My Villains Episode 128
33. Graduil Mountain⑷
It was late at night. A full moon was rising in the sky where the Milky Way curved. Thanks to that, the far-off hillside was so bright that it was hard to believe it was night.
The forest was similar. Moonlight and starlight streamed down through the fields of fir and pine trees and jagged leaves. Thanks to that, the pair of small bonfires looked more shabby and cozy than usual.
Under a large spruce tree, the mercenaries wrapped in blankets twitched their heavy eyelids. The forest, where the midday heat had gone, was appropriately cool, and the mercenaries’ past day was too exhausting to appreciate this peace.
Ellen was asleep on my lap. Her hair, glistening in the moonlight, was like silk embroidered with gold. With my white forehead and neatly curled eyelashes in my eyes, I pulled the half-cloak and put it over the guy’s shoulders. Ellen tossed and turned for a moment, then squeezed my lap with her slender hand.
Ellen often acted like I was everything in the world and seldom hid it. Whenever I could clearly feel that they were only looking at me, trusting me, and loving me, my heart was full for no reason.
“Sleep well.”
Atalanta, who was rummaging around the bonfire, muttered with a confused expression.
“Because you suffered.”
“hardship? I’ve been sitting in your arms all day?”
“…You spent a lot of mana.”
Atalanta burst into laughter and shook her head.
“It’s a little better because it’s quiet though.”
“Hmm?”
“He is such a strange kid. How can everyone say hateful things with such pretty lips?”
By the time I smiled bitterly without words.
Druid Zanavas was conversing with the fifth bird. Unlike the small ones like robins and hooves that have appeared before, the bird that appeared this time was a large eagle owl.
When the eagle owl with a full stomach left, Zanavas sighed deeply and knelt down. Communicating with the birds must have been quite energy consuming. His lover and colleague, Siren, quickly clung to him.
“Fortunately, it ended without incident.”
“I don’t know about that yet, Sir.”
Zanavas, who was coming this way with support, shook his head.
“Predators in the wild don’t attack in obvious ways. They take advantage of the weakened gap and launch a surprise attack.”
Sitting by the campfire, Utequai drew a thick liquid from the pot. It was wine made by boiling honey and herbs.
“Drink.”
“Arkoun Hatanka.”
Zui.
Zanavas, perched on a tree trunk, continued talking while being handed a bowl of wine.
“Still, since the ruler who ruled this area is dead, the forest will be noisy for a while.”
“I must hope that the territorial dispute will preserve this peace.”
“you’re right.”
After a short conversation, the camp fell into silence. Except for the cries of owls and unknown insects, the forest was very peaceful.
On the other hand, I was a bit distressed. It was because of the gap between the mind and the body.
Having been awake for about 16 hours and even having a fight with ‘Wandering Troll Spug’, I was quite exhausted.
On the other hand, my body, which had sucked more than 10 liters of Spug’s blood, was more limber than ever. I was in the best condition, as if I had been soaked in hot bath water and then woke up after sleeping on a soft bed.
Actually, it was not a strange experience. I’ve had similar experiences a few times since becoming Phoenix.
A healthy mind resides in a healthy body, but there are limits to that. My mind has not yet reached the level of a monster.
Cole, an archer, and Simos, a swordsman, got up from their seats and approached Agos, a nude warrior who was walking around the nearby mound, and Boonie, who was walking in the distance.
Is it the second time already? I guess I was wrong to sleep today.
“The forest is- it turns green-”
A small voice close to a hum. Atalanta, her eyes half-closed, sang.
“Sprouting ■- like the blooming youth-”
It was a song that was somewhat sad but pleasant to listen to.
“When the leaves—when they burn red—”
the diligently crying grass bug interrupted her song from time to time. Thanks to that, people who couldn’t sleep yet had to pay attention.
“It looks like a girl who dyed her cheeks-”
Suddenly, Atalante’s singing voice became clearer. Her voice didn’t get louder.
As Atalanta stopped singing, the silence of the forest revealed her bare face. I quietly tapped Ellen on the shoulder.
“Ellen.”
“Get up, Ellen.”
The quick-witted mercenaries woke up their comrades at my voice. Atalanta held the ‘white thorn’ instead of the kindling stick, and Utequai held the ‘Maul of Slonhe’ instead of the ladle that stirred the pot.
“trunnion?”
“Hide behind Utequai. Prepare to recite the spell.”
When I slowly raised my body and sent my gaze, Utequai quietly nodded.
Huung.
The night wind blew the hem of his clothes.
My helmet, breastplate, and pauldron had become rags while fighting the chief troll, so all I wore were gauntlets and vambra shin guards.
By the time I walked towards the forest holding the shield I leaned against the spruce tree, the mercenaries stood up vigorously.
Leader Amias untied the bandage on his arm and busily sent a hand signal. With bonfires on both sides, mercenaries joined their shoulders.
Then a large cloud covered the full moon. Shadows fell everywhere, and dozens of pairs of eyes glistened white.
His keen senses determined their identities. They were wolves.
Krrr.
I approached the source of the sound with my hand on Hrunting’s furmal. Through the shadows, a particularly large silhouette caught my eye.
The large silhouette climbed over the tree stump on all fours and stood on its own two feet on a small rock.
“……that.”
“I’m a werewolf.”
The night wind dispersed the clouds, and the full moon appeared again. Thanks to this, a gray haired werewolf with a thin waist and sleek muscles appeared.
The upright guy looked over 3 meters tall and his face was full of scars. Thanks to that, I was able to figure out his true identity without difficulty.
Randomly named ‘Scarface’.
Kreureung.
When our eyes met, he growled fiercely. Just as I was about to pick up the hrunting, Zanavas approached me with urgent steps.
“Wait a minute. Can I talk to you?”
“…Do you communicate with a guy like that?”
“A little bit.”
Zanavas nodded, looked at Scarface, and made a noise imitating a wolf’s.
Whoops.
“Aung Aururu.”
It was very funny, but no one made a sound. After a brief conversation, Zanavas put on a puzzled expression.
“You want the trolls out.”
“Trolls?”
“yes. Now that they are the owners of the forest, it is a natural right.”
“They are stupid. Would you fight after seeing that we caught the trolls?”
“Since they would have used a cowardly human move, they think they have an advantage now.”
“what the.”
I scratched my eyebrows for a moment before continuing.
“Tell me to take it. Instead, head should not be. Because trolls charge points.”
Navas shook his head as he wanted to resume the beast’s conversation.
“All over. The head and the blood that was stored separately.”
“…Ha, then that’s right.”
I slowly turned around and looked over the party and opened my mouth.
“Tell him.”
“yes? What?”
I grinned as I picked up my hrunting.
“Fuck it.”
Scared to finish my words, Ellen stretched out her wand.
“Ex pruin-eom!”
At the same time as that cry, two frostbites hiding behind Utequai were shot.
Whoops!
The werewolf hurled his body away from the ice fragments that flew like rays of light.
A fairly quick move. I chased after him and kicked the ground silently. The wolf, who had sensed my approach with animalistic senses, bared its fangs.
It was a face that looked like it was smiling, so I swung Hrunting while smiling. Scarface extended his sharp claws as if he had no intention of avoiding the knife.
You must trust my fur. After all, a werewolf under the protection of the full moon cannot even be scratched with a decent weapon.
However, Hrunting was not a decent weapon.
Write!
Scarface’s mouth opened as the milky blade blew off my arm.
Kaeng!
A human expression appeared on the beast’s face. I liked it so much that I hurriedly ran at the guy who was walking backwards. Hrunting, whose white body was covered in werewolf blood, swung again.
It made a cheerful sound of flesh and bone cracking at once.
Awake!
Scarface, who had lost both arms, whimpered and patted the floor like a bulldog. Somehow, the excitement cools down.
“Stay still, this dog- no, it’s a wolf cub.”
I firmly stepped on his back and gripped his head. Then, he slashed the back of his neck and tore off his head.
Tsutsutsu.
With a strange sound, Scarface, who had lost his head, shrank. Then, when even the hair fell out in clumps, the werewolf was gone, leaving only the body of a rather sturdy man.
“Hmm.”
The mind and body were roughly balanced.
I looked back at the wolves hiding in the shade. Eyes that had been shining white were rapidly blinking.
Lifting my hairless head, I yelled playfully.
“Uwak J”
Dozens of wolves noisily rolled their tails.
We stayed two more days in the woods.
Since both the troll and the werewolf were dead, there was no threat to us. Thanks to that, there was not a single battle for the past two days.
Food was still plentiful. The white bread and fresh vegetables were all eaten, but there were plenty of salted pork and biscuits left.
In addition, there were three skilled hunters in the party. Utequai, the druid Zanavas, and the nude warrior Agos were the three. When they went to the forest with a few young mercenaries, they would catch deer, bunting, and rabbits.
We were able to enjoy a few sumptuous barbecues thanks to Ellen, who is picky about her palate, and brought quite a bit of spices.
However, life in the forest was not perfect.
“I warn you in advance.” Ellen, carrying clothes and bath accessories, gave a bluff.
“If you steal, I will kill you.”
“…Not to be seen.”
I swallowed the words like Mr. Gaejeo that were about to come out unconsciously and cleared my throat.
“Hmm. Be careful with the wing decorations. When you wash your ears, just sit somewhere and wash them.”
“Are you sure I’m stupid? Take a good look.”
After saying that, Ellen took off and flew down the creek.
Camping in the forest was enjoyable, but the only thing I was dissatisfied with was the water. There was a creek running near the camp, but the babbling water was enough for drinking, washing the face and brushing teeth.
Meanwhile, Atalanta found a small nail down there.
It was a secret space created by a stream branching out of a valley and flowing through a thick forest.
Hearing this news, Ellen couldn’t stand still. He said he was going to take a bath right away and brushed me off, and thanks to that, I was in a situation where I was watching.
“Eh. I don’t even sweat because of the robe anyway.”
Even as I grumbled, I aroused my senses. Thanks to the ‘Seal of the Dragon Slayer’ and ‘The Scale Belt of the Four Kings’, the sharpened senses began to suck in the surroundings.
The jagged leaves sway in the wind, the birds kick the branches, the water of the stream beats against the rocks, and the collar brushes against the skin… Complex cognitive processes were omitted, signaling the safety of what is called the sixth sense.
As Ellen carefully dipped her foot into the nail, she heard an unnatural sound.
“…Attilia?”
Appearing from among the bushes was Atalanta, lightly dressed and carrying only a spear.
“What about Ellen?”
“I am washing.”
“Ehh.”
She nodded and sat down next to me.
“The eccentric kid is having a lot of trouble serving.”
“I know. Ahhh, it’s my seller.”
When I trembled, Atalanta laughed a little and furrowed her brow.
“what. Are you admitting it?”
“That Ellen is an eccentric kid? admit it.”
“Pheh, don’t say that.”
“then?”
Atalanta, who was twirling without a word, rested her chin on her raised knees and stared at me.
“You are such a strange person.”
“What about me?”
“huh. Sometimes he looks like a merchant, sometimes he looks like a mercenary, sometimes he looks like a simple farmer, and sometimes he looks like a madman.”
I smiled.
“Because it’s also strange for you to say such things in front of your face?”
“uh? I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I meant that there wasn’t much of a ‘chivalrous’ feel to it.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“then. Not being knightly is the highest compliment I can give a knight.”
How did the knights experienced by Atalanta come to speak like this?
Most of the articles I have been through have been chivalrous in a positive sense. He was strong, brave, strong-willed, and knew how to protect the weak.
Well, there’s no need to argue with Atalanta.
I said with a quiet smile.
“Maybe it’s because I haven’t been a knight in a while.”
“I heard you. You said it wasn’t even two months since you were appointed?”
Oh O” Hee
“That’s amazing too.”
“why?”
“Look at your face. Ever since I was a baby, I’ve been ‘Ah-ae!’ instead of crying, ‘Take my sword!’ You must have shouted.”
I burst into laughter at Atalanta’s exaggerated plotting.
“Puhaha what is that?”
“Does it really look like that? I’m not kidding.”
“Are you saying that you don’t look like a knight?”
“So it’s amazing. The fact that I have a status is because, no matter who sees it, it is not like a knight.”
“Because you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance, right?”
“How are you? The first thing you see is the appearance. And I like your other things, but I like the way you look the most.”
Oh, it’s another random direct call. I just can’t get my head around it.
I swiped under my nose for no reason and changed the topic.
“Um-but what is this scent?”
“What scent?”
“Every time you speak, it smells like flowers.”
“aha.”
Atalanta smiled and took out a porcelain bottle from her waist.
“It is because of this.”
“…alcohol? Wasn’t that the smell?”
Atalanta flicked her fingers at my question.
“This is different. Do you think I drink and hang out in broad daylight?”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s a tea made from mali flowers. It clears the mind. Would you like a drink?”
“Is that okay?”
When I reached out, Atalanta smiled mischievously and hid the bottle. And then I was drinking tea.
“What are you doing-”
Atalanta stood up and sat on my lap. Elastic legs stretched around her waist, and long fingers wrapped around the back of her head and neck.
“Wait a minute.”
Their lips met. The offal tickled his teeth and gums.
“O”
When I opened my mouth, fragrant tea rushed in with soft flesh.
gulp.
Indeed, mali flower tea had an arousing effect. Even after swallowing the tea, Atalanta’s tongue stayed in my mouth for a while.
“Whoa.”
Atalanta let out a hot breath and licked her lips.
“When will the bath be over?”
A more sensitive sense gave the answer.
“…still have a long way to go.”
“Good.”
The two lips collided violently, no matter which one came first.
