My Villains Episode 196
44. Dream (6)
“Are you okay? Your complexion is not good.”
Ellen nodded and wiped her face with her white hand.
“…yes. are you okay.”
Phoenix stared at her and then abruptly held out his hand.
“Uh n 才、9
Ellen shrugged her shoulders involuntarily and blinked quietly as a large, rough hand touched her forehead.
Phoenix crossed his forehead with Ellen’s and narrowed his eyes.
“Hmm, I don’t have a fever. Did you pretend?”
“no. It’s just that I’m fine.”
“……okay?”
Phoenix continued to examine Ellen’s complexion as if suspicious. The girl with golden hair wet her dry lips and frowned.
“What are you looking at?”
“…you might.”
Phoenix widened his eyes as if realizing something.
Ellen’s eyelashes trembled.
Is it because you saw it? The cool-looking handsome man hardened his lips.
“Would you like to get some rest?”
“……uh?”
Unsuitable for the unique atmosphere, his eyes were filled with something warm.
“Is it because you have a bad memory
?”
“what’?”
After hesitating for a moment, Phoenix leaned towards Ellen and whispered a small whisper.
“So, Luke. I kept talking about that bastard.”
“…ah.”
The small chest swelled for a moment, then went out again. Phoenix, who was still looking at Ellen, covered the back of her trembling hand with his large hand.
Ellen, who read concern, trust, and affection from his touch and gaze, was seized with a sense of drowning at any moment. A feeling of overwhelming happiness and dark guilt held her breath…
Ellen bit her trembling lips and nodded slowly. With the back of her hand wrapped tightly around Phoenix, Phoenix looked back at the middle-aged man sitting across from him.
“I heard the news. Thank you.”
“haha. Say nothing, sir.”
“Do you have any more news to tell?” The merchant quietly tapped the table and rolled his eyes.
“Let’s see. There were a few interesting things while passing ‘Seteniora’, a monastery on a cliff, but I don’t think it’s a story that the lord would be curious about.”
However, contrary to his expectations, Phoenix was startled.
“…Passed Seteniora? Then, have you met the saint?”
“Ah, that’s not it. How is the Holy Son such an easy person to meet?” The merchant giggled and continued.
“All I saw were prostitutes who had invaded the monastery in search of the father of their womb child, and corrupt monks pointing at each other.”
“…pregnant prostitutes and corrupt monks.”
“yes. What kind of shameful things are going on in the monastery where the saint lives?”
Phoenix looked like he wanted to ask something more, but he looked around and shut his mouth.
“Thank you for what. Thanks to you, I got useful information.” “I’m glad you said that.”
“I can’t get this kind of information for free… How about a few gold coins?”
“Thank you again and again.”
When Phoenix groped his waist to get out the money bag, the middle-aged merchant quickly continued.
“But I don’t need money, Lee.”
“…Don’t you need money? That’s not like a merchant.”
The merchant smiled.
“It can’t be. I am a merchant to the core.”
“Ehh.”
Phoenix raised one eyebrow and said, ‘What is this bastard doing?’ When I made a face, the merchant showed both palms.
“I just need you to remember my name.”
“Your name?”
“yes. ‘Max’ from ‘Farlein’. Please remember that.”
At those words, Fritz, a ponytail mercenary who had been eating onion porridge with cinnamon and eggs, abruptly raised his head.
“Was (what is it)? Bist du aus dem Imperium (Are you an Imperial?)?”
Max, a middle-aged merchant, nodded and replied to Fritz’s sudden Gellan language.
“I lived in the Empire until I was six. I guess that person is also from the Empire?”
“OK. Unlike you, a Farlein country boy, I am from Aringen.”
As Fritz spoke proudly and spat, Utequai, who was next to him, frowned.
“Close your mouth and eat porridge.”
“Uh n
Suddenly frowning, Fritz spoke to himself in Gellan.
“How do you close your mouth and eat porridge? Ignorant brutal cubs. ”
Utequai smiled.
“If you make a hole under the uvula, you can drink the porridge even if the mouth is closed. Do you want to?”
“. ….Eek?”
Fritz’s eyes widened in surprise when Utequai spoke fluent Gellan.
“How- do you know Gellan?”
“The steppe borders the Mittergerland across the corridor. A level of Gehlan is a basic requirement for a warrior.”
Fritz’s face turned pale at Utequai’s words. It was because the memories of swearing in Gelan in front of the great warrior in the meadow passed by.
While Fritz swallowed dry saliva, Utequai swallowed the boiled egg in one bite and drank the beer. It seemed that Fritz had turned his attention away from him, as if he was satisfied that he had become quiet.
Phoenix saw that and burst out laughing, then nodded towards the middle-aged merchant.
“good. I’ll remember Max from Farlein. It’s not even a difficult request.”
“Thank you Nari.”
Merchant Max smiled, greeted Phoenix and the others, and returned to his group.
Fortunately for Ellen, the Oressa Tavern had quite a few rooms even though it was a one-story building. Most of them seemed to be used as warehouses or workshops, but there were also a couple of rooms for people to stay.
The owner’s eldest son introduced it as the room used by his wife and younger sisters, so Phoenix roughly guessed the circumstances and put on a solemn expression.
“hmm. Just in case you feel embarrassed, my wife and sisters are alive and well.”
“…Oh yeah?”
“yes. One of my sisters had a grown-up child, so I married her to the lower village. My wife and kids stay there.” At the eldest son’s explanation, Phoenix silently nodded.
“Well, in the middle of a remote forest like this, it’s a bit dangerous for women and children to live. There will be frequent attacks by monsters.”
“There is a dangerous corner, but there have been no monsters in the tavern for nearly three years.”
“For three years?”
” yes.”
Phoenix opened the wooden window and looked around.
The Oressa Tavern is located on top of a low hill in the middle of the forest. It was already in the woods, and it was raining, and even spiders were hanging over it, so it was so dark that you couldn’t see an inch ahead.
Phoenix, who confirmed this, burst out laughing as if he couldn’t understand.
“It wouldn’t be awkward even if four or five trolls popped out right away. Besides, on the way, I noticed that there are no monsters in the forest.”
“It’s infested with goblins and redhounds.”
“They are such small puppets, but what about those who look like ogres?”
“Even if you run into them at the foot of a mountain or on a forest road, they won’t break into this tavern.”
The eldest son shook off the blanket a couple of times and spread it on the bed.
“According to my father, it is thanks to the Oressa tree.”
“The tree of Oressa? That was cut down by the soldiers of Count Mattianver?”
“It’s an old tree with hundreds of spirits dwelling in it, so even if its shape is cut down, its substance will remain… It’s such a superstition.”
“hmm.”
“That’s why it’s not the monsters that are scary, it’s the thieves. Even Oressa’s protection couldn’t stop those wearing human masks.”
Phoenix scratched his eyebrows and looked around the room. Then he asked, not expecting much.
“Can I take a bath here?”
“Of course sir.”
“…is it? really?”
The eldest son shrugged.
“I’ll give you the bathtub, so you have to take care of the rest.”
“By-self?”
“yes. If the water goes down that way, it’s not a stream, but it’s raining. Firewood to heat water is a bit difficult, but you can pick up wood and use it after drying it. Or you can boil some water in the fireplace and use it.”
As Phoenix silently fumbled around his waist, the eldest son quickly waved his hand.
“Oh, you can’t give me any money. It’s a tavern rule.” “Looking at it earlier, it seems that if you give them enough money, they will show some flexibility.”
“This is really bad. My father will be very angry.”
When the eldest son waved his arm, Phoenix had no choice but to nod and let him go.
Standing alone in the corner, Ellen slowly took off her cloak and leather shoes.
“If you want to take a bath, I’ll take the water. It’s warming up, because you can do it.”
“…are you okay. I just want to rest.”
“Yeah, it’s not like you’re going to die if you don’t wash for a few days. right?”
Phoenix said that and went over to Ellen who was sitting on the bed and wiped her feet with a damp cloth. Ellen’s cheeks blushed a little, but as if she’d gotten used to it, she sat there silently until Phoenix dried her with a dry cloth.
As if his calm appearance was very admirable, Phoenix smiled and stood up.
“Okay, sigh.”
“wait for a sec.”
” huh?”
When a small, white hand grabbed the cuff, Phoenix looked down at Ellen with a puzzled face.
“why? Do you need anything? Are you still hungry?”
“…no, not that.”
She pursed her pink lips and bit her lower lip.
“Hug me.”
“suddenly?”
Phoenix blinked his eyes at the words he managed to utter with courage, then nodded happily. Then he took off his breastplate, set it down on the floor, sat down on the bed, and lifted up Ellen’s small body and placed her on his lap.
” it.”
Ellen shrugged for a moment. He asked to be hugged himself, but when Phoenix hugged him without asking or questioning, he seemed to feel ashamed for nothing.
Poynix, whether aware of this feeling or not, wrapped her arms around her back and shoulders and hugged her warmly.
The soft touch and moderate pressure eased his stiff body. Ellen buried her face in her firm, wide arms.
Phoenix suddenly opened his mouth with a playful face.
“ruler. If you do what you want, thank you.”
“huh? hurry.”
Despite Phoenix’s insistence, Ellen tapped him on the chest a couple of times and didn’t say anything. Then Phoenix patted her on the back with accusation.
Those affectionate pats continued long after the sun had completely set.
Kwadadang!
At the loud noise coming from outside, Phoenix slightly narrowed his brows. Then, holding his breath, he listened to Ellen.
colored breathing. It was evident that he was deeply asleep.
Phoenix carefully lifted Ellen up and put her on the bed, and left the room with a quiet footstep.
The Oressa Tavern was in a small commotion.
“Hey. what was it just now?”
“I was surprised.”
Phoenix also assumed that Steedman or Fritz the ponytail had caused the accident, but the two sat quietly in their seats, swearing in a low voice.
It was none other than the entrance of the tavern where the loud noise came from.
“Aww damn.”
The tavern owner’s second son shouted into the bar, blocking the door with his shoulder.
“Lugon Kigon! Bring me something that can be used as a bolt!”
He was wearing two pieces of wooden planks around his sides. Apparently, the rainstorm broke the bar and opened the door, Phoenix thought.
At that time, someone sitting in the corner of the bar jumped up.
“Blackwood!”
It was none other than Alena, the daughter of a charcoal-burning couple, who shouted in a cheerful voice.
“You came looking for me!”
The normally unnaturally expressionless child ran to the entrance of the bar with a bright smile.
“Alena…
As the charcoal-maker, the father of the child, stood up with a small sigh, the conjurer sitting next to him wrinkled his forehead.
“Why are you doing that all of a sudden? What is ‘Blackwood’?”
“My daughter daydreams.”
“fancy?”
” yes.”
The charcoal burner said with trembling lips.
“Sometimes a man named Blackwood comes to visit him. It’s like having a conversation with an imaginary man.”
“…That’s what the demon possessed.”
Maybe it was because the voice of Confidre was quite loud. The atmosphere in the tavern instantly subsided.
“oh.” Did he think that the heavy atmosphere would harm his daughter? The charcoal maker’s wife stood up in surprise.
“No, nothing like that. Alena says yes, they are playing a kind of house.”
Around that time, Alena dragged two empty chairs and set them face to face in the middle of the tavern. Then, as if waiting for something, she smiled broadly before sitting down in a chair.
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to follow me because I came through a deep forest.”
Alena had a lively voice, as if talking to a close relative or close adult neighbor
.
“It was my first time leaving Tuvas, so I was really looking forward to it. I’m sick of it already.”
As Alena continued their chatter, Gidon, who had been tying the rosary around her neck, stepped out with a hard face.
“Here comes the devil. Something needs to be done.”
He murmured, then rummaged through the leather pouch on his waist and pulled out a small, transparent glass bottle.
The freckled Mira frowned.
“You’re saying that a little girl is going to sprinkle holy water on her while she’s playing house? Do you know how much it costs?”
“I’ve said it many times, but the important thing is not money, you stupid girl.”
Saying so, Gidon opened the cork of the holy water, and Archer Cole approached and grabbed his wrist.
“okay. The important thing is the order.”
“…what?”
“Your employer hasn’t said anything yet. Are you going to waste his fortune recklessly?”
As Cole glared coldly and growled, Gidon gritted his teeth and glanced down at Phoenix. Phoenix frowned and shook his head, and Gidon pursed his lips and stepped back.
Alena, who finished the chat before she knew it, blinked as if she was listening to something. All her nerves were focused on the empty chair on the other side.
The crowd at the Oressa Tavern thought it would be better to shut up like that than talk to themselves like crazy, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.
Alena kept attracting the attention of those around her because of that strange atmosphere.
When I unconsciously looked towards the child, I had to witness the face that had been laughing with a smile, but then hardened as if it had been struck by lightning, and the lower lip trembled or burst into laughter again… “
… This won’t work.”
The owner of Oressa Tavern looked back at Phoenix while sweeping his shaggy beard. His eyes flashed dimly under his wrinkled eyelids.
“Nari, this won’t work.”
what’?” “Please either stop the child who is spreading the plague or drive him away.”
Phoenix frowned as if that was bullshit, but the old man was stubborn. He forgot about the difference in social status and started picking up Phoenix, and the charcoal maker and his wife looked at him and approached Alena, trembling like an aspen tree.
“Oh Alena. Let’s stop now. huh?”
Despite her mother’s begging, Alena’s attention was focused on the invisible Blackwood.
“Alena!”
The charcoal burner hugged his daughter with a somewhat resolute face.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
A loud, terrible scream that I couldn’t believe came from the throat of a child. As Alena screamed and struggled like mad, the mercenaries stopped the charcoal maker with frightened faces.
“Ha-uh-” As
the charcoal-maker stepped away, her hands trembling, Alena, forgetting about the fuss, sat down in an empty chair as a precocious lady.
“…Really, there’s all sorts of odd things.”
Phoenix watched the situation and moved on with an unwilling expression. Then he stared at Alena, who was concentrating on something, and sat down across from her.
At that moment, something completely unexpected happened.
“and.”
Alena smiled ecstatically.
“It’s been a while since I saw that.”
“……what?”
“It’s been a while. It’s been a while.”
Alena smiled and wiped away her tears as she added.
“It’s been a while, Blackwood.”
