My Villains Episode 402
63. The Knights of the Silver Prince (9)
Purreung-
A spotted man who was walking on the well-paved flagstone groaned. I was so excited that I smiled and brushed the nape of the guy’s neck.
“Yumma, why are you so excited?” No matter what I said, he was busy walking with his head held high. Unlike when he was a pack horse, he seemed to be showing off himself.
Spotted is a word obtained after defeating bandits at the mouth of the Sogeumgang River about a year ago. It’s not comparable to a warhorse with a good pedigree, but it’s young and energetic, so it’s a good guy to use as a riding horse.
Weirdly lucky, despite the rigorous journey, he did not get seriously injured. So, when I didn’t want to draw attention, I used to ride in a spotter. It’s not a very wise move to enter
an unfamiliar city riding a demonic beast that gives off the body odor of carnivores .
When I talk about bicorn, I suddenly think of Fritz. I left the band to hide that I was in high castle.
– Mr. Nari! What would you do if you were given a small amount of money and asked to do such a dog thing?
-Didn’t you explain that it was unavoidable due to the operation?
-But that’s the case. I also have a face, so I should imitate others? Make someone else besides me!
-…When it comes to good words. I’ll triple your weekly wage.
– You know that things like dogs can be done with money. Don’t do it X arm!
I personally treated him because he was having a seizure that he had been experiencing for a while.
In the process, I was able to be sure again. Of all my subordinates, the only one who could even imitate me was Fritz.
That bastard followed me around on the battlefield, and his skills improved again
.
-…Then, if you don’t know anything else, give me the Vicorn and the knife and go.
– why?
-Why X arm? I can’t even use Blood Sculpture, but I’ll pretend to be a ruler if I have that. No!
I sternly refused to hear what Fritz was talking about, spitting out his broken molars.
Well, it was important for him to imitate me and deceive the imperial army. But more important than that is to use my fighting power to the fullest and stab the enemy’s soft stomach deeply.
-That’s not allowed. Instead, Heila will help you, so you can properly imitate the Blood Knight.
-You’re not taking Miss Heila?
_uh.
-…What kind of stupid thing is that? You’d be much better off giving me a bicorn and taking the lady.
-I’m doing this because I have an idea, so if you want to shut up and say something, why don’t you?
It wouldn’t be easy to do my double without a sword that emits cold air or a magic beast with two horns.
However, as Heila’s assistant, she can imitate using Blood Sculpture, so it won’t be noticeable even if she doesn’t have black ice. I’ll just focus on the sit-in, so it doesn’t matter if I don’t have a bicorn.
I was a little whiny, but I wouldn’t mind. If I were to imitate me, would Fritz be the one who would feel satisfied with the imperial knights attacking me like a pack of dogs?
Therefore, it was Heila, not Fritz, who I really felt sorry for. After explaining the situation, I noticed that I understood, but…
I swallowed dry saliva out of the blue. It was because of her cold, moist eyes.
Maybe it’s because of the agility of a person in their early twenties, superhuman vitality, and even blood-sculpting. This guy’s body doesn’t seem to know how to be satisfied.
Looking back on the past month, even though there is no reason to feel lacking, just thinking of Heila’s eyes, scent, and body temperature makes my stomach feel hot
…
Around the time I calmed down my body and mind using the Blood Sculpture, Atalanta, who drove the horse to my right, sighed.
“Haha, how hard have I suffered here, how can I be treated like this?”
“what’?”
“I can not see?”
She glanced around, her amber eyes flashing.
After entering Oduenne, we encountered a group of soldiers on the way to ‘Valesolis’. Apart from the guards, the soldiers who were deployed in groups of six or seven were usually heavy armored personnel carriers or crossbowmen. Their eyes were blatantly directed in this direction.
“If it weren’t for me, things that would have become fish food are rolling their eyes like some kind of thief.”
“Hmm well.”
Sir Langboldt, who rode the horse on the other side of Atalanta, opened his mouth while stroking the tip of his mustache.
“I don’t think Sir Lyam would have let it be.”
“…do you think he could have held this port without the help of me and my men?”
“of course. He is a competent knight, and he had elite soldiers with him when he was defending Oduenne.”
“Haha, could you handle it with that much power? You don’t even know what the ‘witch of hymn’ is.” “I know that you fought the monster and defeated it. But would it have been possible to achieve such an active performance without the support of the ‘Shield Maiden’ and ‘Half-Elf’?”
last fall. Prince Ulkar, who was confronting the army of the Mittergerant Empire on the plateau, sent six hundred troops to the ‘arrogant’ Sir Layam to deal with the fish-men army that had infested the coast and sent him down to the south.
In the south, Sir Layam subjugated the fish-men centered on Oduenne, but at that time, excluding Sir Layam and the prince’s personal soldiers, ‘Aran Hares’ Atalante was the most active. The ones that followed were Grania, the ‘Room Maiden’, and Io Piya, the ‘Half-Elf’.
In particular, when dealing with the witch of hymn, it is said that it was Iophya who blocked the powerful mental wave accompanying the strange song. Thanks to this, the army was able to drive out the fishmen while Atalanta kept the Witch of Hymn tied.
“What do you want to say? The sacrifices of me and my warriors were insignificant and it is natural to be treated like this?”
Atalanta fired at Lord Langboldt like a lioness growling. However, the true iron knight shrugged his shoulders without flinching at that ferocious gaze.
“I hope it can’t be. As your comrade-in-arms, I just want to give you some advice.”
“… Ha advice? That’s it.”
“Stop blowing up your little balls and complaining all the time, start by finding a way to erase the shameful reputation your people have built. That way would be beneficial to you as well as to the entire Nudan people.”
Sir Langboldt’s expression was calm, but he did not seem to have any hatred or ridicule towards this cult.
Perhaps noticing this, Atalanta muttered ‘Mawzir’ and tightened her grip on the reins. Even looking at it, she seemed to be in tears, so I stopped Sir Langboldt and took her side.
“Don’t be like that. It’s understandable that Atalante is upset.”
“Do you think so, sir?”
“of course. Wouldn’t it upset you to see you so vigilant when you shed blood to protect a city you don’t even know, following the prince’s orders?”
“It would be wonderful to hear their point of view.”
“What is their position?”
“That’s… wouldn’t it be better if you said it yourself?”
Atalanta’s face cracked at Lord Langboldt’s question.
“I don’t know what you heard, but this kind of treatment is not natural.”
“…Does something happen?”
She bit her lower lip and confessed the truth as if it were unfair.
“Yes, it is true that some of my children shoplifted.”
“Do you shoplift?”
“…The warriors of the newly accepted clan are out of control. Well, I just stole some bread or some wine. Not only did I make amends, but I was also punished properly.”
Sir Langboldt shook his head with a wry smile.
“You seem to have a different opinion than the people here. It is a Milanol tradition to cut off your wrists if you steal.”
“It’s a tradition that only applies to pagans. I think being whipped so much that I couldn’t even open my eyes for several days was enough punishment.”
“Yes, I heard you personally punished your subordinates. As a leader, you are in great shape. But the problem is that your men aren’t the only ones stealing.”
“I’m sure it’s a false accusation.”
“It’s fortunate, then…
Sir Langboldt let out a short sigh before continuing with a stiff face.
“If the harmed women give birth to children of the same skin color as your own people, then there will be no turning back.”
“It will never happen.”
Sensing the implications of that conversation, I turned to Atalanta.
Atalanta read the emotion of disgust from my face, probably failing to manage my expression. Her expression hardened.
“Can’t Nicks trust me?”
“…you believe.”
“I believe? What do you mean by that?”
I was about to answer, but I shook my head.
“Let’s talk later.”
Atalanta nodded while making a disapproving expression. He had arrived at Val Le Solis before he knew it.
We were able to enter Jean Valesolis right away thanks to the guidance provided by Sir Slanweed, a senior knight guarding Oduenne on behalf of Viscount Cirillo.
Oduenne’s stronghold was far grander and grander than when he saw it from afar. At first glance, it seemed larger than all three castles in High Castle combined.
Only three people were allowed to enter the keep, including me and Atalante, Lord Langboldt. Although the wariness felt excessive, they decided to take comfort in not demanding disarmament.
“welcome.”
We were greeted by a middle-aged steward. He was the one who managed Oduenne’s government offices, so he must have had a fairly high rank among Viscount Cirillo’s vassals.
He skimmed Sir Langboldt and Atalanta, then fixed his gaze on me.
“…Are you Sir Phoenix?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Huh,
the steward blinked for a moment, then quickly continued.
“There is someone who wants to see Sir Phoenix separately before taking him to the main hall.”
“Let’s go.”
“If you follow that, you will see- Yes?”
“Let’s go.”
It was obvious who would want to meet me.
So, instead of asking a question, I made a chin gesture to mean lead. Perhaps this was an unexpected reaction, the steward took the lead with a confused face.
Leaving Sir Langboldt and Atalanta behind, he headed to the tower attached to the keep.
Unlike the main building, which was guarded by the soldiers of Auduenne or the soldiers of Count Milgester, the ones guarding this tower were the blood knights.
“I brought Lord Phoenix.” The two blood knights guarding the stairs leading upstairs did not move, like stone statues. They only glanced at me and the steward, glancing inanimately through the gaps in my helmet.
Then, when one of them nodded, the steward, who had been shaking his legs from the start, left as if he were running away.
“…Can I go up?”
After confirming that the steward’s shadow had disappeared, the blood knights slowly lowered their heads.
“Yes, Bocchan.”
“…hmm. It’s a title I can’t quite adapt to.” The two blood knights showed no reaction. Both of them must be Baluin or Zaharkar, and at least one of them must be a close blood relative to me, but they don’t pretend to know.
I wanted to take off the helmets of the two blood knights and check their faces, but I didn’t think the nobleman waiting upstairs would like it.
“Whoa.” I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs.
My biological father was an impostor.
I didn’t remember anything before I was sent to the orphanage, so I found out about it near the end of my military service.
Looking back, I think I was quite shocked because the story about my real parents was very different from what I secretly imagined. When I was young, I was so curious about the kind of people who gave birth to me, but after hearing the story, I said that I was very fortunate to know them only after I grew up.
The adoptive father was a good man.
He was an ordinary but sincere office worker, and he was a warm, if not friendly, adult. Although he was a devout Christian, he did not rely too much on the church or pastor like his mother, and although he liked alcohol a little, he did not show rudeness when drunk.
Considering that I became a loner right after you passed away, it seems that my father was the only one who considered me a real family member.
Phoenix’s father, Count Akele… well, he doesn’t have anything to say as a memory.
He was the younger brother of Ski Elle, the former duke of Ireland, and was a man with both bloodlines and skills. He was given the rank of count, although he was given the title of single victory because he was the most powerful among the Blood Knights, and he held important positions, including admiral of the iron scale fleet, to protect Ireland’s outer defenses.
As a result, it was not the father who ran outside or the mother who died during childbirth who raised Phoenix. An inanimate object called a family took care of Phoenix.
Also, it was only after being designated as a conceived that Phoenix was officially recognized as a deficit of fresh blood. Phoenix, who had a lowly mother, had never called Count Akele his father, and it was one of the few times he had met him face-to-face.
In other words, until I was possessed, Phoenix was never treated as Count Akele’s son.
So I thought that if I acted as a son who suddenly got a father, I could easily fool Count Akele…
“What are you?” These were the words that the fresh-blooded man who was sitting in the dark room on the top floor of the tower said to me as soon as he saw me.
“yes?”
“What did you ask?”
I didn’t expect a greeting like ‘It’s been a while’, but the question was so sudden and cold that I made a stupid face without realizing it.
Count Akele looks exactly like me… no, I look like that old man. In any case, the count wore a colder smile on his cold face.
“It can’t be Zaha Kar to make such a stupid face
.”
“Answer me. What are you?”
…Somehow, I can already feel it.
What type of person is the nobleman sitting in front of me now?
