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My Villains Chapter 34
9-2. The Request (1)
Ellen, who was meditating among the clutter, seemed to be ruminating on the spells she had just cast.
I was about to sit down next to her when I noticed approaching figures and straightened up again.
"Grania."
"Phoenix."
As I smiled lightly and held out my hand, Grania, with a round helmet at her side, took my hand with a tired face.
Behind Grania stood a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties with a blank expression. It was Arnal, the archer.
Grania looked me over and asked with a slightly surprised face.
"I thought you were quite injured, but you look fine?"
"Ah- it was just a slight scratch."
I said, patting the bandage wrapped around my shoulder.
In fact, the wound inflicted by Poison's curved blade was quite serious. But thanks to my healthy body and mysteriously imbued blood, the wound was already healing.
After applying Mr. Oreg's special ointment and wrapping it with a bandage, it was bearable as long as I didn't move vigorously.
By the way, wait. When I saw them during the battle earlier-
"Anton? Wasn't Anton with you too?"
"He's resting after receiving treatment."
Ah, right.
I saw it in the midst of the chaos, but Anton was definitely fighting against those thieves looking somewhat injured.
I roughly knew what kind of guy Anton was because I had a drink with Grania's gang before.
He's a veteran who's been with Grania since she started mercenary work in her hometown, and has a rather docile personality for a mercenary.
"Is the wound serious?"
"Quite. His arm was deeply stabbed."
As Grania trailed off with a dark expression, Arnal, who had tied her short black hair together, spoke in an annoyed voice.
"His condition is very bad. If he's unlucky, he might become disabled."
"..."
As I closed my mouth, unable to find anything to say, Arnal behind me let out a scoff.
"Ha, is that all?"
"...Huh?"
"If you had any sense, you'd at least pretend to be sorry, wouldn't you?"
What's with her, why is she suddenly acting up?
Before I could respond, a sharp voice came from behind.
"Pretend to be sorry?"
When I turned my head, Ellen, who had finished meditating and was standing next to me, had her arms crossed.
"Why are you blaming Phoenix for getting beaten by mere beggars due to your lack of skill?"
Yeah, well done. You're not one to be outdone by others when it comes to acting up.
Arnal, whose face contorted at Ellen's words, glared and asked in a sarcastic tone.
"Why, you ask? Should I explain?"
"Arnal, stop it."
Ignoring Grania's sighing restraint, Arnal started lashing out, looking back and forth between me and Ellen.
"The reason we came here was to meet Phoenix. And the reason we didn't run away when those thieves attacked was because we knew that Phoenix's ill-tempered half-wit companion was hiding on the second floor. How about it? Do you feel a little sorry now?"
"Ha, how dare you call someone a half-wit."
"What else would you call a young girl who can do nothing but whine?"
"Arnal, stop it!"
Grania raised her voice belatedly, but... Somehow it feels like she's deliberately playing the fool. It's as if she's saying things through Arnal's mouth that she can't say herself.
Well then, I guess I don't need to stop Ellen's actions either.
"In flamma-"
Ellen, who had been sneering, conjured flames above her palm with a short incantation.
Grania and Arnal's faces were instantly filled with shock. The nearby guards also started whispering among themselves with surprised faces.
"How dare a mere mercenary wench like you call me what? A half-wit? Me?"
As the flame grew in size and became arrow-shaped, Ellen's cold smile deepened as well.
On the other hand, Grania and Arnal, standing awkwardly, couldn't hide their bewildered looks.
They were alternating glances between the threateningly flickering flame arrow and me with my hand on the pommel, unable to do this or that.
"...Um, Miss Ellen. Please calm down for a moment."
"Calm down? That archer not only insulted me but also my master and the entire La-Palaise Palace. And you're telling me to calm down?"
You're overreacting. Honestly, until an hour ago, you really were a half-wit.
Seeing Grania and Arnal backing away with tense faces, I let out a small sigh.
I guess I should step in now.
"That's enough, Ellen. They probably didn't mean it seriously. It's understandable since their comrade was severely injured."
Arnal, meeting my eyes, nodded while taking her hand off her quiver.
"...Yeah, that's right. I misspoke."
Ellen glared at Arnal for a moment before waving her hand slightly.
"I'll let it slide this time. But there won't be a second chance, so you'd better watch your mouth."
As the flame arrow lost its form and scattered in the wind, she crossed her arms again and closed her mouth.
...This girl, her shoulders seem to be soaring to the sky. Am I imagining it?
As the situation roughly settled, I suddenly had a question and asked Grania.
"By the way, you said you came here because of me?"
"That's right. We have something to tell you."
"Something to tell me?"
Grania closed her mouth for a moment and looked around.
Thanks to the spell Ellen had cast, the gazes of passersby and guards had gathered, so Grania led us to the back of the inn.
Only when we reached the place where we had just had a fierce battle with Poison and his subordinates did Grania open her mouth.
"You've heard that we've been hired by the lord, right?"
"Yeah. I heard you're staying at the barracks these days? Is the food there good?"
At my nonchalant question, Grania jokingly replied.
"Well, army food is all the same. But it's better than here."
"I guess so. If they only fed oatmeal, all the soldiers would run away, wouldn't they?"
Seemingly displeased with the conversation aimed at easing tension, Ellen slightly furrowed her brow.
"Cut out the unnecessary talk. Why are you suddenly bringing up the lord?"
"Because we came here due to the lord's message."
"The lord's message?"
As Grania was about to answer, suddenly a gruff voice was heard.
"I'll explain that."
What now?
The one who appeared with the voice was none other than the captain of the guard.
The captain of the guard, who appeared with two escort guards, had a round brown beard on his chin and plump cheeks, giving him the impression of a fierce bulldog.
"It would be more efficient for me, a vassal of the lord, to deliver the order directly rather than a mere mercenary. Since I've come all the way here anyway."
Ignoring Grania's contorted expression, the captain of the guard added with a stern face, placing his hand on his waist.
"Even in a back alley, I can't just stand by and watch the lord being referred to casually."
The captain of the guard was wearing a banner embroidered with a checkered pattern over his chain mail and a thick cloak. With his broad shoulders and the longsword at his waist, he looked exactly like he did in the game.
I wonder if he has the same tough stamina in reality as he did in the game.
But- being the captain of the guard, he must be of quite high status. Is he a nobleman? I'm not sure, but since he's a vassal of the lord, he must be quite powerful.
Lost in thought, I remained silent for a moment, and the captain of the guard twitched his eyebrow slightly and asked a question.
"Are you Phoenix?"
"...Yes, I am."
"I see. I will deliver the order of His Excellency Osred of Eafried, Count of Seiben, Ruler of the Cooperative Sea, and Lord of South Harbor and Salt Castle, so listen with proper respect."
"An order, you say?"
As I turned to Grania with a disgruntled expression, she quickly added, "To be precise, it's a request. The lord has made a special request of you."
"What kind of request?"
The one who answered was the captain of the guard.
"It's a request you can't dare refuse given the urgent situation in the city. So you should think of it as an order and carry it out diligently."
Grania again, "You just need to deliver a letter outside the castle walls. It will be dangerous, but it's to save the city. We need your help."
The captain of the guard this time, "The Count has provided the blueprints of the sewers that have been passed down since ancient times. If the rumors about you circulating are true, you should be able to handle this much."
Grania once more, "You'll use the secret passage marked on the blueprint to slip through the bandits' encirclement, then deliver the lord's letter to the reinforcements that should be stationed nearby."
Can't just one person speak? Why are you confusing me by taking turns talking?
"Wait, wait a moment please."
After stopping the captain of the guard who was about to pour out more words, I asked Grania, "What's all this suddenly? The lord, I mean, His Lordship has made a request of me? Why?"
"Well..."
"His Excellency made a decision after seeing the hide you presented. If you can hunt such a monster alone, he judged you to be the right person for this task."
Presented hide? Monster?
Ah, is he talking about the lizard hide I sold after coming out of the sewers?
Come to think of it, the man who bought the hide introduced himself as the tower's butler. I guess it went straight up to the lord.
"The lord must have hundreds of soldiers under his command, so why specifically me..."
At my question, the captain of the guard frowned as if quite troubled.
"We're in a situation where we have to watch the sea beyond the bay, the plains beyond the castle walls, and keep an eye on the city at the same time."
"Mercenaries are being mobilized for castle defense. The bandits' attacks are becoming more frequent, so a mobilization order might be issued soon."
A mobilization order, huh.
South Harbor is a port city developed through trade and commerce. Although the lord's power is strong, he can't just trample on the merchants who have come from outside as he pleases.
Because of this situation, I heard that even issuing a requisition order for foreigners was quite burdensome, but if a mobilization order including conscription is about to be issued...
"It's a total mess."
"..."
I quietly nodded in agreement with Ellen's muttering and asked again.
"So. Are you saying that because you're short-handed, Ellen and I should handle this task alone?"
"Of course not. You can go with the mercenaries here."
"...Grania?"
Seeing my puzzled expression, Grania nodded with a bitter smile.
"Originally, Arnal, Anton, and I were supposed to go together - but Anton seems to be in no condition."
"...Why just you? What about the others?"
"Gillius and Farel have temporarily joined the royal guard. Sister Olga is in the church because of the bishop's edict. We can't even meet her now."
"I can understand Sister Olga, but the royal guard? Was the royal guard such an easy place to enter?"
To my question, the captain of the guard shook his head and answered instead.
"Of course not. This is His Excellency's consideration. It's a show of will to guarantee their status in return for entrusting them with a dangerous mission."
Although the captain of the guard was speaking with a rather brazen attitude, he didn't seem skilled at lying as his face was clouded with uneasiness.
Noticing this, I glanced at Grania and saw that her complexion was quite dark.
"Hmm."
...I think I have a rough idea of what's going on.
Farel was a mercenary with decent javelin skills and was Grania's younger brother. He wasn't incompetent, but he definitely wasn't outstanding enough to be made a royal guard despite being a wandering mercenary.
Keeping Farel in the royal guard was probably a safeguard to prevent Grania from betraying them. They took a hostage in case she might just abandon the city and run away during the mission.
As for Gillius... Did they take him too because it would be too obvious if they only took Farel?
Or maybe Gillius volunteered to stay behind because he didn't want to face me.
Anyway, with two burly men as hostages... I guess they wouldn't mind if we just ran away if things go south.
Thinking this inwardly, I nodded with a serious face.
"I see. So to summarize, I'm to join forces with the mercenaries to find the secret passage in the sewers, go outside the city, and deliver His Lordship's letter to the reinforcements. Is that correct?"
"Exactly."
Recalling my memories of playing Dark World, delivering a letter to reinforcements through a secret passage was one of the main scenarios in Chapter 2.
In other words, a quest similar to this request existed in the game.
But the problem was that the order seemed a bit off.
In the game, after discovering a series of clues in the sewers and relaying them to the city guard, the letter delivery mission was received directly from the lord as a result.
But to skip the front part of the scenario in chunks and jump straight to this... Has the order gotten mixed up?
Did the battle at the docks or hunting the lizard have an influence?
Or is it because two weeks have already passed since arriving in South Harbor?
...Hmm, it's difficult to judge accurately in the current situation. The discrepancy between reality and the game was still a challenging issue.
After pondering for a moment, I soon shook my head with a sigh.