128
My Villains Chapter 128
33. Graduel Mountain (4)
Night was deep. A full moon rose in the star-filled sky, making the distant mountain slopes brighter than one would believe possible at night.
The forest was similar. Moonlight and starlight flowed between the sharp leaves of fir and pine trees. Because of this, the pair of small campfires looked more humble and cozy than usual.
Under a large spruce tree, mercenaries wrapped in blankets blinked their heavy eyelids. The forest, cooled after the midday heat, was pleasantly comfortable, but the mercenaries' previous day had been too exhausting to fully appreciate the peace.
Ellen was sleeping on my knee. Her hair, glittering in the moonlight, was like gold-embroidered silk. While looking at her white forehead and neatly closed eyelashes, I pulled my half-cloak to cover her shoulders. Ellen shifted slightly, then gripped my knee tightly with her delicate hand.
Ellen often acted as if I was her entire world, and rarely tried to hide it. When I could clearly feel that she was looking at, believing in, and loving only me, my heart would swell with emotion.
"She's sleeping well," Atalante muttered with a somewhat wry expression while stirring the campfire.
"Because she worked hard."
"Worked hard? She just sat on your arm all day?"
"... She used a lot of magic."
Atalante chuckled and shook her head.
"Still, she's quieter now."
"Huh, right?"
"It's strange. How can such beautiful lips only say such unpleasant things?"
As I was silently making a bitter smile, the Druid Zhanabas was conversing with his fifth bird. Unlike the small birds like wrens or sparrows that had appeared before, this time a large owl had appeared.
After the full-bellied owl left, Zhanabas deeply sighed and supported himself with his knee. Communicating with birds seemed to consume quite a bit of his energy. His lover and companion Siren quickly approached him.
"Fortunately, nothing special happened."
"I wouldn't be so sure, my lord."
Supported and approaching this way, Zhanabas shook his head.
"Wild predators don't attack through obvious methods. They wait for a weakness and launch a surprise attack."
Utequais, sitting by the campfire, poured a thick liquid from a pot. It was wine boiled with honey and herbs.
"Drink."
"Arkoun, Hatanka."
Zui.
Sitting on a tree stump, Zhanabas received a bowl of wine and continued speaking.
"Still, since the ruler who dominated this area has died, the forest will be noisy for a while."
"I hope that territorial dispute will protect this peace."
"Indeed."
With this short conversation, the camp fell silent. Except for the owl and unknown insects' sounds, the forest was quite peaceful.
Meanwhile, I was somewhat troubled. It was due to the disconnect between my mind and body.
I had been awake for about sixteen hours and had fought with the ‘Wandering Troll Sperg’, so my mind was quite exhausted.
In contrast, my body, having sucked more than ten liters of troll's blood, was more vibrant than ever. It felt like I'd taken a hot bath and then slept soundly in a soft bed - in peak condition.
In fact, this wasn't a strange experience. I'd experienced something similar since becoming a Phoenix.
They say a healthy body houses a healthy mind, but there are limits. My mind had not yet reached the level of a monster.
Archer Cole and Simos got up from their seats and approached the Nude tribe warriors Agos and Vittorio, who were walking on a nearby mound.
It was already their second time. It seemed they wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
"The forest is - green, the water flows-"
A small, almost humming voice. Atalante, with her eyes half-closed, sang a song.
"Budding and blooming, like youth-"
Somehow, it was sad but pleasant to listen to.
"When leaves - turn red, burning-"
Diligent crickets occasionally interrupted her song. Those not yet asleep had to listen carefully.
"Coloring the cheeks, like a maiden-"
Suddenly, Atalante's song became clearer. Her voice hadn't gotten louder.
When Atalante stopped singing, the forest's silence revealed its true face. I quietly tapped Ellen's shoulder.
"Ellen."
"Wake up, Ellen."
At my voice, the quick-witted mercenaries woke their companions. Atalante held the 'White Thorn' instead of a fire starter, and Utequais held 'Slonhe's Maul' instead of the ladle he was stirring.
"Phoenix?"
"Hide behind Utequais. Prepare to cast a spell."
As I slowly rose, when I looked, Utequais quietly nodded.
Whoosh.
My clothes fluttered in the night wind.
Having fought the troll leader and reduced my helmet, breastplate, and pauldron to rags, all I wore was gauntlets, full arm guards, and shin guards.
As I grabbed the shield leaning against the spruce tree and walked towards the forest, the mercenaries quickly got up.
Leader Amias rapidly signaled with his hands while unwrapping the bandage on his arm. Mercenaries clustered shoulder to shoulder, with campfires on either side.
Then, a large cloud covered the full moon. Shadows fell everywhere, and dozens of pairs of eyes flashed white.
My keen senses gauged their identity. They were wolves.
Growl.
With my hand on Hrunting's pommel, I approached where the sound came from. Among the shadows, an unusually large silhouette caught my eye.
The large silhouette leaped over a tree stump on four legs, then stood on two legs on a small rock.
"...That."
"It's a werewolf."
The clouds scattered in the night wind, and the full moon revealed itself again. Thanks to this, a gray-furred werewolf with a slender waist and agile muscles showed its form.
Standing upright, it seemed over 3 meters tall, with its face full of scars. Because of this, I could easily recognize its identity.
The name is random, 'Scarface'.
Growl.
When our eyes met, it snarled menacingly. Just as I was about to draw Hrunting, Zhanabas approached with urgent steps.
"Wait a moment, my lord. May I try to have a conversation?"
"Can you really communicate with such a creature?"
"Somewhat."
Nodding, Zhanabas made a wolf-like sound while looking at Scarface.
Growl.
"Awng, Awooo."
Though the sight was quite comical, no one made a sound. After a short conversation, Zhanabas looked perplexed.
"They want us to hand over the trolls."
"The trolls?"
"Yes. They say it's their natural right now that they're the masters of the forest."
"Those stupid ones. Would they attack even after seeing us catch the trolls?"
"They think they're at an advantage, having used some human-like cowardly method."
"Damn."
I scratched my eyebrow for a moment before continuing.
"Tell them they can take them. But not the heads. Trolls price their score by heads."
The beast-like conversation continued, and Janabas shook his head.
"They want everything. The heads, and the separately stored blood."
"...Well, then."
I turned slightly and scanned the party before speaking.
"Tell him..."
"Yes? What?"
I drew Hrunting and smiled slightly.
"Go f*** yourself."
As soon as my words ended, Ellen extended her wand.
"Ex, pruin-eom!"
Simultaneously, two frost needles shot from behind Utequais.
Growl!
The werewolf dodged the ice fragments that flew like light rays.
Pretty quick body movements. I silently stomped on the ground, chasing the creature. The werewolf, sensing my approach with animal-like instincts, bared its fangs.
With a face almost like a smile, I also smiled and swung Hrunting. Scarface stretched out his sharp claws, seemingly not intending to dodge the sword.
He must trust his fur. After all, a werewolf blessed by the full moon can't be scratched by ordinary weapons.
But Hrunting was no ordinary weapon.
Swish!
The milk-white blade instantly sliced off his arm, and Scarface's mouth gaped open.
Keang!
A human expression appeared on the beast's face. Liking that, I quickly charged at the retreating creature. Hrunting, now white with werewolf blood, was swung again.
A crisp sound of flesh and bone splitting simultaneously rang out.
Keek, Keang!
Having lost both arms, Scarface writhed on the ground, whimpering like a dog. Somehow, my excitement waned.
"Stay still, you dog - no, wolf pup."
I firmly stepped on his back, gripped his head, and then tore off his skull by twisting his neck.
Tsutsu.
With a strange sound, Scarface, now headless, crumpled. As fur fell in clumps, the werewolf disappeared, leaving only a sturdy male corpse.
"Hmm."
My mind and body were roughly balanced.
I looked back at the wolves hiding in the shadows. The white-glowing eyes were rapidly flickering.
Lifting the fur-less head, I playfully shouted.
"Owak J!"
Dozens of wolves quickly tucked their tails.
We stayed in the forest for two more days.
With both trolls and werewolves dead, there were no threats to us. Consequently, we didn't have a single battle in those two days.
Food was still plentiful. Though white bread and fresh vegetables were consumed, salted pork and hardtack were sufficient.
Moreover, the party had three skilled hunters. Utequais, Druid Zhanabas, and the Nude tribe warrior Agos. When they led some young mercenaries into the forest, they would catch deer, wild birds, or rabbits.
Thanks to Ellen, who brought quite a few spices despite her picky taste, we enjoyed several luxurious barbecues.
But that didn't mean forest life was perfect.
"I'm warning you in advance," Ellen, holding clothes and bathing supplies, made a threat.
"I'll kill you if you peek."
"...Not that I would."
I unconsciously swallowed a crude comment and coughed.
"Ahem. Be careful with wing decorations. Sit properly when washing your ears."
"Do I look like an idiot? Just keep watch."
Ellen said this, then flew off and went down along the stream.
Camping in the forest was somewhat enjoyable, but the one unsatisfactory thing was water. Though a stream flowed near the camp, it was only good for drinking and basic washing.
Then, Atalante discovered a small pond below.
It was a secret space created by a stream branching from the valley and flowing through the dense forest, with impressively transparent water that revealed the bottom's pebbles.
Hearing this news, Ellen couldn't stay still. She immediately pestered me about taking a bath, and thus I became assigned to keep watch.
"Eh. Anyway, I don't even sweat because of the robe."
While grumbling, I heightened my senses. Sharpened by the 'Dragon Slayer's Seal' and the 'Four Kings' Scale Belt', my senses began absorbing the surrounding signs.
Pointed leaves swaying in the breeze, birds breaking tree branches, stream water hitting rocks, clothes brushing skin... Complex cognitive processes were skipped, and what's called instinct informed me of safety.
As Ellen was carefully dipping her foot in the pond, an unnatural sound was heard.
"... Atalante?"
Emerging from the bushes was Atalante, wearing light clothing and holding just one spear.
"Ellen?"
"Taking a bath."
"Hmm."
She nodded her head and sat down beside me.
"Tough dealing with that troublesome brat."
"I know. Ah, such is my fate."
As I made a light joke, Atalante let out a small laugh while furrowing her brow.
"What. Are you admitting it?"
"That Ellen is a troublesome brat? I admit it."
"Pfft, is that all?"
"Then?"
Atalante, who had been spinning her words silently, rested her chin on her raised knees and stared at me intently.
"You're quite a strange person."
"Oh, me?"
"Yes. Sometimes you seem like a merchant, sometimes like a mercenary, sometimes like a simple farmer, and sometimes like a madman."
I gave a small smile.
"You saying that to my face is strange too?"
"Huh? I didn't mean it badly. I meant you don't have a 'knight-like' feel."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Sure. Saying someone's not knight-like is the best compliment I can give to a knight."
I wondered what kind of knights Atalante had encountered.
The knights I knew were mostly positively knight-like. Strong, brave, resolute, and knowing how to protect the weak.
Well, there's no need to argue with Atalante.
I quietly smiled and said,
"Maybe because I've only been a knight for a short time."
"I heard. Not even two months since your knighthood?"
"Oh."
"That's also strange."
"Why?"
"Looking at your face, it seems like instead of crying 'Wah!' as a baby, you'd have shouted 'Take my sword!'"
I burst out laughing at Atalante's exaggerated imitation.
"Haha, what's that?"
"Really, you look like that. No joke."
"Didn't you say I'm not knight-like?"
"That's why it's strange. Your status and appearance clearly look like a knight, yet you're not knight-like."
"People shouldn't be judged by their appearance."
"How can you say that? The first thing you see is appearance. And I like your appearance best among other things."
Oh, another unexpected direct statement. She's completely unpredictable.
I awkwardly rubbed my nose and changed the subject.
"Uh- What's this fragrance?"
"What fragrance?"
"Every time you speak, it's like a flower scent."
"Ah."
Atalante smiled and pulled out a ceramic bottle from her waist.
"It's because of this."
"...Alcohol? That wasn't the smell."
Atalante wagged her finger at my question.
"This is something else. Did you think I go around drinking during the day?"
"Then what is it?"
"It's tea made from Malri flowers. It clears the mind. Want to try?"
"Can I?"
As I reached out my hand, Atalante hid the bottle with a playful smile. Then she took a drink herself.
"What are you-"
Atalante sat up and sat on my knee. Her elastic leg wrapped around my waist, and her long fingers covered the back of my head and neck.
"Just a moment,"
Our lips met. Her tongue tickled my teeth and gums.
"Oh."
As I opened my mouth, a soft fresh and fragrant tea flowed in.
Gulp.
Indeed, the Malri flower tea had an effect of making one's mind clear. Even after swallowing the tea, Atalante's tongue remained in my mouth for a while.
"Whew."
Atalante, who had exhaled hot breath, licked her lips and said,
"When will the bath be over?"
My heightened senses provided the answer.
"...Still a long time."
"How convenient."
Without either of us taking the lead, our lips violently collided.