even like this, it should serve as an extra life. But is this the only one?"
"This is the only one I managed to get, and if you want more, you'll have to buy it from Master Caslight."
"Money? But you made this, didn't you?"
"The materials and lab were all Master Caslight's, so I can get it a bit cheaper from him."
Right, well, I have plenty of money.
Thinking this, I returned to the lab, but the price Master Caslight quoted far exceeded my expectations.
"...Fifty silver coins, per bottle?"
As I gaped, the kindly-looking Mage gave a rueful smile.
"Don't be too upset, Sir Phoenix. That's barely enough to cover the material costs."
Glancing at Ellen, she seemed to agree with the assessment.
I let out a groan and dug into my coin purse, roughly counting out the money.
There were about forty gold coins and just under three hundred silver coins. I had been spending money a bit carelessly, but my earnings were so good that I had plenty.
I mixed the gold and silver coins to pay the full amount, and was able to obtain three bottles of the potion. I would have liked to buy all the remaining potions, but I had to set aside some to give to the lord.
On the way back from the lab, I ran into the only knight of Longville, Sir Killian.
"It's been a while, Sir Phoenix. I've heard the news. Your exploits at the hunting festival were impressive."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I brought up what I wanted to ask.
"I heard you're planning to attack Anupads army."
"Ah, so you've heard about that as well."
Sir Killian shook his head in our direction.
"Monster extermination is a military operation, after all. Since we have to use mercenaries, there's no way to prevent information leaks."
"I understand. From what I've gathered, it seems all the mercenaries of Longville are participating in the extermination."
I shrugged my shoulders and added, "Except for us, that is."
Sir Killian hesitated for a moment, then sent the accompanying training captain and attendant ahead to the lord's manor.
"Sir, I have a question for you."
Seeing my puzzled expression, Sir Killian dismounted and asked his question.
"Are you, by any chance, eyeing Longville?"
"...Pardon?"
"I've heard your score is quite high. Are you planning to take over Longville?"
I almost let out a bitter laugh. What is this man talking about?
"What do you mean? I only participated in the hunting festival at the lord's, uh, request."
"Of course, I'm aware of that. But it wouldn't be strange if you developed other intentions while hunting the monsters."
"Other intentions?"
"Such as feeling that the silver coins offered don't adequately compensate for your efforts."
I calmly met Sir Killian's gaze, his black eyes flecked with green. I didn't sense any malice or suspicion.
"I have no relatives who could be designated as the lord's heir. I have no desire to be adopted, nor any ambition for this domain. I simply wish to drive out the monsters and cross the mountains."
"...If that's the case, I'm relieved to hear it."
The middle-aged knight walking silently while tugging the reins let out a deep sigh.
"But the lord thinks differently. He's anxious that you might claim ownership of the domain after winning the hunting festival."
"...Hah, if that's the case, he shouldn't have put the domain up as a prize in the first place. Or he shouldn't have dragged me into the festival."
"I agree. But the lord has trouble maintaining his composure when it comes to matters related to Prince Ulkar. After all, it's about the honor of his family..."
Sir Killian briefly closed his mouth, then ran his fingers through his mustache before speaking again.
"Anyway, if you participate in the lord's extermination campaign, you'll earn three times the usual points."
"...Three times?"
"Yes. The lord wishes to completely erase your name from the scoreboard."
"Why go that far?"
"Because he considers that the most legitimate method. He's quite a devout man, so he abhors any underhanded tactics."
Legitimate method, my foot.
"What if I say I'll join the extermination?"
Sir Killian let out a hollow laugh.
"Hah, you'd willingly go, Sir? Then the lord would be overjoyed."
I see.
If Baron Malory forcibly drags me along, I'll gain the right to stubbornly refuse. After all, I'm a knight of Prince Ulkar, not the lord's.
But if I request to join the extermination myself, I'll temporarily fall under the lord's command. Naturally, that would be handing my lifeline over to the lord.
Sensing my contemplation, Sir Killian spoke in a serious tone.
"As a well-wisher of Prince Ulkar and yourself, I advise you to leave Longville."
"The lord is desperate to humiliate you. If you leave quietly, I'll do my best to stop him from spreading rumors."
The middle-aged knight seemed somewhat weary as he said this.
"I pray you make a wise decision."
After checking my equipment and supplies, and finishing my training, I washed up and lay down on the bed.
Ellen on the other side was already fast asleep. The girl, who used to be just a heavy sleeper in the mornings, seems to be sleeping more these days.
Fluff.
Enjoying the soft touch of my new clothes, Lump burrowed into my armpit and nuzzled my forehead.
"Hey, stay still."
As I wiped the remaining moisture from Lump’s fur with a towel, the creature surrendered its body to my hands, making contented sounds. It looked like the perfect pet.
"Aww, you think just because you're cute you can do anything?"
Poke.
Unable to resist the urge, I poked Lump's chubby belly. Unable to endure the tickling sensation, Lump let out a squeal and flailed its four legs.
It was a peaceful night like any other, but I had been pondering Sir Killian's advice.
In the game, Chapter 3 consisted of four Pixnems and a boss monster.
The first Pixnem, ‘Warrior Modor’, had been defeated yesterday, and the third Pixnem, ‘Bandit Baron Albienne’, met his end in the battle at South Harbor.
Modor's case was nothing special, but the early demise of the Bandit Baron had completely changed the scenario.
Longville, which should have been overrun by bandits, was relatively peaceful, and the kidnapped lady of the manor was unharmed.
As a result, Baron Malory was managing the monsters that had infested the Graduel Mountains quite well. He even organized an unprecedented event called the hunting festival.
I've heard the extermination force gathered this time numbered around 400. With skilled mercenaries in abundance, they might even be able to drive out Anupad's army, unlike in the game, where the remnants of the bandits would have joined in.
In this situation, do I really need to stay in Longville? The lord is practically burning with a desire to do me harm.
I could just quietly hide somewhere, like a cabin, and sneak across the mountains once the situation is resolved.
Lump wiggled its legs and gave my hand a gentle bite. It didn't break the skin, but I could feel the strength in its jaws.
"Hey, you've really grown, haven't you?"
Oink.
"Lump."
Familiar with the name now, Lump responded, raising its head, despite the saying that pigs can't look up.
I gently caressed Lump's tusks and said, "There, if it reaches up to your nose, I'll let you go."
Lump blinked its eyes slowly.
Boars have such dark eyes and eyelids that when they blink, it looks like a black furry ball is squirming. I gazed at those eyes and smiled wryly.
"What are you staring at? Do you want to be put in a kimchi stew?"
As if understanding, Lump buried its snout in my chest.
"Once we cross the Graduel Mountains, there won't be many monsters, and the plains will be wide open. It'll be similar to Invery, you know? Your hometown."
Even as I muttered to myself, Lump just kept nuzzling my belly, showing no particular reaction.
Right, my goal is to cross the Graduel Mountains. I'll set aside thoughts about the scenario for now and focus on what needs to be done.
I'll deal with the soul sorcerer lurking at the peak of the Graduel Mountains, then hide somewhere nearby until the path is clear, and then make my escape.
Organizing my thoughts made me feel more at ease. As I drifted off to sleep, I found myself dreaming of a new character sheet.
It was the fourth character sheet, after mine, Ellen's, and Utequais's.