99
My Villains Chapter 99
25. Rainy Season (4)
Back at the inn, sitting across from Ellen, I first made her drink the sacred potion.
"Are you sure it's okay for me to drink this? Won't this give the prince leverage over me?"
"If I thought this one thing could give him leverage, I'd be serving the prince right now. Stop talking and drink it quickly."
"Nngh."
Ellen grimaced but downed the sacred potion.
"How is it? Can you feel it working?"
"Ah... Ah..."
Ellen groaned softly and wiggled her toes. Then she rotated her ankle and her knee started twitching.
"Oh, oh! Hey, you're moving well!"
"...My knee still isn't moving well."
"How about your waist and hips?"
At my question, Ellen squeezed her eyes shut and broke into a sweat. Then her thighs and hips started twitching and moving bit by bit!
"That's strange. Shouldn't recovery start from near the waist? Why are your feet moving first?"
"Ugh, I don't know either."
"How's the sensation?"
When I kneaded her calf and knee, Ellen hunched her shoulders and clenched her fists.
"Ack, it, it tickles."
"Huh? How is it ticklish?"
"I don't know, how would I know? I just said it tickles because it tickles."
From a quick check, it seemed her sensation had returned almost 100%. Below her knees had recovered so much that she could even stand straight while holding my arm.
However, she seemed overly ticklish... I'm a bit worried this might be some kind of side effect.
"Hmm, let's try drinking the other three bottles gradually. You've recovered this much after seven bottles, so ten bottles should cure you completely."
Ellen quietly nodded at my hopeful words. Seeing how she wasn't showing much joy, it seems she's still not confident about being completely cured.
After helping Ellen sit back down, I sat across from her.
After hesitating briefly, I opened my mouth.
"By the way, Ellen."
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me about this?" Saying that, I handed Ellen a small piece of parchment. It was the note about the pursuers from the La-Palais palace.
"...Why, what is this?"
"The prince gave it to me."
Ellen's face hardened. After taking a deep breath, she spoke with difficulty.
"What did... You hear?"
"Yeah. Well, about who you are and what your situation is. That kind of thing."
Her blue eyes shook violently.
"...So?"
"...Huh? What do you mean 'so'?"
"So, what are you going to do? You must be disappointed in me."
"Disappointed? Why suddenly disappointed? What are you talking about?"
When I opened my eyes wide and asked back, she replied in a shrinking voice.
"I... Deceived you."
"About what?"
"I didn't tell you about escaping, or that I was being chased,"
"Wait, wait a minute. Ellen."
Eyes now wet with tears looked up at me. I waved my hands in bewilderment and continued speaking.
"I think you're misunderstanding something. I'm not interrogating you, or, well, reproaching you or anything like that."
"...Huh?"
"I don't think you lied, and I'm not angry or disappointed or anything. I just wanted to hear about this story from you, that's all. If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me."
At my restraint, Ellen closed her mouth. As tears gradually welled up in her large eyes,
"Oh geez. Hey, give me your hand."
"Uh, okay?"
"I said give me your hand."
When Ellen showed hesitation, I quickly grabbed her hand.
Overlapping hands. It's quite a familiar feeling now.
"Ellen, I told you before."
"...Wh-what."
"That I'm on your side no matter what happens. That we shouldn't waver. Don't you remember?"
"I remember, yes, I remember."
"So, um, you don't need to feel sorry about something like this. I really don't mind at all."
Looking into eyes with pearls of tears hanging, I gathered my courage and wiped them away with my fingertips.
"Sigh. Why do you cry so often? It hurts my heart."
Ellen squeezed her eyes shut. Making my effort to wipe them futile, an uncontrollable amount of tears streamed down.
"Ah, hey. Don't cry."
"I'm sorry, *hiccup* I'm sorry."
"I told you there's no need to be sorry?"
"I should have, told you, *sob* but I didn't know how you would react if I told you,"
"Yes, I understand, I understand."
"My, name. It's not Ellen, but Erenar. *sob* Erenar, Radakalin. What I said about receiving a mission from Master, that was a lie."
"Oh. I, I see."
...I already knew that. Now I feel unnecessarily guilty.
"Um, Ellen. Don't cry and,"
"Master, Master."
She kept sobbing endlessly with her face terribly scrunched up. Though she covered her eyes with her sleeve, she couldn't hide the tears flowing down her fair cheeks and jawline.
"On my birthday, while eating sauté, *waaah* suddenly a spell thief, *hiccup* I couldn't do anything, and Master, Galnar, that, that bastard,"
"Hey, st-stop crying."
Seeing her cry with even her shoulders shaking, a corner of my heart feels stuffy and heavy too.
"I didn't do anything, but *sniff* I, Master, the palace's, those idiots, false accusations, *waaah*"
Without realizing it, I reached out and hugged her as she rambled incoherently. Ellen buried her face in my chest and sobbed even louder.
"It's okay, it's okay. Tell me slowly."
Carefully, as if she might break or shatter, I stroked her head. Every time the flawless blonde hair flowed, a lime scent spread out.
"Phoenix, *sob, hiccup* Phoenix." Ellen rambled incoherently like that for a while. I listened to her story while piecing together the puzzle with scenarios from my memory.
By the time the story was wrapping up, Ellen finally fell asleep from exhaustion. With both arms wrapped around my waist.
"...Sigh. What should I do with this crybaby."
I gently stroked her hair while she lay on my lap.
***
Ippotranslation
***
"...That's the situation, so we decided to leave."
At my explanation that omitted many details, those seated around the table exchanged bewildered looks with each other.
Except for Utequais.
"South Harbor, good city. But not place for warrior. Go to where mother leads."
He said that while drinking his beer. I suppose that means he understands.
Meanwhile, Grania, sitting next to me, had a strange expression.
"So, when are you leaving?"
"Hmm. If we wake up early tomorrow and prepare for travel, I think we can leave before lunch."
"...Just how urgent is this that you're leaving so suddenly?"
"Well, that's just how it turned out."
Arnal gave a hollow laugh at my nonchalant answer.
"Wait, Phoenix. Didn't you receive an appointment from Prince Ulkar?"
"Yeah, that happened."
"What do you mean 'that happened'... You're saying you'll leave the city right after receiving an appointment from the prince? Alone?"
"I told you Ellen and Utequais are coming too?"
"No, anyway. You even received land, is it okay to just leave like this?"
"...How did you know about the land?"
Arnal's jaw dropped at my question.
"Wow, crazy. So the rumors were true."
"Were you fishing for information just now?"
When I furrowed my brow, Arnal waved her hands and changed the subject.
"Never mind that. You received a bunch of money from the prince, got appointed, and received land, but you're just running away? Will the prince let you go so easily?"
"Yeah. He said to come back if I feel like joining the military later."
"What's going on here? Did you perhaps receive a separate request from the prince?"
Saying that, Arnal looked around and lowered her voice.
"Don't tell me he asked you to take the First Prince's head?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? It's not like that."
Grania, who was picking at cheese, nodded her head.
"Well, I can roughly guess Prince Ulkar's intentions. Where are you planning to go?"
Right, that's the issue. Where to go.
"For now, I'm thinking of crossing the Graduel Mountains."
"...You're leaving the South entirely?"
"Yeah, well. That's how it turned out."
If Chapter 2's setting was South Harbor, Chapter 3 takes place in the 'Mountain Lodge', and Chapter 4 in 'Raven's Cliff'.
Well, the scenario won't flow exactly the same. I've learned enough about the gap between game and reality from my experiences so far.
Still, the fact that we need to clear Ellen's false charges remains unchanged.
Therefore, our immediate task is to catch the spell thief Seitz. To do that, we need to go to 'Raven's Cliff' in central Milanol Kingdom.
Daria, who had been sitting quietly to one side, had her eyes sparkle.
"Then, you'll be going through Longville?"
"Longville? Well..."
No matter how I think about it, Longville is the name of the area you clear in Chapter 3. Where bandits swarm, and their leader is...
"...The Robber Baron."
"Huh? What are you suddenly talking about?"
"No. Nothing, nothing at all."
Damn, why am I only remembering this now?
The ones who occupied Longville in the game were the Robber Baron and his subordinates!
But he died by my hands. Then what happens to Longville?
"Then, Phoenix."
"Uh, what?"
"If you're going to leave anyway, wouldn't it be safer to go with more people than just the three of you?"
"I guess so? Why?"
When I nodded, Daria's face brightened.
"Then, how about going with other merchants?"
"Merchants?"
"Yeah. There are merchants who brought grain from near the capital, and they say they're heading back after finishing their business."
"And?"
"They're looking for mercenaries. They say the return journey feels a bit unsafe."
"Merchant convoy escort... But near the capital? I don't plan to go that far yet."
At my negative response, Grania, who had her arms crossed, shook her head.
"You probably don't need to go all the way there."
"The reason northern merchants are looking for additional mercenaries is probably because of the remnants of the bandit groups."
"Ah."
In the last battle, the bandit leader, the Robber Baron, lost his life to me. The bandits who lost their focal point scattered in all directions, splitting into groups of ten to fifty or sixty.
"Those bastards, looks like they still haven't come to their senses?"
"Ulek and Greer were vicious thieves to begin with. Just because their leader died doesn't mean they'll go farming."
'Half-orc Ulek', 'Beast Greer'. They're random named enemies that appear in Chapter 2's boss phase. I thought no other random named enemies would appear since 'Scaled Ogre Haclio' showed up, but I was wrong.
Seeing those two causing trouble, it's safer to assume all six named enemies, no, five since Haclio died, are still alive.
"Those guys are only stirring up trouble around the plains in this area anyway."
"Ah, then?"
"They might need mercenaries since Seyvern and Lidvern regions are a bit dangerous, but by the time they reach Marva, the trade route should be safe."
Seyvern is the name of the region South Harbor belongs to, and Lidvern is the neighboring area. But where is 'Marva'?
While I was lost in thought, Daria spoke to me.
"Those merchants will be passing through Longville too."
"...Ah. Was Longville in Marva region?"
"Yeah. Since Marva region is south of the Graduel Mountains. How about contracting with them just until Longville? They'll pay you and feed you too."
Hmm.
Having more companions would definitely be safer.
And neither I, Ellen, nor Utequais know anything about the local geography. It would be much more convenient to travel with merchants than to wear out our shoes looking for rough maps.
But the problem is, our destination can't be revealed. Since we three have become such famous figures, if we carelessly join a merchant group, rumors will spread quickly...
Ah, my head hurts.
"For now... Could we meet these merchants?"
"I heard they're at the Drunken Pony, wait a moment!"
"Ah, Daria!"
Before I could stop her, Daria had already gone outside the inn.
Arnal grinned while watching her leave.
"That girl, she's totally smitten. It's cute."
"...Why are you talking like an old woman?"
Just then, Lindsay, who brought out roasted pork ribs and onions, spoke worriedly.
"Sister Daria went to the Drunken Pony, right? I hope she didn't take the alley..."
"Little one, what are you so worried about? The Drunken Pony is just around the corner."
At Arnal's question, Lindsay answered with a frightened expression.
"Still... I heard another dead person was found today."
"Again? The 'Artist'?"
"Yes. And this time it was near the plaza."
"Wow, this guy's really crazy. The plaza is where the prince is, isn't it? Unless their guts are hanging outside their belly..."
As Arnal clicked her tongue, Grania, who was cutting cheese, frowned in displeasure.
"Calling someone who tears apart human bodies 'Artist', why do people in this city give such nicknames?"
"My nickname very good. Red Bear, wise and powerful."
"...I'm glad you like it, Mr. Hatanka."
Lindsay blinked her large eyes and lowered her voice.
"But, there's a reason they gave the nickname 'Artist'."
"What is it?"
"They say all the dead people had unusually little blood."
"And? Why?"
"They say the culprit took the blood to paint pictures. To use as paint!"
"Haha, really? That's totally scary?"
When Lindsay made a terrifying expression as if trying to scare them, Arnal chuckled and messed up the girl's hair.
Contrary to Lindsay's worries, Daria soon returned to the inn. She was with three merchants.
Since I, Ellen, and Utequais were the most famous trio in the city, the merchants seemed very pleased to see us.
The pay is good and being able to ride in a carriage would be nice too.
After thinking for a moment, I had a private conversation with Perso, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the merchants' representative.
When I came down to the first floor after finishing the private talk, Daria quickly approached and asked.
"Phoenix, how did it go?"
"Ah, well."
As I quietly scratched my chin, Mr. Perso said with a regretful expression.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't make a contract."
"Ah, really?"
"Instead, I agreed to introduce other merchants to Sir Phoenix."
"Other merchants?"
As Daria turned around with wide eyes, I shrugged and answered.
"Thinking about it, taking a ship might be more convenient. I plan to go around the west to get to the central region."
"...Don't you have to cross the highlands to go that way? The time taken would be similar anyway."
"Well, that's true, but."
As I trailed off, Mr. Perso cut in.
"From what I hear, they've done monster subjugation five times in the past few months. Once you pass the sea route, the road ahead should be quite smooth."
At that explanation, Daria let out a small sigh.
"...I see. The sea is scary though."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"No, nothing. Want to eat more? Potato? Duck?"
"Hmm, no sea bass?"
"You really love fish, don't you. Wait a moment. I'll fry some right away."
Daria headed to the kitchen with a bright smile.
"...Why is she so excited?"
After watching her back for a moment, I emptied my beer mug and waited for the merchants Mr. Perso would introduce.