My Villains Episode 273
52. Ancient Gate (1)
The pale light of the fluorescent lamps chilled the room.
“Winner! Baek Seung-soo!”
The thick iron door rattled.
Tick Tick Tick –
The old ballast made a jarring sound. The lights flickered.
I let out a deep sigh as the rattling door slammed.
“What kind of dog dream is this?”
At the same time as the murmur, the world stopped. The electric current that has stopped moving in the dusty fluorescent lamp is impressive.
The gray-haired middle-aged man froze as he entered the room with an angry expression.
Behind him are three or four children my age, no, five or six years old, huddled together.
A scene from when I was staying at an orphanage.
If it had been before, I would have had to appreciate this painful memory to the end, but now dreams are completely my domain.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh
Before I knew it, a white belt was wrapped around my left wrist. The band oscillated for a moment, then flashed.
Middle-aged children in a small room lit by fluorescent lights turned to dust after being bathed in white light. The nightmare ended like that.
no it’s not over
The stars rose up in the dark space where dreams had turned to dust. I could instinctively figure out who was doing it.
“…Trickster old man?”
“Old man- I grunted.”
Shining silver crown Demon god’s robe with stars reflected in the lacquer, blue-eyed pupils and wavy blond hair.
Beautiful boy sitting in the air and crossing his legs.
“Did you solve the nightmare well? After all, luck alone is staggering.”
“…lucky? I?”
“okay. Aside from anything else, I never thought I would get a dimensional seal. It is something I have never observed.”
“What are you talking about when you suddenly appear? What is the tea circle seal?” The boy pointed his chin at my left wrist.
“That’s the dimension seal.”
“……this?”
“It is a material that proves that you are the owner of the dimension and at the same time contains the dimension itself. What you’ve gained is nothing more than a lowly quasi-dimensional, but… Even a journey across the world begins with one step.”
I quietly examined the band of light around my wrist. The band gradually faded and disappeared.
“Daddy Trickster.”
“say.”
“Did you come to pick up the equipment?”
“what?”
“It was like that every time. Around the time of the next chapter, he appears like this, says a few words, and throws a piece of equipment.”
“…so?”
“If you’re going to give it to me, give it to me with a magic sword this time. Apostles and shields are good too.”
The boy laughed as if it were absurd.
“Is that equipment important? Is there anything else you want to ask
?” “question? Ha, I’m not even going to tell you properly anyway. If you’re going to squeak some nonsense, just give me your gear.”
The boy looked at me with a complicated expression and sighed heavily.
“The will of the magic sword and the apostle is not acceptable.”
“why’?”
“Because it’s not something you’re allowed to do.”
“Mmmmm.”
I expected it, but it doesn’t work either.
“You can only give out the items stored in the warehouse?”
“Can’t you give it all at once?”
“…Yes, it is as you said.”
“Then give me the shoes instead of the stupid ones.”
“shoes? Aelopos?”
“uh. Let’s escape from our debt.”
“…okay. When you wake up like usual, Aelopos will be by your side.”
When the boy reluctantly nodded, I crossed my arms and ordered a celebration.
“good. When you’re done, get out of here.”
“…I told you once a few years ago, but you are the most rude Asian I’ve ever seen.”
“This swindler, kidnapper bastard is polite. Did you have a good conscience while eating at night?”
The boy stayed still for a moment, then suddenly stretched out his hand. Unfathomable magic power engulfed the space without any sign.
“Cheuk”
It was as if an invisible hand was gripping the whole body. I struggled to raise my blood, but I couldn’t move.
“A bishop of profits-not let it go!”
“…Um, no. even I did not know.”
The magic power was scattered. Thrown out into the dark space, I caught my breath and cursed incessantly.
The boy opened his mouth without hesitation.
“By the way, did you send Ellen?” My lips hardened at the unexpected question.
“good job. It’s a pretty wise decision unlike you.”
“…Wise?”
“okay. A child who needs trials Whether for growth or for survival.”
Gooooooo –
The dark space full of stars cries heavily. the end is coming
“I am worried about the future.”
“what?”
“Would you be able to judge wisely like this time in the midst of events that are completely different from what you know?”
The boy floated up with his knees crossed.
“Good luck.”
The world was torn apart.
A two-day walk southwest on a mountain road from Modos, the capital of the Gistol region, will bring you to the small mountain village of Pallville. Goleman Kavas Shea is a young man who was born and raised in Paulville.
The three, who had always been close together since they were toddlers, were scattered to cities and forest monasteries when they were 12 or thirteen years old.
As they each went on their way, they thought they would never be able to gather with their friends again as they did in childhood. However, after only a few years, Goleman and Kavas Shea were drawn by ironic fate and reunited in Fallville.
Goleman, the sixth son of a poor farmer, went to work in Lianwell, the capital of Antrum. He started his apprenticeship thanks to his maternal uncle, a full-time candlemaker in the guild, who gave him a guarantee.
Although Goleman was young, he was tenacious and dexterous with his hands, so he quickly mastered the technique. He couldn’t even touch beeswax, a precious material, but he used to make very usable candles using pig or sheep fat.
Then one day, Goleman’s uncle was killed. A fellow weaver reported to the church that he had found signs of uncleanness in his room.
Before I could figure out the context, my uncle was taken to the church and returned as a corpse. Afterwards, Gollman also went through many hardships and then left Lianwell and returned to his hometown as if he were running away.
At that time, childhood friends Cavas and Shea had already returned to Paulville. Both were in a similar situation to Goleman.
Cavas lived with his father and older brother in the forests of Auden Loch, setting traps. In the meantime, he was attacked by a troll and survived alone. Afterwards, he returned to his hometown and lived in the house of his married sister.
Shea is the daughter-in-law of a famous merchant. At the age of twelve, she was taken by her father who suddenly appeared and entered the monastery in the capital city. After six years, she was expelled from the monastery due to an unknown story and returned to her hometown.
The three friends who met as young adults were awkward at first, but quickly restored their former friendship. It was thanks to the long-shared memories and the sense of kinship with each other.
The three, who were called unemployed or insectivores to kill time, hear strange news. It was the story that Count Marty Anver, the lord of this region, was actually a vampire and had been decapitated by a knight.
Up to that point, it would have been a good story for the three friends, but the story after that was the problem.
The news that the King’s army has occupied Raven’s Cliff and Modos, and that a large-scale conscription will be conducted to deal with the chaos in the area.
The horses are the king’s army, but they are strangers from other lands. No one knew what would happen if he was drafted and dragged away.
In particular, Gollman, who received the gentle glare of his brothers, and Kavas, who lived in the house of his brother-in-law, were the only ones who would be conscripted without fail if the king’s army invaded the village.
Just as the three friends were putting their heads together to overcome this troublesome situation, a group of travelers appeared from across the mountain road in a blizzard.
They were a party of just under twenty
. Except for two or three, all of them were well-armed, but at first glance they looked like mercenaries.
However, even among the large mercenaries, there were two giants that stood out. In particular, one of them was a giant that reminded me of an ogre.
When a few people, including the two giants, entered the village chief’s house, curious villagers snooped near the snow-covered fence. Then, through the window, everyone gasped at the sight of an arrogant giant taking off his cloak.
The giant was wearing only a pair of rawhide shorts, exposing his muscular upper body. Because of the reddish skin, heterogeneous features, and mysterious tattoos engraved here and there on the body, it is an unforgettable impression when you see it once.
“It’s a red bear,” one of the villagers groaned. The great warrior of the meadow, who had a reputation even in the mountain village of Paulville, looked back at them.
Utequai, the giant who spotted the people, grinned through the window, and the villagers scattered with shrill screams.
The villagers who recognized Utequai, the red bear, easily recognized the identity of the leader of the mercenaries, a tall man wearing plate armor and carrying two long swords around his waist. It must have been Phoenix, a knight with a terrifying nickname of ‘The Bloody Swordsman’.
His height, which was about a head taller than that of a moderately tall man, and his size that matched him, were indeed what he had heard, but contrary to rumors, he was not three-eyed, nor did he have a red tongue hanging down to his groin.
His dark eyebrows, sharp eyes, and tightly closed lips gave off a cold atmosphere, but it was clear that he was a rare handsome man.
It was completely different from the rumors, but on the other hand, it had a similar impression, so people were confused whether to curse or praise the bard who told the story.
Meanwhile, unexpectedly, it was women who entered the village chief’s house with the two giants.
Of the two women, the one sitting across from Phoenix was the slightly taller one, and she was, in a word, a peerless beauty.
The ebony-like hair that is neatly gathered and hung over one shoulder and the eyes drawn to the white face that contrasts with it are soon drawn into the bright red lips that can feel the moisture even from a distance.
It was not easy to take our eyes off those lips, so only a few with excellent self-control were able to fully appreciate the graceful curvature of the nose, thick eyebrows, and brightly shining eyes.
She wore a shiny crimson tunic, trousers of wool dyed black, and a satin cloak with a ruby brooch.
Aside from that luxurious attire, I could feel an inexplicable elegance in her. It was enough to intuit that he was an aristocrat at once.
Even the sight of her holding something as large as a child covered in black cloth with her right arm seemed noble.
However, it was a flaw if there was no expression on the face, so there was no sense of vitality. Phoenix, who was sitting across from them, also had a hardened face, so the two looked like siblings at first glance.
The shorter woman sat next to Phoenix, shivering as if the cold hadn’t gone away even in front of the fireplace.
She was a woman from the East.
For the residents of Paulville, it was difficult to guess their age because they were of different races. However, judging from her youthful face, it didn’t look like she would ever exceed twenty no matter how many times she hit her.
Her black hair barely covered her shoulders, and her small face revealed only her eyes. Short eyebrows, a sharp nose and plump lips were all small, giving a cute impression.
She peeked into Phoenix’s eyes with only her face sticking out over the leather cloak dipped in wool oil.
He pursed his lips as if he was hoping for something, but soon after seeing Phoenix’s face still hardened, he shut his mouth again. Then, wringing her hands, only the hem of the cloak was tightened.
When Shea heard that famous warriors had come to the village, she ran to the village chief’s house with Goleman and Kavas.
“Those two are the famous pair. The beheader and the batterer… She looked carefully through the window, narrowing her neat eyebrows.
“…Then where is the Purifier and the Fire Witch?”
“Isn’t that the girl? He was also famous for his pretty face.”
Gollman pointed at the peerless beauty, Heyla, wide-eyed like those of a calf. Shea firmly shook her head.
“Your hair is black. The fire witch is blonde.”
“Then is it over there?”
Cavas raised his long monkey-like arm and pointed in the direction of the stable. Fifteen mercenaries were waiting there for Phoenix, the leader, to come out after finishing his business.
The one Cavas pointed out was one of the few women among the mercenaries.
“…I don’t think so.”
The medium-sized woman was not a wizard at first glance. It was because he was wearing a chain vest over leather armor reinforced with animal hair, a small shield tied to his left forearm, and a large one-handed half-sword tied to his back.
Even her hair seemed to be a light brown rather than gold. Also, according to rumors, the fire witch had snow-white skin, but that woman, Umberta, had beautifully tanned skin.
“Well, the important thing now is not to find out who the Fire Witch is.”
“then?”
Conscious of the people’s gaze, Shea dragged Goleman and Cavas to the back of the barn.
“You don’t know yet? The way to live now is open to you.” “To live?”
“I’ve found a way to get out of town.”
“Leave town?”
“Why us?”
“No… Whoa.”
Shea almost pounded her chest when she saw the stupid faces of her two childhood friends. However, as if her years at the monastery were not in vain, she soon suppressed her irritation and continued.
“You shouldn’t be avoiding conscription.”
“Conscript? you can’t.”
“What can it be? ‘I cannot betray His Majesty!’ Are you going to say the same bullshit
?”
Goleman frowned in bewilderment.
“You’re not telling us to follow those mercenaries, are you?”
“Exactly.”
“Shea, are you crazy?”
Goleman burst out laughing as if it were absurd.
“Following a bloody prosecutor to avoid conscription? A creeping dragon, Anupad, a fiery demon, and a man who hunts down all kinds of ferocious monsters?”
“okay.” “That’s like jumping out of a boiling pot and into the fire!”
“Listen to me first. If you are dragged into conscription, you will in effect become a slave to the royal family. If he even ran away, he would be wanted as a deserter. yes?”
“however?”
“Mercenaries are different. He may become a subordinate of the bloody swordsman, but he is still a free man, and there is no problem even if he runs away after paying attention when he leaves Gistol.”
“Oh,”
Golman paused for a moment before opening his mouth again.
“But why is it a bloody swordsman? If that’s the case, it’s better to follow the upper ranks or other mercenaries.”
“That’s not allowed.”
“Because your brothers will not stand still. You, who should be dragged into the conscription on their behalf, run away with some idiots? Of course, they will try to stop it by asking for help from the chief and vigilantes. is not it?”
As Golman kept his mouth shut, assuming that the words were plausible, Shea added with a confident look.
“But what if you become a bloody swordsman’s henchman? Which of your brothers or villagers would dare to stand in front of those monsters?”
“…Still, if my brothers harbor a grudge and report me to the king’s army, I might accuse them of running away from being drafted.”
“The bloody swordsman is a knight of Prince Ulkar. Being a servant of the Bloody Swordsman is tantamount to being a servant of Prince Ulkar. There is no way the accusations will work.”
Golman kept his mouth shut with a serious face, and Kavas, who had been crossing his arms in silence, suddenly opened his mouth.
“I’d rather run away to the woods than that.”
“…To the forest?”
“If you pass through the jackdaw forest in the north, you can go to Oak Deli.”
“Then, as Goleman said, you could be accused. You might be able to live as a fugitive for the rest of your life, but it’s not just Goll.”
“But Shea. Goleman is naive and I don’t notice. Even if I became a bloody swordsman’s subordinate, would I be able to survive and escape?”
“of course.”
Shea peeked out of the barn and inspected the village chief’s house. Phoenix was having a conversation with the elderly village chief.
“I will go with you too.”
“what? why are you Aren’t you even subject to conscription?”
“I have work to do.”
Seeing the suspicious gazes of the two childhood friends, instead of explaining, she asked with her eyes shining.
“how is it? Are you going to do it or not?”
Goleman and Cavas met each other’s eyes and eventually nodded.
“good. Now then, I have to trick the bloody swordsman into becoming a mercenary.”
Shea smiled brightly.
“The most important thing is the first impression. Let’s get rid of the money we have today to get weapons and armor and visit them tomorrow.”
The two young men felt that their friend had acquired a modest demeanor befitting that he had acquired since he had been to the monastery.
“how is it? Will it be fun?”
It was a mistake. Shea was just the same as the tomboy girl in her childhood.
