141
My Villains Chapter 141
37. The Baroness's Request (2)
"You understood everything I said, right?"
Moses, who was kneeling and trembling, nodded.
"...Yes, my lord."
"My lord?"
"No, no, master. I'm sorry."
"Good."
I sent her away with a satisfied smile. Moses, now my slave, staggered back to the lodge.
But I'm not sure if this was the right thing to do.
Of course, all that talk about a ‘blood contract’ was complete nonsense.
I just drew a picture with blood manipulation while spouting some plausible nonsense. A skill like ‘blood contract’ didn't even exist in the first place.
Yet, I did this for several reasons.
First, dealing with Moses itself was a bit ambiguous. There was no way to prove she had been a bandit.
While everyone would know the infamy of Bandit Baron Albienne, his subordinates weren't famous. So if I just beheaded Moses, it could lead to misunderstandings.
Also, Moses could be useful. She could monitor Siren's group. If they talked about my soul, Moses would report it to me.
Well, her swordsmanship and magic aren't that great, but as a magic swordsman, she might be useful in other ways.
Lastly, it was because of my curiosity. I wondered if I could use characters who appeared as enemies in the game as subordinates.
The named characters from the Dark World all had powerful, troublesome, or bizarre abilities.
If I could persuade the reasonable ones among them like I did with Moses, they could become quite a good force.
I'm not sure how long Moses will be fooled by the show I put on with blood manipulation. I'll just have to keep a close eye on her.
As I was thinking this while passing by the well, suddenly the gate in the fence opened.
I heard that the owner of this lodge was quite stubborn. Perhaps because of that influence, all the soldiers at the lodge were equally rigid.
It's strange that the gatekeeper, who represents such soldiers, would open the gate at this late hour. Is it an important guest?
"...Huh?"
The one who appeared among the armed soldiers was none other than Atalante.
Her gray hair tied in a ponytail was decorated with several rings and red cloth. She wore a thin cloth dress that revealed her waist and legs, and on her left forearm, she wore a band embroidered with a whirlwind.
She was accompanied by four men. Two were unarmed like Atalante, while the other two were armed with heavy lamellar armor, shields, and curved swords.
"Nix?"
"Atilia."
Atalante, upon discovering me, made her amber eyes sparkle and then sent her companions into the lodge. Then she approached me with a broad smile.
"What are you doing here? Were you waiting for me?"
"Huh? Waiting? I didn't even know you were coming."
"Hmm, really?"
As Atalante narrowed her brows and tilted her head, I showed a slight smile.
"I couldn't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air and was on my way back in. What about you? You came back quickly?"
"My clan happened to be staying nearby."
"Nearby?"
I heard that the Nude people usually live a nomadic life in clan units. They set up tents where they can stay, and when they need to move, they load up their wagons.
"Yes. There are hardly any monsters around here these days."
"I see... How did the talk go?"
"We decided to proceed as planned. I'll pay the price tomorrow."
The initial contract I made with Atalante was that when we obtained the results of the hunting festival, we would sell them to her. I would get money, and Atalante could get a settlement for her clan.
Thanks to this background, not only did we get a generous price of three silver coins per point, but there was an additional condition that Atalante's group would not receive their share.
As a result, Atalante was in a situation where she had to buy two troll heads from me for 900 silver coins.
But I had no intention of taking all that money.
Atalante's dedication shown in the rift was beyond the contract, and I wanted to repay that dedication.
I scratched my eyebrow and said,
"If you're trying to keep your promise, I don't mind. It's not like I urgently need the money anyway..."
"It's a decision made by the 'spirit'. You don't need to be considerate."
Baron Malory is missing, and Longville is surrounded by the Anupad army. In this situation, aiming for the territory under the pretext of winning the hunting festival...
As I fell silent, Atalante added in a firm tone.
"The elders of the clan are not fools. They have reasons for making that judgment, so you don't need to worry."
"If you say so... But I'll only take half the money."
"Half?"
"Yes. Let's consider it as the price for my life and consolation money for Mr. Vittorio's family."
Atalante frowned and made a strange expression before speaking.
"Alright. Thank you."
"No need to thank me. Even I think 900 silver coins for two heads is too—"
"No, that's not it."
Her pure eyes and seductive lips drew a refreshing arc. A beautiful smile.
"Thank you for thinking of Vittorio."
"Ah."
"The old man would be happy too."
"Hmm. I hope so."
"He will be. Definitely."
I quietly met Atalante's eyes. Thanks to the bright moon, her brown eyes were golden and radiant.
Suddenly, a question arose.
Why doesn't her character sheet appear?
Although we haven't known each other for long, I had quite a good relationship with Atalante. It's not just because we had been intimate.
She had shown favor towards me since we met. We did have a fight due to a small misunderstanding, but it was quickly resolved, and we made a good deal.
Crucially, Atalante took a big risk for me and even almost died.
Isn't this enough? Why doesn't the character sheet appear?
At that moment, one of the Nude men came out of the lodge and approached us.
"Miss, your room is ready."
"Okay, thank you."
Atalante nodded and then tugged at my sleeve, saying,
"Let's go have some tea."
"Tea?"
"Or alcohol is fine too. There's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you if you come along."
At her bright smile, I found myself nodding without realizing it.
Three candles were huddled together on an iron plate in the center of the table. One looked new, one was smaller, and one was stubby and old.
The candle struggled to push back the darkness, but the room didn't quite reach brightness. It was just cozy.
Knock knock, someone knocked on the door.
"Miss, it's Moro."
"Come in."
At Atalante's words, a Nude servant entered the room. He placed a ceramic bottle and two teacups on the table and withdrew.
"Here."
"Thank you."
I smelled the tea Atalante poured. It had a sweet and subtle scent of jasmine.
Recently, I've often pondered about the conditions for character sheets to appear.
My original hypothesis was that 'you need to gain trust or favor to see the character sheet.' I made this judgment based on the cases of Ellen, Luke, and Utequais.
But after the fourth character sheet of the Swordsman appeared, this hypothesis was discarded. It's impossible for the Swordsman, whom I've never even seen, to trust or like me.
So now, my head was too complicated.
Why doesn't Atalante's sheet appear? Could she be harboring some ulterior motive? Or is there another condition I don't know about? If so, what kind of condition could it be?
Atalante, who was caressing her teacup, suddenly spoke.
"We have alcohol too."
I shook off the question marks filling my head and smiled slightly.
"That traditional drink from before? It didn't seem like something to drink before bed."
"Heheh, that's true."
Atalante's guest room was right next to where Ellen and I were staying.
A strange coincidence... Though not really. There are only six large, nice suites on the third floor of the lodge.
As I glanced to the side, Atalante's gaze followed.
"Where's Ellen?"
"She's sleeping."
"Is she still sleeping all day?"
"She's gotten a bit better. She's awake for four or five hours a day now."
"Hmm."
I remembered Ellen falling asleep almost like she had fainted after that ambitious kiss. My lips involuntarily pouted.
"Did something fun happen?"
"Huh? No, nothing..."
I looked down at my teacup for a moment.
How much poison resistance do I have now?
30 from 'Dragon Slayer's Seal', 60 from 'Four Kings' Scale Belt', 5 from 'Legendary Bloodline'. I won't have to worry about poison in this campaign.
After taking a sip of tea, I asked back.
"So, what's your plan? Do you have a way to take Longville?"
"..."
Atalante quietly sipped her tea.
"...The elders must have some ideas. They're old folks who hate losing more than anything."
"You'll have to deal with the Anupad army first. And you need to be designated as the heir in a situation without a lord. It won't be easy."
"Indeed."
Her reddish-brown eyes avoided the topic. Seems it's not the conversation topic she wanted.
"What did you want to ask?"
"Huh?"
"You said there was something you wanted to ask."
"Ah, right."
Atalante put down her teacup and looked at me quietly.
"Have you... By any chance..."
"Yes?"
"Ever met a warrior who handles arcane magic? Besides me."
"No, I haven't."
"Do you have any Nude friends?"
"Of course not. You're the first Nude I've ever seen."
"Hmm."
Atalante nodded as if interested and then suddenly spoke.
"Then how did you know my name?"
"Huh?"
"My name. How did you know it?"
"Uh, well..."
Oh no, did I make a mistake?
I swallowed dryly and shrugged my shoulders.
"What are you talking about? You told me."
"Not Atilia."
"Then, what?"
"You called me by my real name. The one no one knows."
"Uh, did I...?"
...Damn. I thought she was just using an alias, but it seems it was more than that.
Shit, how do I explain this?
Atalante, who had been quietly looking at me, burst into laughter.
"You really can't lie."
As I remained silent, she moved on to the next question as if it didn't matter.
"Then, how do you know so much about arcane power?"
"Uh, what?"
"As far as I know, there are less than ten humans in the Middle World who handle arcane magic. I'm the only crazy woman who draws power from the void."
"Oh, I see."
"But you dealt with me too familiarly. As if you thoroughly understood the abilities I have."
Silence fell.
I racked my brain incessantly to come up with an excuse. Atalante was looking at me with a faint smile.
Her smirking lips slowly parted.
"That's it, right?"
"Huh?"
"The prophecy book of Earth... Was it?"
Fuck.
While I was cursing inside, Atalante's smile was deepening.
"You saw it there, right?"
"You saw me. In that prophecy book."
It doesn't seem like a situation where I can just stubbornly deny it. I need to reveal the minimum, really the minimum amount of information and hide the rest.
I moistened my drying lips and spoke.
"I didn't see it myself."
"What do you mean?"
"...Well. I absorbed a very small fragment."
"A fragment?"
"Yes. A tiny fragment of the memory of someone who saw the prophecy book."
Atalante narrowed her brows.
"You said you were an extraterrestrial being? Invited by the demon god."
"That was a lie to deceive Karamek."
"...It didn't seem like a lie."
"Well— it's not completely a lie. Since I absorbed part of someone else's memory, part of me is that other person, right?"
As I spoke earnestly, Atalante got up from her seat and snickered.
"See?"
"I told you, you can't lie."
Fuck.
"You don't have to force yourself to lie. All I want to know about is myself."
"Yourself?"
"Yes."
Atalante slowly approached and sat on my thigh.
"If you answer my question, I won't pry into anything else. Of course, I'll keep your secrets too."
Her long fingers caressed my face. The candlelight was blocked, but even in the darkness, her face was clearly visible.
"Answer me."
"...What?"
"Can I regain my freedom?"
Freedom.
Based on that keyword, I recalled the unique scenario of the Arcane Hunter.
I don't know the detailed story. But it wasn't difficult to recall a few quests and scenes. The ending was the same.
After hesitating for a while, I opened my mouth.
"You can regain it."
Atalante quietly closed her eyes.
She calmed her agitation for a moment. Her lips trembled finely and slowly parted.
"When?"
"...I don't know that."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know when, but when certain conditions are met, you'll be free."
"Certain conditions."
Her golden eyes flickered.
"Tell me."
"Please."
I fell into silence.
To speak so openly about the future. This was the first time since coming to this world.
Is it okay to say it?
Won't the future change if I speak? Or will it become like the Oracle of Delphi?
"Nix, please."
"I'm begging you."
Suddenly, Atalante grabbed my nape. Burning desire licked at my lips.
The scent of jasmine vibrated in my mouth. Perhaps, later when I smell this scent, I might recall this kiss with Atalante.
"Tell me."
"I could even give my life. Please."
This time, I pulled Atalante closer. While feeling the flexible muscles of her back and waist with my hands, I swallowed my hesitation.
"You need to become stronger. Much stronger."
"Haa, and?"
"You need to kill six."
"Six."
"And,"
Atalante's touch, her kiss interrupted the conversation.
One candle went out. It was the shortest one. The room became darker.
"And? *huff* Keep telling me."
"Your prophecy needs to be fulfilled."
"Our prophecy?"
"The prophecy that you, Atalante, are the 'Daughter of Salvation'."
A face full of joy burrowed into my neck.
Soon, red strings and rings were scattered on the table. Her voluminous hair swayed.
"Is that all?"
"That's all."
Urgent hands fumbled with the Four Kings' Scale Belt. I helped her too.
"Wait a moment."
Atalante turned her body towards the candles. To blow them out. I held her back.
"No need for that."
I glanced at the next room, then put the belt in her mouth.
"Wait, mmph,"
"Be quiet."
Whispering that, I lifted Atalante up.
That night, I saw the fifth character sheet.
Name: Atalante Naphidat Al Nuboia
Level: 23
Class: Arcane Hunter
Abilities: Remaining bonus - 0
Strength - 18(25)
Agility - 25(45)
Health - 20(30)
Magic Power - 23(39)
Skills: Void Sphere 5pt, Void Power 3pt, Void Spear 3pt, Void Shield 2pt,Mental Barrier 3pt, Warrior of the Wilderness 3pt, Whirlwind 2pt, Whisper of the Wilderness 1pt