79
My Villains Chapter 79
21. Moonless Night (2)
Lord Ariad's subordinate, Acer, led me down the path between the plaza and the Salt Castle. It was around the time we reached the dark dock after passing through an alley without any signs of life.
"This way."
I followed the faint voice. Several soldiers were holding their breath in the shadow of the lighthouse that stood firm even through earthquakes.
...What? Just seven people? Is this it?
Just as I thought that, I discovered two men sitting behind the soldiers.
"You're here."
The man rising from the wooden box was wearing a dark blue satin cloak. The face revealed in the faint starlight was not what I had expected.
"Lord Langbolt? What brings you here..."
"Lord Ariad made a request. When there's blood to be spilled on a moonless night, how could I, as a knight, stay idle?"
Lord Langbolt adjusted his gauntlet and rested his wrist on the pommel of the rapier hanging at his waist.
"While galloping across darkened fields has its charm... Admiring stars reflected in the sea is several times more splendid."
...Is this guy drunk on the night air? What nonsense is he talking?
Well, anyway, it's reassuring. After all, this person is quite renowned in the Kingdom of Milanol. Though young, his subordinates also had fire in their eyes.
"But, I don't see Lord Ariad anywhere?"
Acer answered my question.
"He should be at the castle gate. He's commanding the militia."
"The castle gate? Why?"
"Because the informants might cooperate with the bandits."
"...Come on, surely no one would do such a thing unless they were crazy?"
"Anyone can do crazy things when cornered. The possibility is low, but the risk is high, so it's better to be prepared."
After finishing his explanation, Acer asked one of the soldiers wearing a hood... Oh, it's that sergeant I saw earlier? Anyway, he asked that man.
"Mr. Gilbert, could you explain the situation?"
The sergeant, Gilbert, wearing chain mail, was holding a small shield and a sharp war axe.
He yawned widely before nodding at Acer's request. Despite the impending battle, his face showed no sign of tension.
"As per Lord Ariad's orders, we've stationed soldiers and lit torches brightly along other routes."
So that's why there were so few soldiers - they're blocking other paths. Seems like they're trying to lure the informants this way...
Gilbert pointed to the street of stalls extending from the dock.
"We've called in all the patrol guards an hour ago, so this area is practically deserted."
With all merchants having evacuated and the night watch tower collapsed, it was a dark street without a single light.
Come to think of it, the moon isn't out tonight. Pretty good conditions for an ambush. Though it's also favorable for fugitives.
"Even if a fight breaks out, there won't be any reinforcements."
"Will we be alright with so few numbers?"
"We can't break the encirclement. If they throw out bait and escape in another direction, we'll end up like dogs chasing chickens."
"With this many people, we can't completely block the path..."
"Put your worries aside. We have archer friends up there."
I looked up at the lighthouse following Gilbert's gesture. Well, couldn't see anything since the light was out.
"Besides... We have 'Roaring Wave' Lord Langbolt and the 'Bloody Mercenary’ friend here. There shouldn't be much danger."
...Hmm, the situation seems pretty good?
Thinking back to the game, Ubar was the third pick-name of Chapter 2.
He's an annoying one who shows up with two loyal subordinates and twenty underlings. The difficulty is quite high since the player has to face Ubar and all his subordinates alone.
But now the situation is very different.
First, one of Ubar's loyal subordinates is already dead. The assassin who handled poison and daggers, 'Hitman Poison', was killed by Ellen and me.
We killed several operatives then too, so from Ubar's perspective, his subordinates must have decreased somewhat?
Moreover, I'm not facing the remaining ones alone. One of the kingdom's most famous killers- no, knights is beside me, along with several soldiers.
If we play this right, we could take down Ubar quite smoothly.
Just as I was thinking this, Acer added, "Ah, but..."
"But?"
"Whoever comes, we need to keep the leader alive."
...What kind of bullshit is this now.
"Lord Ariad said the ones escaping today won't be all of them. To completely root out the informants, we need to capture the leader to eliminate the rest."
Hmm, so it's going to be like this.
Well, in the game you get quest items when you kill mobs, but in reality it's better to capture them alive. Though it won't be easy.
After the explanation, I sat down behind the lighthouse. It was time to wait.
Swoosh, splash.
The gentle, monotonous sound of waves settled on my eyelids. Though it was a bit humid, the night wind was refreshingly cool, and the moonless night wrapped the world in comfort.
Normally I should be getting drowsy, but strangely my mind is clear.
No, it's not clear. I keep thinking about Ellen who's staying behind alone, and somehow I can't settle down. My heartbeat is erratic.
"Hey, friend."
Looking up, I saw Sergeant Gilbert, who had been half-lying down, holding out a leather water flask.
"It's wine."
Taking a sip, it seemed watered down a bit but had a nice aroma. My unsettled feelings seemed to calm down a little.
As I returned the leather flask, Gilbert said jokingly, "No need to be like that."
"...What?"
"At most they'll be escort mercenaries or thugs. Lord Langbolt can sweep away that level by himself, so don't be so nervous, friend."
...Hmm, seems he mistook my anxious appearance for tension.
No need to correct him. I just smiled quietly.
Around that time, something like a bird call was heard.
Peee, peek.
At that, Gilbert, who had been lying down, suddenly got up and whispered to Lord Langbolt, "Lord Langbolt, they're here."
"Finally."
Lord Langbolt, who had been looking toward the sea with his arms crossed, revealed his white teeth.
The other soldiers busily but silently prepared for battle. I too stretched once before pulling on my chain mail hood and helmet.
Pririri, peek.
At the continuing bird calls, the sergeant's face hardened.
"...About forty of them, they say."
"Forty? No, where did such numbers..."
As Acer gaped, the sergeant cut off his words.
"This isn't the time for that. We'll need to call in all the surrounding soldiers-"
"No need for that."
"...Lord Langbolt?"
Lord Langbolt had already drawn his rapier.
The shape of his sword was a bit different from the rapier I had imagined. It wasn't the thin, flexible type used in fencing matches.
Langbolt’s sword was about two finger-joints wide, with a sharp blue edge on both sides. At a glance, it didn't look particularly light.
Thinking back to Langbolt’s swordsmanship I saw before, the blade hadn't seemed to bend at all.
He adjusted his grip on the sword and turned to me.
"Your lord compared your skills to those of knights."
"Ah, did he?"
"It's been bothering me that I couldn't give him a definite answer then."
...So what do you want me to do?
Seeing my confused expression, Langbolt continued.
"Since this is a good opportunity, would you like to cross swords with me?"
"A competition, what's with that suddenly..."
"Let's compete to see who cuts down more enemies."
Treating killing people like some kind of sports competition. Truly a knight-like idea.
But... It doesn't sound too bad. My heart, which was beating with anxiety and unease, now pounds with a new rhythm.
This... Was close to the excitement I used to feel in my school days when heading to a blind date.
Why am I like this?
"...Ah."
Fighting against people, not undead or monsters.
It's been quite a while.
"What do you think?"
Toward Sir Langbolt who asked with a smile, I gave a slight nod.
"Boss, something's strange."
The one whispering while scanning the dock was a bald giant.
The man holding a large axe was wearing thick leather armor. Dozens of rough-looking men were walking around, keeping watch in all directions.
"All other paths are blocked off, but this way being completely empty is very suspicious."
"Hmm..."
The man next to the giant made a groaning sound.
He had a large sword scar on his face, but unlike his dirty appearance, he was wearing an expensive tunic.
The scarred man, Ubar, briefly narrowed his eyes while scanning the dock, then shook his head.
"Having already sent our men to the shipyard, we can't retreat now."
"If we rather report to that person-"
"...That person?"
Ubar glared at the giant while growling under his breath.
"You think that monster woman will protect us? Shut up and just follow."
The bald giant, Ironborn, closed his mouth at Ubar's threat.
'Well, if it's a trap, we'll just wipe them all out.'
As Ironborn was thinking this, he suddenly remembered a man who had been his rival.
The assassin Poison was Ubar's sharp blade. There was no one better than Poison for tasks like sticking a dagger in a traitor's throat or poisoning disobedient merchants.
Ironborn hated the assassin who received more trust than himself, the action commander. When Poison tried to kill a mercenary but was killed instead, Ironborn secretly cheered.
But now, he found himself missing that hateful Poison.
'He was a vicious and cruel bastard. On moonless nights like this, he was just like a ghost.'
Ironborn spat on the ground with a bitter taste in his mouth.
It was at that moment that two figures blocked the thugs' path.
The two men who sprang out from the lighthouse's shadow had an unsettling appearance and build. That's why the thugs stopped walking with tense expressions.
"...Who are you?"
To Ironborn's question as he stepped forward through his subordinates, Phoenix, armed with heavy armor and shield, answered.
"We're here to collect blood money."
"...What did you say?"
"Why pretend you don't know? After burning down an innocent inn and killing people, shouldn't you pay for your crimes, you thugs?"
Ironborn finally realized who they were and hardened his expression.
"The Bloody Mercenary. How did you get here-"
"If you're curious, either throw away that hideous thing and surrender quietly, or I'll satisfy your curiosity before you soil yourself while hanging."
"This son of a-"
"Ah, right. For you guys it would be decapitation, not hanging. Then I'll visit you before your head rolls off. How's that?"
The thugs growled roughly at Phoenix's sarcasm.
Looking at the thugs raising their spirits while quietly cursing, the blue-caped knight, Langbolt Ershore, let out a snicker.
"Since you've set the mood, shall I take the first move?"
"Oh, go ahead."
"Let's count that big guy as three shares, and the boss as five."
"Sounds good."
As Phoenix and Langbolt exchanged casual banter, the silent Ubar ground his teeth.
There were only two opponents. On their side were almost forty men, each a well-armed fighter.
"What are you standing around for, you idiots? Kill them!"
Before that shout could even finish, Langbolt made the first move. He shot forward like an arrow, kicking off the ground.
The distance of ten meters was erased in an instant.
Swoosh.
"Kugh-"
The extended blade pierced an action team member's chest.
The blue cape fluttered like flower petals, and the flashing sword light cut through both the night sky and two necks at once.
"Damn it, attack!"
At someone's shout, the thugs all rushed at Langbolt at once, swinging swords, axes, and iron clubs.
Langbolt showed a grin under his well-groomed mustache and began the real massacre.
As befitting a renowned knight of the kingdom, Langbolt was superhuman in strength.
Every time he kicked the ground, he would spring several meters forward showing lethal thrusts, and when weapons came at him, he would either dodge them leisurely or deflect them with his plate armor.
"Surround him, surround him!"
When the enraged thugs surrounded him from all directions, Langbolt jumped higher than his own height and landed on the lighthouse wall.
The sight of him moving like a feather while wearing plate armor weighing over 20 kilograms was utterly surreal.
Only then did one of the thugs notice Langbolt's identity and let out a desperate cry.
"That blue cape... Damn it, it's the Roaring Wave!"
At the scream-like shout, Langbolt smiled while casually cleaning his sword.
"The wind is good."
Slash.
No sooner had blood droplets scattered in the air than the wave engulfed the thugs.