27
My Villains Chapter 27
8. The Mill and the Undertaker (1)
After roughly finishing first aid on our wounds, we returned to the herb patch to collect the eggs. Then we began to dissect the lizard's carcass. We decided to only take the skin and tail.
Of course, neither Ellen nor I knew anything about tanning, so the subsequent work was closer to butchery than dissection. Skinning wasn't as easy as I thought. While skinning the head area, I accidentally stabbed the back of my hand.
I was wearing high-quality cowhide gloves, so I wasn't injured, but damn. The glove tore a little. These were expensive...
We carried the skin and tail we had worked so hard to collect by tying them to our backpack with rope. I entrusted Ellen with the lantern and carried the backpack myself, but even with my sturdy body, it was quite a struggle given how battered I was.
Fortunately, we didn't encounter any enemies since we had cleaned up the second floor well. We went straight through the first floor and up to the ground level.
When we reached the surface and saw the sun setting in the west, I couldn't help but let out a small exclamation. The long twilight was somewhat masking the city's gloomy atmosphere...
"Wow, the sun's already setting. We're just coming out."
"...Phew. That was tough."
As Ellen said, it had been a very hard day, but thanks to our final struggle, we gained a significant reward.
When the soldiers saw the remains of the giant lizard, they sent a messenger to the tower. After waiting a short while, a gentleman with a noble appearance showed up and bought the entire skin.
We had no choice. Precious items like lizard skin had to be sold to the lord mandatorily. It was a bit annoying, but the sewers were officially the lord's property, so there was nothing we could do. The price seemed fair too.
Hah- The lord really is the best in this world.
The man who introduced himself as the butler of Salt Castle clicked his tongue even as he handed over the money.
"Tsk, what kind of condition is this? If you had been a little more careful, I could have paid twice as much."
"It was due to lack of skill, so it couldn't be helped."
"Still, if you get another chance, try to skin it as carefully as possible. No, better yet, bring the whole carcass. Then I'll buy it for ten gold coins."
Crazy, it weighs well over a ton, how are we supposed to drag that all the way here, you idiot?
That's what I thought, but I just smiled politely.
In addition, we sold most of the nearly 3-meter long lizard tail. They just weighed it and paid as much as for pork.
But since all food prices had gone up, we were able to get quite a lot of money.
In any case, we ended up with four gold coins! That was equivalent to twenty silver coins, a considerable sum.
Wow, come to think of it- even after all that hard work at the docks, we only got nine silver coins. And they give twenty silver coins just for one lizard?
...No, no. Thinking about it, the lizard wasn't easy either. Besides, if it weren't for Ellen's prepared special tear gas, I would have surely died.
The experience points from the giant lizard... Probably about 500? Something like that. In simple comparison, it means it's a monster equivalent to ten warriors wearing iron masks combined.
Even in the game, it would have been quite challenging to face it with an 11th level character.
Whether in terms of money or experience points, it's the best prey, but...
Ah- still, I'm reluctant. Hunting them intentionally seems a bit too much.
Even if we encounter another giant lizard, it's hard to be optimistic that we could easily kill it.
It seems like it might work if Ellen hits the lizard’s mouth with tear gas and I seize the opportunity to cut its belly. But if there's any mistake, it's over.
It's truly a high-risk, high-return prey, you could say?
...I'll have to think about it a bit. We should be especially careful when searching the third floor.
"Kyaah, Phoenix!"
Daria screamed when she saw me return all battered.
"What on earth happened to you! Did this happen in the sewers?"
"Yeah. We encountered a lizard."
"...What? A lizard?"
I showed her a large piece of meat as she opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
"Yeah, look at this. Lizard meat! We have eggs too."
"No, why would there be a lizard in the sewers... Ugh, nevermind. Hurry and wash up, let's look at those wounds."
Saying that, Daria grabbed my left arm and started pulling.
"Uh, I smell though..."
"It's fine, just come quickly."
Wow, such kindness! And this soft, ample feeling through the clothes...
I was about to let myself be dragged along by Daria's touch, pretending I couldn't resist.
Grab.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind and grabbed my right arm.
"Wait-"
"Huh?"
When I turned my head, Ellen was pursing her lips, trying to choose her words.
No way, this kid? Even if she lacks common sense...
"Hey, can't you see I'm injured?"
"...What?"
"Even if you're tired, don't you have any consideration, you?"
I can't pull rank here like some old fogey... But isn't this a natural right as an injured person?
"I can't let this slide. I'm washing up first, okay?"
At my words, she frowned deeply.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who said anything about washing up first?"
"What? Then?"
"No... Give me the luggage, the luggage!"
"Huh?"
Oh, come to think of it, I'm the one carrying the backpack?
At that moment, Daria, who had been watching from the side, stepped in and helped me take off the backpack. Then she gave Ellen a kind smile.
"It's very dirty, so I'll clean it up a bit and bring it up for you. Is that okay?"
…Wow, an angel. My mouth involuntarily spread into a grin.
At Daria's kindness, Ellen pouted for a moment before turning away abruptly.
"...Do as you like. I'm going up."
As she staggered up to the second floor, I washed up with Daria's help and headed to the room.
Daria, who followed me to the room, snatched the ointment I took out from my bag and said, "Is this the ointment Mr. Oreg made? I'll apply it for you."
"Oh, it's fine."
"Lie down quickly."
"Sh-should I?"
As I lay face down on the bed with my upper body bare, Daria reached out and applied the ointment to the scratches on my back.
"Ouch, it stings."
"Oh my, I'm sorry. Does it hurt a lot?"
"No, no. It's fine. It doesn't hurt much."
Ah, such careful hands... It felt like my fatigue was melting away like snow.
Still, the aches all over my body were unavoidable. I guess I'll have to rest for a day tomorrow.
Thinking that, I dozed off while receiving Daria's care.
I carefully inserted a threaded needle into the arming cap.
"Ugh..."
Damn, it's not working well. The item is made of several layers of linen, so the needle doesn't go through easily.
The fact that the sewing needle, shaped like a fishhook, was too blunt was also one of the reasons making the work slow.
"Ouch, it stings!"
Ugh, I pricked my finger.
Looking at the wound, the not-so-sharp needle had dug quite deep into my finger.
"Ah, it hurts like hell."
I hope I don't get tetanus... Nah, I sterilized it with fire, it should be fine.
I made excuses about the tools earlier, but honestly, I know. It's just that I'm terrible at sewing.
Well, even during basic training, I struggled to properly attach a single name tag to my uniform. Seems like skills don't improve just because the body changes.
I wonder if Phoenix was bad at sewing too?
...No, a squire is basically a knight's servant, right? He must have been good at chores like sewing.
Come to think of it, it's a bit strange? It seems like Phoenix's original abilities are being absorbed in a jumbled way.
Martial arts only show their true skill after some training, but language comes out without any discomfort. I can write easily, but the knack for doing chores remains the same.
As I was tilting my head pondering this and sucking on my bleeding finger, "Hey, can't you sit still?"
Ellen, lying on the opposite bed, was frowning deeply.
"Hey, you think I'm doing this for no reason? I sat still all day yesterday too, you know? I need to do something productive."
"Then be more careful. Why are you shedding blood unnecessarily?"
"Unnecessarily?"
I started to argue, waving the arming cap in front of her eyes.
"Look at this. There's not a single cushion in this cap. And the helmet is so heavy, it feels like my head's going to crack when I wear it."
Unlike modern bulletproof helmets, the helmets here are solid pieces of metal without any lining or cover. Naturally, if you just wear the helmet alone, it won't be properly secured, won't absorb shock, and won't serve its purpose.
That's why the arming cap is worn under the helmet.
It's similar to wearing a quilted armor under chainmail, you could say? Anyway, I was in the process of adding fabric to the arming cap to stuff it with cotton.
Despite my explanation, Ellen just frowned as if I was pathetic.
"Hey, stop exaggerating- You're a warrior, and you're saying your head's going to crack just from wearing a helmet?"
"What, exaggerating? Exaggerating? Oh, really. I feel like punching you in the philtrum."
"What?"
As she glared at me with wide eyes, I grinned and shrugged.
"Oops, my true feelings slipped out."
"Hey!"
Ellen shouted like that and tried to raise her upper body. But,
"Haha ow..."
With a weak groan, her half-raised upper body fell back down.
I chuckled as annoyingly as possible and said, "Puhahaha! Hey, do you have strings attached to your back? Is someone pulling you from behind?"
"...Shut up, please."
Since coming out of the sewers, she had been suffering from severe muscle pain. It didn't seem like her bones or ligaments were damaged, but her arms, waist, and abs were tightly knotted. Of course, her legs were the worst.
Because Ellen was bedridden like this, we had been resting for two days since catching the lizard and escaping the sewers.
As for me, I had recovered most of my condition by dinnertime yesterday.
My cracked shoulder blade was still a bit sore, but it was healing differently. I thought it would probably be fine by evening.
This seemed to be not just about health, but also the effect of the passive skill 'Flowing Blood'.
While a Health of 18 is certainly a high score - it's not superhuman. Without 'Flowing Blood', to heal like a troll like this, my Health would need to be much higher than it is now.
Anyway, since I recovered my condition, I had been taking care of the sick Ellen.
Well, she didn't have a fever, so there wasn't much to do... But the city's atmosphere was so ominous that I felt uneasy leaving her alone.
As I was thinking about this and teasing Ellen for a while, she suddenly made a pained face and groaned.
"Ugh."
"Is it very bad? Want me to massage it?"
"...I'm fine.”
Judging by the hesitation in her answer, it was clearly just words. You're in the palm of my hand, you foolish soul.
"Why? Where does it hurt the most? Point it out."
"...Th-thighs."
"Thighs-?"
Oh boy, she's saying something that could lead to trouble.
I tried not to say things like this to avoid sounding like an old fogey, but as an ethical man and Confucian, I can't just let this slide.
"Hey. Not your arms or shoulders, but thighs? You're a grown girl asking a strange man to massage your thighs?"
At my reproachful question, Ellen made a dumbfounded expression, then blushed and protested.
"Y-You crazy fool! You asked where it hurt the most!"
"Hey, don't you understand the context of the conversation? 'I'll massage it for you. Where does it hurt the most?' The answer should be, 'Oh, this part hurts the most. Please massage here,' right?"
"That's not what I meant! I just, just said my thighs hurt the most-"
Sigh, fine. She's been stuck in that weird palace since she was young, so I guess she wouldn't know.
Such an uneducated kid. It really makes me realize the importance of institutionalized basic education.
Thinking this, I got up from the bed, and she asked with a startled look.
"Wh-where are you going?"
"To get Daria. She seemed free, I'll ask her to massage your legs."
At my answer, her face hardened.
Her face was so full of life when she was angry or pouting, but when she erased her expression, she looked just like a doll.
"Who said you could? Why would I get a massage from that whore?"
"Tsk, can't you speak nicely?”
"I don't care. I don't even want to brush fingertips with that woman."
Now, like Pavlov's dog, whenever Ellen shows this kind of reaction, my gaze automatically goes to her philtrum.
I wonder if there will come a day when I can't resist the urge to hit her philtrum? I'm looking forward to it.
"Sigh, fine. Just wait a moment."
"I said I don't want a massage!"
"Ah, who said I'm calling her for you? I'm going to ask her to help with sewing."
"...Sewing?"
"Yeah. I'm terrible at sewing."
Oh boy, did she notice? Despite her expressionless face, Ellen's eyes were full of doubt. She looked up at me and asked.
"Massage or sewing, it's just an excuse, right? You just want to hang out with that whore, don't you?"
"...No, I don't? And stop calling her a whore-"
Before I could finish speaking, she turned away abruptly and lay down.
Then she covered herself with the blanket up to her head.
"...What are you doing?"
"I don't know, I'm going to sleep. Get out."
"What do you mean 'get out', kid. Don't you know how dangerous the city is right now?"
"There's no one staying at the inn anyway."
"Still."
At my words, she suddenly threw off the blanket, reached out and grabbed the stonebow at the head of the bed. Then she skillfully drew the string.
"Urgh."
...Her hands are skilled, but I guess she can't help the pain in her arms.
Anyway, after drawing the string, she placed a small glass bottle on it. Then she glared at me and declared, "I can take care of myself. You do whatever you want, go out or not."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. So hurry up and leave."
I hesitated for a moment but eventually left the room.
I heard there was another small-scale public execution yesterday... Well, I think it'll be fine. Nothing should happen in broad daylight.