My Villains Episode 245
49. Visitors (8)
An army of undead targeting the Holy Land!
I never imagined that my bad relationship with Luke would have such an impact. He also did not expect that the situation at the Seteniora Monastery would become so urgent.
okay. I was complacent.
“……No.”
As I drool and washed my face, the people sitting around the table looked at me with puzzled expressions.
“Why are you like that, sir? Is there something wrong with you?”
“uh.”
I gave a sighed answer to Eson’s question, nodding my head.
“As I said before, the Monastery of Seteniora is one of the places we must stop by. It’s a situation where the undead army is flocking to such a place. Of course there is no problem.”
“Are you telling me the way to Prince Ulkar?”
“okay.”
After I solved all the problems here, the goal I set in my heart was to somehow solve up to Chapter 5 and then stick to Prince Ulkar and keep an eye on him.
The reason was simple. Because the boss of Chapter 6 is ‘King of Murder Ulkar’.
If Prince Ulkar shows signs of becoming the King of Slaughter as per the game scenario, you can kill him before he develops his strength. If the scenario is not twisted and corrupted, you can borrow the power of Prince Ulkar after observing the future situation.
It would require some pretty tricky detailed planning, but the overall framework was roughly like this.
“You don’t have to stop by the Seteniora Monastery, do you? You just have to go round to Unfast.”
“Alternatively, there is a way to watch the movements of the undead and pass them by when they retreat to Road Plateau or Blade Bay (W).”
Veteran conductor and archer Cole offered their opinions, but I shook my head.
“The reason I wanted to stop by Seteniora Monastery wasn’t because it was the shortest route to the western highlands.”
“then…?”
“We need your help, foresight.”
Like a world where all kinds of mysteries, including magic, run amok, foresight is also a superpower that exists. The saint ‘Abel’ with this ability was an important NPC that served as a milestone in the game.
Of course, in reality it will be a little different.
Saint Abel was an old man over seventy, so it would not be easy to travel with him, and he would not be a parrot repeating the same words over and over again.
However, he must have foresight, and he will probably be able to help in a far greater variety than in the game.
I hardened my heart and glanced back at Ellen.
“Maybe you can help us track down the dark knight. There’s no way the gospel wouldn’t come down about such a dangerous guy.”
“O uh”
“So, let’s first seek the saint from Seteniora Monastery.”
“After that?”
“Getting a ship from the port of Vitian or Oduenne and going back to Tirin Mel. Rather, we might be able to save more on our schedule. how is it?”
“Are you going to the sea?”
Ellen paused for a moment with her slightly darkened complexion, then pursed her pale pink lips.
“…the fish people?” “Fishman? I heard that the southwest coast was pacified by a fleet from Ireland.”
“At least, I was surprised to see a big ship and ran away to the bottom of the sea. If the fishmen make up their minds and run away, no fleet will be able to catch up.”
“Island’s fleet,” said
Heyla, putting the teacup down with a click.
“It’s not a decent fleet. Among them, the ‘Sledge Fleet’ led by Count Akele has no rivals in the Middle World’s waters.”
“Ha yeah? Then why-”
Ellen, who was trying to make a sarcastic remark with a sneer, suddenly shut her mouth and looked at me. Well, it won’t be easy to break our family name in front of me.
Out of consideration for Ellen, I turned around and pretended not to know.
“It’s useless to talk about this now, so let’s go and decide then. If the coastal conditions are good, get a boat, and if it’s dangerous, go down to South Harbor.”
“…to South Harbor?”
“huh. Let’s eat oat porridge and duck eggs at the inn in Boat Go-dong after a long time. Check if the salt castle is still tilted. how is it?”
Speaking of which, do you think it’s really okay?
Memories from South Harbor spring up. The owner of the boat horned inn, the old man with a simple smile, the eccentric old man Oreg…
and Daria, who smelled of mint in his arms.
I don’t know if you’re doing well. Shall I write a letter while thinking about it?
“…it’s useless to say now.”
” huh?”
“Then let’s go and talk. then go.”
Ellen muttered, pulling a chair and moving closer to the fireplace, then tightened her cloak.
…is it cold? Well, it’s already December after three days, so it must be cold.
Meanwhile, the mercenaries were watching each other.
Fortunately, he did not look anxious or dissatisfied. No matter how many rumors about the King of Death, our party has more power than you can imagine. The mercenaries know this well because they have been fighting together with their backs.
“What are you looking at?”
Gidon, the crossbowman who was sitting in the corner, jumped up and opened the Bible he was holding. And he pointed to a certain phrase and shouted.
“June 11, verse 3! Do only righteous and good deeds in front of the light that illuminates all things! It is to seek the gracious person bestowed by the Lord! What is there to hesitate about!” “You sound like shit.” Fritz, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his mouth with a smirk.
“How could that old woman be the one the Lord sent down? He was taken by Patriarch Neg.”
“This son of a bitch is talking like a pure heretic!”
“…a high pagan? Did you go crazy because you wanted to see if this bastard died?”
Fritz smiled ferociously, but he yelled, not caring about the money.
“Yes, you impious bastard! The saint proved that he was blessed by a miracle! But dare-”
“What is that prophecy? It’s a real miracle to see Bishop Hongui.”
“A foolish fool who was deceived by the light reflected in the cloud of a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing!”
“what? This baby- ”
Fritz, with his face stained, stood up and flew away.
“…You’re sick, really.”
Utequai burst into laughter at my murmur, jumped up, and approached the two men who were about to grab the collar. Fritz and Gidon got along well and were hit one by one by the ears and stuck to the floor.
How long has it been since the conversation ended? As the mercenaries dispersed, an unexpected visitor appeared.
“…Baron Innomen?”
“Sir Phoenix.”
The baron smiled as casually as when we first met and asked for a handshake.
“Three days? We were so busy that
we couldn’t see each other even though we were in the same town.”
I didn’t know how to react, so I gave an awkward smile, but Innomen didn’t care and kept going around.
“I heard that it is a herbal medicine guild hall, but it doesn’t smell like herbs at all. It just smells of metal and oil.”
“Even when they ran away, they scraped the warehouse. So what was left was of low quality and low in quantity.”
“Right. If so, how many people stay here?”
After roughly answering the baron’s question, he led him to the guild leader’s office. It is because of the intuition that the two of them will have to be alone to get to the point.
Innomen, who sat down at the table following my guidance to see if his intuition was right, said a few trivial words and then lowered his voice.
“Aren’t you curious about our plan?”
“…’our’ plan?”
“okay. The plan of the three riders and administrators.”
After scratching my eyebrows for a moment, I came up with an answer.
“Aren’t you trying to occupy the Guistol region? On behalf of Laio No, His Majesty the King.”
“that’s right. That’s the first step.”
“…
“You mean there are also stages 2 and 3?”
What the hell is this guy talking about?
When I kept my mouth shut, the baron waved his hand.
“Don’t get me wrong. Everything I say and propose from now on is exactly the will of His Majesty the King.”
“Should I say it again?”
Baron Innomen continued his speech with a smile on his face.
“I am the standard-bearer for His Majesty King Lionel III. The proposal I am making now is the same as that of His Majesty the King.”
“I don’t understand why you are saying this.”
“Ok, fine. Don’t say it straight-forward. His Majesty the King wants a seventeenth rider.”
…Seventeenth Horseman?
As I kept my bewildered expression, the baron added a comment as if he was frustrated.
“Don’t say you don’t know what that means. I have heard of your cleverness or cunning in Longville.”
“…so”
I finished the question with a feeling of hopelessness.
“Are you asking me to become the king’s rider?”
“Exactly.”
“…I’m just a knight?”
“It will change the moment you accept the offer.”
The Baron giggled and leaned back against the backrest.
“Our second-phase mission is to divide the Earldom of Gistol into four parts.”
“…That means you’re going to increase the number of riders who are now 16 by four.”
“that’s right. You will become the lord of Modos, the most important strategic point in the Gistol region. The quarry with the finest stones, the mountains full of animals to shed their fur, the forests full of fruit, and the fertile farmland are all yours. By becoming a baron like me.”
“…You mean His Majesty made me a proposal like this?”
The baron, who had been whispering flattering words until just now, deliberately shouted.
“Ah, what a proposal? Does it make sense that His Majesty the King would make a proposal to a knight?”
“No, that’s not it…
I was scratching my head before snapping at him in an annoyed tone.
“Isn’t it confusing to explain after cutting all the way back and forth? Please explain so I can understand.”
When I raised my voice, Baron Innomen smiled lightly, as if he had never yelled at me.
“Yes? What do you have to explain?”
The ‘Knight of the Iron Hoof’ is a complete jerk.
The baron shrugged his shoulders and began to explain contrary to words.
“You are one of the most famous knights in the past five years. Not only reputation and skills, but also practical achievements have been accumulated.”
“A real ball?”
“Should I tell you? In South Harbor, they calmed the chaos and repulsed foreign enemies, and in Longville, they pierced a blocked trade route and stabilized the economy of the south-central kingdom. And didn’t you punish the disrespectful lord here? What explanation do I need to give you land and make you a vassal?”
Seeing Baron Innomen talking about obvious things, he sighed openly and scratched his eyebrows.
“Isn’t that a problem?”
“Then what is the problem?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know, Baron. Originally, I was just a wandering mercenary and became a knight by Prince Ulkar.”
The Baron said, ‘What? whatever?’ He shrugged his shoulders with a smile on his face.
“It is not impossible to give a traitor who has done a great job a title and make him a direct subject.”
“But it is rare.”
“Because giving a title to a vassal of a feudal lord
can lead to conflict. However, His Highness Prince Ulkar is the son of His Majesty the King. What is the problem?”
The baron twirled, sweeping down his mustache.
It’s very cheesy.
As I closed my mouth and stared at him, he hissed and sighed.
“What good. Be more honest.” Baron Innomen, wearing a pod, began to speak with a serious expression without a smile.
“His Majesty the King feels great anxiety about the power of Prince Ulkar.”
“It is natural. The prince, the third successor in line, commanded thousands of troops and is in a situation where he is envyed by many people. Besides, these days, not only lower nobles, but also some lords from remote areas are implicitly supporting him.”
The middle-aged lord covered his tired face while washing his face dry.
“It has become difficult for His Majesty the King to use his hands. Prince Ulkar has literally built his own power with his bare hands, so there is no reason to do anything other than steal something.”
I leaned against the backrest with my arms crossed. And after a while, he opened his mouth.
“Honestly, it seems like a bit of an overreaction.”
“…hypersensitivity?”
“The prince’s forces are quite large, but at most they are at the level of a great lord. Besides, the kingdom’s seven nobles hate him. Prince Ulkar knows how foolish it is to rebel unless he gets hit in the head with a gun or even an arrow.”
“Fhh.”
Baron Innomen let out a sneer and laughed. It’s an attitude that I can’t agree with at all.
“Six years ago I was there.”
“…are you there?”
“The Thousand and One Days War. The one in my palace where the seven great nobles dared to point their swords at His Majesty the King.”
Oh right. Baron Innomen is the king’s flag bearer. Then, of course, he would have been one of the protagonists of the thousand-day war.
“Have you ever met him? Viscount Mallory or the Baron.”
“…yes.”
“He was an excellent military commander. We, the royal faction, have never defeated the army he commanded.”
The baron continued talking as he slumped in his chair.
“Until His Highness, Prince Ulkar, appears.”
“At that time, he brought several of his subordinates… Yes, four knights and one commander of the uprising. Langboldt Ankyr, Lyam, Ariad, Hilter. There were a few more squires and escorts attached, but there were less than 10 of them.”
…the commander of the uprising? Who are you talking about?
“We, the sixteen riders, were led by the prince with a sense of desperation. Two rounds were won and the war was over.”
The baron let out a long sigh.
“I still remember. The severed heads of the Duke of Webelter and the Margrave of Priggs. No one could have imagined they would end up like that.” His eyes flashed between the long sword scars and intersecting wrinkles.
“Did I say overreaction? you’re welcome.”
“If I were the king, I would have raised all the troops in the kingdom to finish off that monster. Long ago.”
it’s a monster
It was the first time anyone had ever called Prince Ulkar that way. In this world.
As I quietly swallowed my dry saliva, Baron Lee Nomen spoke in a cold voice.
“His Majesty the King cannot bear to do so because of his affection for Queen Bessen, but his Highness, Crown Prince Zacharis, is different.”
“…what if it was different?”
“It means that as soon as he ascends the throne, he will raise an army of tens of thousands and erase him from the world.”
The Baron put on his gloves and stood up with a small smile.
“I will give you enough time to think about it, so please make the right decision.”
“For you and your allies.”
