My Villains, Chapter 310
, 56. On the Border (3)
On the morning of January 13th, the group went out of the monastery facing the rising sun after filling their stomachs.
Wow-!
The soldiers who filled the curtain wall broke the silence of the winter morning with loud shouts.
In addition to them, monks, ordinary believers, and workers came out and shouted.
“May the light be with you on your path!”
“Lord, protect them!”
deafening It seems that everyone in Seteniora Monastery is out to see us off.
Those who had been wary of us when we arrived here about three weeks ago were now sending us away with shouts like deterioration.
Of course, that shout was not directed only at me and my group.
“Then, pray for luck.”
“I will make sure not to cause any concern, Your Excellency.”
“Yes, yes.”
The Marquis of Eavon decided to station five knights, a battle mage, and four hundred soldiers here. After encouraging the middle-aged knight in charge of the garrison commander, the Marquis raised his hand toward the curtain wall.
Aaaaaaa-!
The soldiers, who had already been shouting loudly, now began to almost scream evilly.
To add a little bit of exaggeration, I was worried that an avalanche might occur.
I noticed a few noncommissioned officers widening their eyes among the soldiers on the wall, and I smiled bitterly, thinking that the military is all the same in this world.
The Marquis of Eavon, who had stormed the barrier once, came this way with his young wife and grandson.
“Your Excellency, Marquis.”
“O” In the open space in front of
the 5th
gate, priest Marcel and other priests were waiting for the marquis in fancy ceremonial clothes.
When Marcel, who was standing on a small podium, silently bowed, the Marquis put his hands together and bowed his head. Marcel carefully placed his hand on the marquis’ voluminous hat and cleared his throat.
“I look up to heaven and ask, only the Lord will hear!”
At the old-fashioned declaration, the shouts of the soldiers suddenly stopped. The priest continued to pray with his left hand raised as if to support the sky.
“Here is a faithful monarch with the courage of a lion and the wisdom of a serpent, defending the church and demonstrating justice!” As if responding to the muffled voice, an auspicious light flowed from his right hand and wrapped around the marquis. It was a ‘blessing’.
“Driving a boat before a storm, paving a road in the wilderness, and drawing a sword in peril, this is because the Lord works through him, and great glory will surely follow-
” It’s just praising. Praise.
Marquis Eavon and his army appeared long after defeating the undead army, but priest Marcel was pouring out praises as if the Marquis had defended the monastery.
In fact, I, the first-rank contributor to the protection of the holy land, was waiting for my next turn, while the second-rank contributors, Princess Theodora and the Paladins of the Church of Calandari, were pushed into the corner and only sucked their fingers.
To be honest, it was enough not to receive the priest’s blessing. After an hour or two, the divine power will be scattered and the effect will disappear, so it is meaningless. Protecting the monastery in the first place was not what I was hoping for.
However, watching the priests rank meritorious merits according to their taste, I can’t help but feel sorry for them.
“Now Sir Phoenix. Come this way.”
Priest Marcel blessed the Marquis of Eavon, his young wife, the Marquis of Panabel, and his young grandson, the Count of Oth, and gestured toward me.
I stood in front of him, holding down my helmet to hide my rotting expression.
Unlike the Marquis family, Priest Marcel placed his hand very comfortably on the top of my head and began to pray.
“The road will be praised, the knight who accomplished great feats by following good guidance! The gaze of the Lord has come upon you, so stop wandering and go only towards the bright light. Gather blessed wisdom and cast off the darkness of stupidity!”
…wandering? the darkness of stupidity? What is this bastard talking about now?
Even though he was dissatisfied with Marcel’s prayer, an auspicious energy enveloped his body for a moment.
oh this is pretty good
As a priest who became the representative of the Holy Land after the death of Bishop Hekabenko, Masel had strong divine power. Thanks to its powerful divine power, Marcel’s blessing gave a sense of wide open vision and vitality to the whole body.
At this rate, Utequai could be handed over at once. It’s just sad to know that it’s a power that will soon disappear.
Marcel’s prayer ended while I admired the effect of the blessing. I tried to step back with my hands clasped, but Marcel whispered a little.
“Please do not be enchanted by my prayers and be careful with your actions.”
“……yes?”
“The church is watching over you. With a mixture of half respect and half suspicion.”
“It is up to you as to which way you will lean completely. You know what I mean.”
Obvious. It is said to abandon Prince Ulkar.
If I didn’t know anything about the future, I would have seriously thought about it. However, countless arrows, including revelations and scenarios, were gathering towards Ulkar.
In a word, it was as if there was no option for me to abandon Ulkar.
While pretending to chew on the priest’s story, the Marquis of Eabon, who was sitting nearby with his arms crossed, suddenly opened his mouth.
“Is this the end?”
“…what do you mean?”
“Congratulations. I’m asking if Lord Phoenix is the last one.”
“Ah yes. That’s right…
When Marcel the priest blurted out his words with a confused face, the Marquis of Eabon immediately frowned.
“Does that make sense?”
“yes?”
“Sir Phoenix is not the only one who risked his life to fight to drive out the King of Death, so this is how it ends?”
When the Marquis, who had been showing his manners, scolded him as if he were dealing with a subordinate, Priest Marcel stuttered in embarrassment.
“His Excellency, what then?”
“I heard that Sir Phoenix’s fiancée Miss Heila saved the lives of priests including you, a young female swordsman from the east killed the king of death, and the great warriors of the plains and other mercenaries also did a great job against the undead army. ”
“Uh—”
Marcel nodded quickly, sweating.
“Yes, Your Excellency is right. But that eastern woman and barbarian are pagans”
“What is that? If they are pagans, does the fact that they kept the Holy Land disappear?”
“That’s not true”
“It is the duty of a priest to praise believers and harmonize with strangers, and you are the priest representing the Church of El Ganore here. Isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right, sir.”
Marcel just nodded his head without making a sound.
It would have been an officially appointed bishop, but for Marcel, who was only a temporary vicar, to be defeated by the greatest lord in the West, it would have been unthinkable.
Eventually, Marcel and the other two priests gave their blessings to everyone in my party.
Utequai declined with a polite hand gesture that did not suit him, and Munchhe accepted the divine power with his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Heila was reluctant to say that her lips were slightly stiff, but she reluctantly received the blessing, perhaps conscious of the gazes around her.
Fritz and his subordinates, including six soldiers, as well as Hicks and Rowen, who did chores, stood in front of the priests.
As a commoner, it was almost impossible for them to receive blessings from high-nosed priests, so most of them looked happy.
The cathedral knight, Lord Kabar, his two assistants, and the monk, Okan, were laughing at receiving a new blessing and withdrew.
But even without them, my party was over thirty.
The priests, who had squeezed out their divine power to bless them all, saw us off with dark eyes.
…Is this the power of power. It’s new, but it’s very sweet.
In addition to everyone in the monastery coming out to see them off, the men’s morale seemed to have risen a lot, perhaps because they had received the priests’ blessings.
In particular, the youngest children – Goleman the farmer, Kavas the poacher, and Shea the clever were looking back at the monastery with stupid faces. Hey country folks.
“The road is rough, so I guess I will have to ride the horse by tomorrow.”
Marquis Ea Bonn, riding on a handsome courser, spoke with a grin.
“Sir Gase. I will be your companion.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
I climbed onto the spot and joined the Marquis’ side.
I had a hunch that being with him wouldn’t be so bad.
The security around Seteniora Monastery was still a little uneasy. Of course, it was a story that had nothing to do with us.
Marquis Eabon’s escort alone consisted of 400 elite soldiers, 35 knights and 6 battle mages of the golden age.
Adding to that, seventeen holy knights, including Princess Theodora, and our party, the number reached nearly five hundred.
It was natural that people and monsters couldn’t approach it recklessly.
Even so, the rough mountain road was completed in one day, and on the second day, we arrived at the Mösel River and boarded a boat, so it was as if there were no risk factors anymore.
Thanks to the Marquis sending a few cavalrymen early, five large ships were waiting for us at the ferry.
Of course, even though it was large, it was not comparable to a sailboat that sailed the ocean, so it was impossible to load all five hundred people. So Marquis Eabon ordered half of the four hundred guards to return on foot.
From the Meusel River, it was practically the same as the Marquis Eabon’s territory, so it wouldn’t be a big problem even if two hundred soldiers were missing.
I felt a little sorry for the soldiers who had to walk all the way to Lianwell and were given the duty of patrolling the area as a bonus… but what can I do? I need to sell it.
On the other hand, I wanted to be with the party because I felt like I was on a cruise, but I had no choice but to board the lead ship because of the Marquis’ persistent insistence. Aside from the fact that the Marquis of Eavon was an interesting person
, it was, of course, hard work to stick around with someone higher in rank than me .
At least, Heila and Moongchi, who voluntarily followed along, were a great comfort.
Uniquely, the Mösel River is a river that does not flow into the sea.
Like other tributaries originating from the Great Mountains, it flows as if it will not be cut off until it reaches the vast wetland ‘Asag’ located in the mid-northern part of the continent.
While listening to Heila’s explanation, the place name Asagra became familiar to me, and when I thought about it, Steedman had mentioned it once.
-I want to gather about 50 mercenaries and make a mercenary army. You get land by cultivating ‘Asag’. It is to be used as a base for hunting monsters. Like a hunting festival here, mercenaries or hunters are gathered to catch the drake. If you take off the skin and fins and sell them, you’ll make a lot of money.
It was at Longville’s ‘Golden Sword’ tavern. Anyway, Steedman, who was talking like that, told the freckled mummy not to be stupid and dyed his hair red after hearing the bruise.
I feel a little sorry when I think of Steedman and Mira and Archer Cole.
A few days ago, veteran conductor Ponytail Fritz, Lieutenant General Dervish, Lieutenant Prosecutor Umberta, Plump Esson, Crossbowman Gidon, and six of them became my first privates.
However, in order, the title of first friendly soldier should be taken by Steedman and Mira Cole.
Well, even if that were the other two, I’m not sure Mira would have accepted my offer.
When I think of the three mercenaries I trust the most, I think of Simos the One-Eye, a magic swordsman who went to Tirin Mel with them.
And… Ellen too.
I was lost in my thoughts while being blown by the river wind from the boat.
The first time I met Ellen was on a boat heading to South Harbor.
While I, who had just acquired the body of Phoenix, was attacked by pirates and was struggling, Ellen appeared wielding the baton of the west wind. It was the first moment they owed their lives to each other.
The nasty face of stealing the potion, the sad face of the hamstring being pierced by a spear, and the face of surprise at the unexpected kindness come to mind one after another.
“trunnion?”
“Uh ha,
thinking about something else, I looked back at Heila, who was standing next to me, and smiled.
“Sorry, what did you just say?”
“I said that the Marquis and his wife would call soon. It’s time to eat soon.”
“Ah… yes, go in first.”
“you?”
“Get some more air.”
Heila stood still, looked at me, then opened her mouth again.
“okay. First, look at the bundle.”
“okay. I’ll be there soon too.”
“huh.”
Mung-chi was unable to even come out of the cabin because of seasickness.
The motion sickness was so severe that I couldn’t even get out of bed because my face turned white, so I had to stay by my side all the time, except when I was getting some fresh air or eating.
Although the river is a bit meandering, it is nothing compared to the raging waves of the sea. Besides, the voyage from the east to the continent must have taken at least two months.
Fortunately, the trip to Lianwell took only two days by boat. By tomorrow evening, the bundle will be freed from the pain.
I sighed against the river breeze as Heila headed towards the cabin.
“Whoa.”
Then I swallowed my longing in one gulp and slowly opened my eyes. And I looked at the scenery to fill my heart.
Even though the end was a diseased land full of death and decay, the river that stretched out before my eyes was very beautiful.
The Mösel River was as wide as the Han River, but it looked as clear as the valley water in the mountain valleys of Gangwon-do thanks to the white foam and the water so transparent that you could see the bottom.
Since the first time the water started flowing, it seemed like it had never been touched by a human being… I even felt such innocence.
As if responding to the scenery of the Meusel River, the sky cleared of snow clouds was bright and clear. You might mistake it for spring or autumn if it were not for the snowy forest that persistently follows you from side to side and the cold wind that wets your lungs.
what the hell does this mean
There was no news from La Palais Palace yet.
In fact, even if Ellen had written the letter as soon as she arrived at the palace, it would have taken at least another fortnight to reach here.
Even though I know that, my heart is not relieved. Worry is proportional to affection, so it seems like it will burst out of your chest any minute and pour through your eyes and mouth.
Did Ellen get rid of her false name?
Could it be that you are having trouble with something?
Or could it be that Galnar did another trick?
Concerns continued to bite their tail after tail, but there was nothing they could do right away.
“Whew.”
Let’s focus on Ulkar for now.
As long as I save him, I will inevitably gain various powers and various… ‘means’.
When Ulkar continues to be active as he is now without dying or falling, it is obvious that his power will increase further. In the process, I will also gain power as a bonus.
Then he might be able to project his influence into the Palace of La Palais, and even help if Ellen is wrong.
Even at the moment when I was resolute and clenched my fists, the five transport ships flowed briskly along the Mösel River.