My Villains Episode 073
20. City of Confusion (2)
After falling in the middle of the market, Ellen and I were surrounded by dozens of soldiers.
The soldiers all wore round plate-shaped iron helmets and chain mail.
Most of them were armed with long spears, but there were also six or seven soldiers with crossbows or war bows.
Hmm, looking at the helmets, they look like Prince Ulkar’s soldiers… How the hell did the army from across the Salt River get here?
As I stared blankly at them while holding the hrunting, the soldiers frowned and glanced sideways at each other.
The sergeant, who had led the soldiers, let out a small sigh as if he had read the atmosphere.
“Hey mercenary friend. If you don’t intend to fight, why don’t you put your weapon away?”
The sergeant wearing a hood instead of a helmet was a man in his thirties who seemed to have had some time. I looked at him and shrugged.
“As you can see, I lost my scabbard. There is no place to put the knife.”
“Then are you going to stay like that even when the prince comes? The knights won’t sit still.”
“Umm,”
I quietly scratched my chin, and Ellen, who was hanging behind me, quietly whispered.
“Just in case, don’t do anything stupid.”
“What are you doing stupid?”
“Don’t throw knives at me.”
Oh, that’s what you said. I was surprised to find out that I was going to be quiet again.
After thinking about it for a while, I grabbed the Hrunting in reverse and slammed it into the floor.
Kwagak!
As the heart-colored blade dug into the ground more than a hand’s length, the sergeant swallowed dry saliva in shock. The soldiers also made a surprised expression and quietly fixed their weapons.
“Is that okay?”
“…groan.”
I felt a little better because I felt like I had won the battle of strength… No matter how much I think about it, I’m still a kid.
Waiting for the confrontation to continue, a group of soldiers appeared at the entrance of the market road for a while. The man in the blue cloak who stood at the head of them was very familiar.
“Sir Langboldt’?”
“Huh, it really was you.”
A confidently built knight with an impressive mustache approached with a very surprised expression.
“I heard that the news stopped after going down to the basement. What is the point of suddenly appearing out of thin air?”
“Well, that sounds pretty long… Can I explain it here?”
As I shrugged and looked around, Langboldt sighed and clapped his chin.
“Follow me. The prince is waiting for you.”
After saying that, Langboldt took us straight to the city square.
As I looked down from the sky, there were six or seven large tents spread out in the plaza.
There were probably two or three hundred people sitting on mats around it, and judging by their appearance, they looked like refugees who had lost their place.
Dull-looking soldiers were watching over the people… I wonder if they’d be of any use because everyone’s expressions of hope were abandoned in the evening.
“What kind of a mess is this…”
Langboldt, who was walking ahead of me while looking around me, asked with a puzzled look.
“Don’t you know what happened?”
“Ah… we were stuck in that basement for a while.”
“Are you trapped underground?”
“I went down to the sewer, but the floor collapsed, wondering where the sewage leaked…”
“Hmm…”
Langboldt tidied up his mustache for a moment and then nodded. “Well
, it must have been worse
in the basement since it was like that on the ground .”
“…to that extent?”
“That’s right. Countless people died because of the earthquake. Some of the strongholds and walls have also collapsed.”
…earthquake? what earthquake? An event that didn’t exist in the game?
Will Daria be okay? What about Grania’s guys?
Then I suddenly had an ominous thought and asked Langvolt.
“That… when was the earthquake by any chance?”
“It was a few days ago. Well, we arrived right after the earthquake, so it must have been five days.”
five days? 5 days?
for a moment. It’s been a little less than three days since Ellen was unconscious, and it’s been about a day since she’s been looking for an exit. And right before that… I activated the ‘Altar’.
Maybe because of that? Was the earthquake caused by the aftermath of the collapse of the crypt when the underground lord was released from his seal?
“Uh fuck…”
The thought that I might be the cause of the disaster that befell South Harbor made me lose my mind for a moment.
Wouldn’t it be very fucked up if people knew this?
But come to think of it, am I the only one who knows about the altar?
Ellen was unconscious at that time … Luke may have noticed something, but what about the criminal’s nodist. Then is it okay if I keep my mouth shut?
…Kim Seung-soo, you crazy guy ■Ah, what’s okay? People have died countless times, you psychopath bastard….
“…What’s going on? You have a bad complexion.”
At Langbolt’s question, I suddenly raised my head and screamed.
“Oh no. It’s just… Come to think of it, I think we were also trapped underground at that time…”
“I see. They say that the sewer system collapsed as well, but you managed to get out. Did you do some magic?” “It’s similar, so to speak…”
Around the time we were evasive like that, we finally arrived at the prince’s tent. Ten or so people were gathered in the tent guarded by sharp-eyed soldiers.
Except for a few in the corner, the rest were around a large table.
There was only one person sitting on a chair next to a table littered with candles and maps, leather gloves and helmets. It was Prince Ulkar.
“Ha, it really was you.”
Among the knights standing like iron towers, the prince smiled slightly.
“Meet Your Highness the Prince.”
“You surprise me every time. You said it fell from the sky this time?”
“Yes, by chance…”
“Haha, ‘by chance’. I want to hear more about your story.”
Saying that, the prince leaned back and put on a puzzled expression when he saw Ellen sitting on his back.
“Who is that girl? Are you going to keep doing that?”
“I hurt my leg. I’m in a position where I can’t stand…”
“That’s right.”
The prince narrowed his forehead and chin, and a soldier gave him a chair. It was a bonus that he brought me clothes to wear, as if it was embarrassing to see me with my top uncovered.
After sitting Ellen down and putting on the tunic, the prince started asking questions as if he had waited.
I confided in most of what had happened underground, but I chose not to talk about one part. The fact that he had activated the altar and summoned the Underground Lord.
“Hmm. From necromancers to monsters to ancient magic… It’s an amazing adventure story.”
The prince crossed his arms and nodded his head. And when I finished my story, I turned to the priest in the corner.
“Wouldn’t it be better to inform the church about Father Gospatrick’s necromancer?”
“I will. If Your Highness permits, I would like to accompany this mercenary as well.”
“For now, let’s go first.
I’ll send you to church as soon as the conversation is over. Ah”
said the prince, looking back at me.
“Since you’ve been walking around the underground, it might be a good idea to get purified at church. In the meantime, you can also tell me about the necromancer.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I was about to go to church anyway.”
“That’s good.”
When the priest left the tent alone, the prince then questioned the wizard.
“Master Limond. What do you think of this mercenary’s adventure story?”
Master Limond? Ah, the man who summoned the water spirit last time.
The wizard stroked his chin for a moment, then replied in an ambiguous tone.
“South Harbor is a city that prospered greatly during the ancient empire. Scholars estimate that more than 100,000 people lived there. It wouldn’t be strange if such a mysterious device was hidden underground. Just…”
“Just?”
“Such magical devices are prepared for intrusion by outsiders. It’s a bit strange that ordinary mercenaries have overcome such defenses…”
“Come to think of it, I see.”
The prince looked at me as if asking for an explanation.
…how can you explain it? It’s kind of awkward to reveal that Ellen is a wizard. I didn’t have a
magician’s card, and I was in a situation where I was being chased from the palace. Suddenly the wind blows from… Huh Ellen?
“…This”
The prince and knights all looked puzzled, but the wizard sitting in the corner had his mouth wide open.
He made eye contact with Ellen, who was sitting quietly in her chair, and blinked in disbelief.
“What is it, Master Limond?”
At the prince’s question, Limond hesitated for a moment before choosing his words. Then he approached the prince and whispered in his ear.
“…I don’t think there is any need to doubt, Your Highness.”
I think I’m talking in a small way… I can hear everything, mister.
“What does that mean?”
“That girl is a wizard. Judging by the quality and amount of mana, it is unmistakable that he is a former member of the High House.”
“A name?”
“The Council of Dawn or the House Rao of the palace… one of three.”
As the wizard retreated, the prince looked at Ellen with new eyes.
Instead of lowering her eyes, Ellen said, ‘What? whatever?’ I was looking at the prince with a smile.
After all, he’s a very consistent guy.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t even spoken to the girl over there yet. What is your name?”
“My name is Ellen.”
He uses all the honorifics. It must have been difficult for him to even stretch out in front of the prince.
At Ellen’s clear answer, the prince untied his arms and asked again.
“Would it be rude if I asked your last name?”
“If you are in trouble, I will tell you. Even if it was disrespectful, who would dare to blame Her Highness?”
I was surprised by Ellen’s respect, which had nothing to do with politeness, but also how the prince shook his head kindly.
“…No, that’s not going to happen. Contrary to what you see, there is learning in magic. Tell me about it.”
“I’ve been working at ‘The Guard’s Weir’ for less than a hundred years. I’m afraid to show off my lowly skills in front of the lion’s clan.” Guardil Weir? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but looking at the faces of the drivers behind you, it doesn’t sound like a very good story…
I walked closer to Ellen.
If the knights’ faces showed anger rather than displeasure, they would have to take Ellen and run away at any time.
With that thought in mind, I glanced around, and several knights made faces of surprise.
what is it and why are you doing that?
Regardless of my questions, the prince’s questions continued.
“Then… is your being here a personal business?”
“It is and it is not.”
“As you know, I am a member of the royal family. I’m worried that maybe I’m ignoring my duty.”
“You are worrying for nothing. Your Highness has no obligations to me.”
“…Right. i get it.”
The two stared at each other for a while as they exchanged incomprehensible stories.
The silence ended when the prince turned his head towards me.
“Do you know the situation in the city?”
“I even heard that there was an earthquake.”
“okay. Several defense facilities, including the castle walls, were incapacitated, making it vulnerable to enemy attacks. And… all men in the city are subject to conscription. The basis is the count’s mobilization order that was announced a while ago.”
…X arm.
Prince Ulkar added, looking back at Ellen.
“The same goes for Miss Ellen. It’s an emergency, so I’m going to serve as a battle mage… No, I’d better go to church first.”
“…I understand, Your Highness.”
“Then, once… Let Lord Langboldt take this man. He has excellent skills and is quick to notice, so he will be of great help to the defense of the port.”
“Yes sir.”
harbor defense? oh wait Shouldn’t it be like this?
The prince was about to gesture as if to step back, but he quickly spoke up.
“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”
“hmm? what?”
“I obtained some information while carrying out the lord’s request before… When
I brought up the story of Torvald, the fast-footed man, and the letter he had, the prince’s expression hardened. Then, looking at the knight in shining armor, he asked.
“Sir Liam. Have you heard anything about this?”
“The captain of the guard said he took action after obtaining dubious evidence, but he said it was a waste of time.” “Is that the end?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After the prince was silent for a moment, a dwarf old man stepped out from among the knights.
“My lord, this is…”
“This could be the ‘some reason’ that Kyung said.”
“you’re right. It’s worth checking out.”
What are you talking about? Did you, by any chance, guess that there was an infiltrator in the city?
The prince tapped the armrest, deep in thought, and then opened his mouth.
“Currently, it is difficult to maintain the city’s defense and public order. But I cannot leave the enemy of my wealth alone. I will entrust this task to Sir Ariad.”
“Please leave it to me.”
“Can you give me about 20 people from the Guard Liam?”
“Of course, sir.”
“good.”
Prince Ulkar nodded and looked back and forth between me and Ellen.
“Did you and Ellen say your name was Phoenix?”
“Yes, that’s right. majesty.”
“The two of you, help Sir Ariad catch the snitch. I know the hardships of wandering underground for the past few days, but the situation in the city is urgent, so it is difficult to take care of the situation.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Yes. Go away.”
After bowing to the prince’s words, I quickly left the tent with Ellen in my arms.
