49
My Villains Chapter 49
13. The Army of Young Lions (4)
I remember when I first encountered 'King of Slaughter' while playing Dark World.
He was covered in blood, with a horrifying appearance that could no longer be considered human.
Because of that disgusting appearance, eerie background music, and horror movie-like direction, I almost wet myself.
"Hey."
I think the 'Palace of Slaughter' where you fight him was scarier than the King of Slaughter himself.
From what I heard, when it was released in the US, the 'Palace of Slaughter' was so brutal that it almost received an AO rating. It was a miracle it got an M rating.
"Phoenix."
A question suddenly occurs to me. What would happen if I killed Prince Ulkar right here and now?
Without the King of Slaughter, Chapter 6 couldn't exist. If Chapter 6's scenario disappeared, the following chapters would—
In the midst of this deep thought, something sharply poked my side.
"Ack!"
I let out a shrill scream and turned my head.
Ellen was staring at me blankly with her legs stretched out.
"What are you doing, you idiot!"
"You didn't answer when I called you."
"When did you?"
"Just now. You were making a stupid face, so I thought something was wrong with you."
...Her sarcasm is almost like a passive skill. What a pain.
After informing the prince about the city's situation through the letter, we were resting in a tent that was being used as a warehouse.
By now, the prince and his knights were probably in a meeting discussing how to save the city.
Turning my head, I saw that Grania, Mr. Luke, and Arnal had already fallen fast asleep.
Grania and I were able to receive treatment from the priest on Prince Ulkar's orders.
It was my first time seeing holy power being used in real life, and it was incredibly fascinating. The wounds fell off like shedding skin, and new flesh grew in its place.
Additionally, with the sound of solemn prayers, a faint golden light rippled, awakening a sense of faith I didn't even know I had. Long live the Church of Light!
Unlike potions that increase regeneration speed, the priest's healing magic strengthens life force itself, so there are no side effects (like suddenly becoming extremely hungry or experiencing anemia symptoms).
I found myself nodding involuntarily at the priest's words about borrowing the power of God.
I wonder if clerics really are an essential part of a party.
How many years ago was it? I once played Dark World with some friends after drinking at an internet cafe.
To spark their interest in reminiscing, I volunteered to create a paladin character for party play...
What level was it again? It couldn't have been higher than 30, but I can't remember.
Just like how the ‘Elemental Mage' appeared as Ellen, whom I had completely forgotten about, I hope 'PiqueApplicationNote' would show up soon too.
Thinking this, I lay back down, only to find blue eyes staring down at me.
Ellen, who didn't seem tired at all, was looking at me with wide-open eyes. I frowned.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"What can I do if I can't fall asleep?"
"Why can't you sleep? We've been working hard all day."
Ellen glanced at our other companions and pouted.
"Because it's bothering me."
"It's bothering you? Come on, are you trying to act picky now?"
I recalled our first night in South Harbor, when we stayed in a shared room with nearly twenty other travelers.
Considering that, Ellen's complaint seemed rather new.
"Could you sleep while smelling rotting corpses?"
"Again? I told you to watch your words."
"That's not it... Ugh."
Ellen narrowed her brows as if frustrated and continued.
"The old man's magic comes from the spirit realm. You might not know, being a dunce, but for a magician like me, the ominous energy is very clearly felt..."
"Oh, really?"
Feeling awkward, I scratched my cheek. Ellen, who had been grumbling, slightly furrowed her brow.
"You can't feel this?"
I can't feel it at all. Is it because I haven't invested in any magic?
"...Well, I'm not sure."
"What kind of Blood Knight are you?"
I scratched my head and avoided her skeptical gaze.
Ellen didn't seem intent on pressing the issue and just kept grumbling.
"Let's set aside the magic. Why do I have to stay in this warehouse-like place?"
"It's better than sleeping with the soldiers, isn't it? I think the prince is being considerate in his own way."
"Hmph, I don't like that prince either."
Is there anything you do like?
"Why the prince now?"
"His expression and voice were dripping with arrogance. Just because he's royalty? Looking down on people like that."
"...You..."
"What did you just say?"
"I didn't say anything."
Ellen glared at me with her round eyes for a moment, then buried herself in the hay and continued her complaints.
"I've never seen such an idiot wearing that kind of flashy armor into battle. Does he want to show off how precious he is? With a face like a gisaeng's brother, grinning unpleasantly."
"Hey, stop it. Someone might hear you."
Ellen seemed to realize her voice had become dangerously loud and shut her mouth at my words. Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone stirring around us.
After listening for a moment, Ellen pulled her blanket up to her nose and glanced at me.
"...Is that why you refused?"
"Huh? Refused what?"
"The prince's offer."
"Oh, that..."
The prince's offer Ellen was referring to was none other than a recruitment offer.
It seems he was impressed by my skills and asked me to join his ranks. He said he would treat me as a close aide and use me importantly.
I politely declined, using roundabout words to express my refusal.
Becoming a subordinate of someone who will eventually burn down the capital and hasten the end of the world... Well, that's a bit difficult to accept with ordinary resolve, isn't it?
The prince expressed his regret but didn't impose any sanctions. Thankfully, he still seems to be a normal person for now.
I nodded vaguely as I felt Ellen's gaze.
"Well, that's part of it. At my age, going back to military life is also a bit..."
"What about your age? And were you a soldier?"
Oh crap, what am I saying?
"No, rather than being a soldier - I'd say I lived a similar kind of life."
"...A life similar to a soldier's?"
Curiosity filled Ellen's large eyes, but I deliberately ignored it and quickly asked a question.
"What about you? What would you have done if you received such an offer?"
"Me? I..."
The prince seemed to know that Ellen was a spell user, but he didn't make any particular offer. He probably thought her level wasn't that impressive due to her young age.
Moreover, from what I saw earlier, what was it, 'Master Rimond'? Anyway, it seemed like he already had an extremely high-level magician with him.
There would be no reason to recruit a young magician of unknown origin.
Of course, if he had known that Ellen was from the La-Palais Palace, it would have been a different story...
Ellen, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook her head.
"Forget it. If I used palace magic without a magician's badge, who knows what kind of suspicion I'd attract."
"What are you suddenly talking about? Haven't you been using magic freely without such things?"
To my question, she replied with a look of exasperation.
"Are the back alleys and sewers the same as being in front of a prince, you idiot?"
"Uh... They're different?"
"Commoners might just say 'Wow, a magician,' but royalty and lords are different. They'd probably try to verify my background."
"So what? It's true that you're from the La-Palais Palace, isn't it?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
Ellen suddenly closed her mouth. Her expression reminded me of her situation.
Right. This girl is under the false accusation of killing her master and fleeing. Entrusting herself to the prince would be like choosing suicide.
It would be better not to use magic in front of powerful nobles if possible. I should be careful from now on.
"Anyway, there are troublesome procedures to go through, and things to do..."
"Hmm, I see."
"To begin with, I don't want to become a subordinate of such an unlucky guy. Why would I follow someone who only seeks battlefields?"
"...Why are you suddenly getting heated? I just asked. Are you perhaps disappointed that you didn't receive an offer?"
When I jokingly said this with a straight face, Ellen immediately frowned.
"Who's disappointed? If you're going to talk nonsense, just go to sleep."
"I was trying to sleep, but you started talking. Who was whining about not being able to sleep?"
"Who's whining, you idiot!"
"You were whining, who else would it be? It's your specialty."
"You, you dog...!"
The night in the unfamiliar tent deepened as usual.
Only after the sun had risen high in the sky did I open my eyes. Holding my dazed head, I started calculating internally.
If a Ratman gives 10 experience points, and I killed about seventy, that's 700...
Black Slimes are 600, and the occasional carrion worms or Zombies would add up to just over 100.
Tobald's experience might be about 400 or 500? Let's say 800 including his subordinates.
The bandits at the camp - the shabby ones might be 20 each? The well-equipped ones about 50. Let's say a little under 500 in total.
The ones encountered during the chase would be similar to 'Riding Bandits' in experience, right? If that's 150, and I killed about a dozen, that's around 2200?
Considering it was party play, if the experience gained was about half - the experience gained over two days would be about 2400? That's far from enough.
No, the battles at the camp and the chase on the plains were essentially solo play.
If I gained all the experience then, it would be about 3800?
The required experience for level 12 is 4500, and assuming there was some leftover experience from leveling up at level 11, it seems to add up roughly.
The reason I was racking my brain as soon as I woke up was none other than leveling up.
It was only three days ago that I reached level 12 while fighting Poison and his gang who attacked the inn, but I've already reached level 13.
Well, I did grind pretty hard for the past two days. I even almost died last night.
It's a bit disappointing that Ellen's level remains the same... But if she gained about 2400 experience, leveling up was still a distant story for her.
I invested 4 points in Agility and 1 point in Magic for the stat bonus.
As a result, my current stats are 20 Strength, 19 Agility, 20 Health, and 2 Magic.
Including the effect of the 'Dragon Slayer's Ring', Strength and Agility would increase to 23 and 22 respectively.
After much deliberation, I decided to invest in Magic. I needed to raise my Blood Energy to some extent to use 2nd rank skills at level 15 anyway.
Increasing it gradually by 1 point at a time would help with adaptation rather than suddenly increasing it by several points.
I saved the skill bonus. It was to immediately invest in 2nd rank skills upon reaching level 15.
'Blood Thirst' could be invested in a bit later, but 'Blood Mist', 'Plunder', and 'Boiling Blood' are skills that are effective even with just 1 point invested.
Of course, it seemed a bit complacent to save skill bonuses while living day-to-day in reality...
Investing 1 or 2 points in 'Blood Shield' or 'Blood Thirst' right now wouldn't make much difference.
'Blood Blade' and 'Flowing Blood' were already at 5 points, so I couldn't invest more until unlocking the next rank of skills.
Thinking this, I picked up a leather water bottle and moistened my throat.
As I was splashing water on my face to fully wake up, a soldier entered the tent, informing me that the prince had summoned me.
Damn, I haven't even eaten yet... While grumbling internally, I quickly got up.
"Hueh."
Ellen, who was curled up like a caterpillar next to me, made a silly sound and looked around.
"It's nothing. Go back to sleep."
"...Umm."
After covering her with a blanket up to her head to put her back to sleep, I turned around to see that Grania and Arnal were still asleep.
Mr. Luke had neatly tidied up his bedding and was absent.
He shouldn't be wandering around carelessly... Well, I'm sure he'll be careful on his own.
Carefully leaving the tent, I arrived at the command post guided by the soldier. Unlike yesterday, only the prince, the magician, and two knights were inside the tent.
There were also a few soldiers and servants visible, but I didn't need to pay attention to them.
"I greet Your Highness, the 3rd Prince."
As I greeted and paid my respects, Ulkar lightly nodded to acknowledge my greeting and immediately got to the point.
"The strategy has been decided. I will assign roles to you mercenaries as well."
"By roles, you mean?"
As I listened to Ul Kar's explanation that followed, I was internally convinced.
This bastard is definitely crazy.