Chapter 196
My Villains Episode 196
44. dreamy(6)
“Are you okay? My complexion is not good..”
Ellen nodded, wiping her face with her white hand..
“……yes. are you okay.”
Phoenix stared at her and then suddenly held out his hand..
«Ugh n 才、9
Ellen shrugged her shoulders unconsciously and blinked quietly when a large, rough hand touched her forehead..
Phoenix looked at Ellen's forehead and his own forehead in turn, then narrowed his eyes..
“Hmm, I don’t have a fever. I pretended?”
“no. Just, um, I'm fine..”
“••••••okay?”
Phoenics continued to look at Ellen's complexion as if she were suspicious. The girl with golden hair wet her dry lips and frowned..
“Why are you looking at me like that??”
“……You, by any chance.”
Phoenix widened his eyes as if he realized something..
Ellen's eyelashes fluttered..
Is it because I saw that? A handsome man with a cold expression pursed his lips..
“Um, I want to take a break.?”
“......uh?”
Although it didn't suit his unique atmosphere, his eyes were filled with something warm..
“I do this because it reminds me of bad memories.
going to be?”
“what‘?”
After hesitating for a moment, Poynix leaned towards Ellen and whispered softly..
“I mean, Luke. I kept talking about that bastard..”
“……ah.”
My small chest swelled for a moment and then went down again. Poynix, who was quietly looking at Ellen, covered the back of her trembling hand with his large hand..
Ellen, who read concern, trust, and affection in his touch and gaze, was seized with the feeling that she was about to drown. What was suffocating her was overwhelming happiness and dark guilt.…….
Ellen bit her twitching lip and slowly nodded. With the back of her hand tightly wrapped, Phoenix looked back at the middle-aged man sitting on the other side of the gun..
“I heard the good news. Thank you.”
“Heh heh. No need to say anything, Nari..”
““Do you have any more news to share?” The merchant quietly knocked on the table and rolled his eyes..
“Let's see. There were a few interesting things that happened while passing by 'Seteniora', a monastery on a cliff, but I don't think it's something you'd be curious about..”
However, contrary to his expectations, Poynix looked startled..
“……You passed by Seteniora? Then I also met a saint.?”
“Oh, that's not it. “Is it possible for you to meet the saint so easily?” The merchant chuckled and continued..
“All I saw was a prostitute who invaded the monastery looking for the father of her unborn child and corrupt monks pointing fingers at each other..”
“……Pregnant whores and corrupt monks..”
“yes. What kind of absurd thing is going on in the monastery where the saint lives?.”
Poynix looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but he glanced around and closed his mouth..
“Well, thank you. Thanks to you, I got some useful information.” “I’m glad you said that..”
“You can't get this information for free... … . How many gold coins should I give you??”
“Huh, thank you again..”
As Poynix reached around his waist and tried to take out the money bag, the middle-aged merchant quickly continued..
“But I don't need the money, I.”
“……Don't you need money? That's unbecoming of a merchant..”
The merchant smiled..
“Is that possible? I am a businessman to my core..”
“Hmm.”
Poynix raised an eyebrow and asked, 'What is this kid doing?' When I made a face like this, the merchant showed both his palms..
“All you need to do is remember my name.”
“your name?”
“yes. ‘Max’ from ‘Farlane’. Please just remember that.”
At those words, Fritz, the ponytail mercenary who was eating onion porridge with cinnamon and eggs, suddenly looked up..
“Was (what is it)? Bist du aus dem Imperium（Are you an empire guy?）?”
Max, a middle-aged merchant, nodded and responded to Fritz's sudden comment in Gelan..
“I lived in the empire until I was six years old. I guess that person also came from the empire.?”
“Are you coming? Unlike you, a Farlane country boy, this body is from Aringen..”
As Fritz spoke proudly and spat, Utequoi next to him frowned..
“Close your mouth and eat porridge..”
«Ugh n
Fritz suddenly frowned and muttered quietly to himself in Gelan..
“Nimi, how do you eat porridge with your mouth closed? Ignorant barbarian bastard.”
Utequai smiled..
“If you make a hole under the uvula, you can drink porridge even if the mouth is closed. Do you want that??”
“•♦••••Eek?”
Fritz's eyes widened in surprise when Utequai spoke fluent Ghelan..
“No, how - do you know Ghelan??”
“The steppe borders the Mitergeland across a corridor. Gellan's level of knowledge is basic as a warrior..”
Fritz's face turned pale at Utequai's words. It's because the memories of swearing in Ghelan in front of Daejeon Temple in this meadow have passed by..
While Fritz was scared and swallowed dry saliva, Utequoi swallowed a boiled egg in one go and drank beer. It seemed as if he was satisfied that Fritz had become quiet and had taken his attention away from him..
Phoenix burst out laughing when he saw that and nodded towards the middle-aged merchant..
“good. Max from Farlane, I'll remember. It's not a difficult request.”
“Thank you, Nari.”
Merchant Max smiled and said hello to Phoenix and the others before returning to his group..
Fortunately for Ellen, the Oressa Tavern had quite a few rooms, even though it was a one-story building. It appeared to be mostly used as a warehouse or workroom, but there were a couple of rooms where people could stay..
When the owner's eldest son introduced the room as being used by his wife and younger sisters, Poynix guessed the situation and made a solemn expression..
“hmm. I'm telling you this in case you feel uncomfortable, but my wife and sisters are alive and well..”
“……Ah, yes?”
“yes. One of my sisters had an older child, so I married her off to a village below. “My wife and children stay there.” Poynix quietly shook his head at the eldest son's explanation..
“Well, it's a bit dangerous for women and children to stay in the middle of a remote forest like this. There will be frequent attacks by monsters..”
“There are some dangerous corners, but no monsters have invaded the bar in nearly three years..”
“3for years?”
“ yes.”
Phoenix opened the wooden window and looked around..
The Oressa Tavern was located on a low hill in the middle of the forest. Since we were already in the forest and it was raining and there were spiders on the ground, it was so dark that it was impossible to see an inch ahead..
Poinix, who confirmed this, burst into laughter as if he could not understand..
“It wouldn't be an awkward sight even if four or five trolls came out right away. Besides, on the way there, I noticed that there weren't any monsters in the forest.?”
“It's full of goblins and red hounds..”
“Even if we say that they are such small children, they are like ogres.?”
“You may encounter them at the foot of a mountain or on a forest path, but they will not invade this tavern..”
The eldest son shook off the blanket a couple of times and spread it on the bed and continued talking..
“According to my father, it is thanks to the Oressah tree..”
“Oressah's tree? They say it was cut down by Count Mattianver's soldiers.?”
“It's an old tree with hundreds of spirits, so even though its form has been cut down, its substance will still remain... … Well, it's such a superstition..”
“hmm.”
“So it's not the monsters that are scary, but the thieves. Even Oressa's protection couldn't stop those wearing human masks..”
Phoenix scratched his eyebrows and then glanced around the room. Then he asked without much expectation..
“Can I take a bath here??”
“Of course, Nari..”
“……Yes? really?”
The eldest son shrugged his shoulders..
“I'll give you the bathtub, so you'll have to take care of the rest..”
“Take care of it?”
“yes. As for water, there is a stream a little way down there. No, since it is raining at the moment, we can just catch the rainwater. As for firewood to heat water, well, it may be a bit difficult, but you can pick it up, dry it, and then use it. Or, you can boil water little by little in the fireplace..”
As Poynix silently groped his waist, the eldest son quickly waved his hand..
“Oh, you can't give me money. “It’s a bar rule.” “I saw it earlier and it seemed like they would show some flexibility as long as you gave them enough money..”
“This really doesn't work. Your father will be very angry..”
When the eldest son threw up his arms, Phoenix had no choice but to nod and send him away..
Ellen, who was standing alone in the corner, slowly pulled off her cloak and took off her leather shoes..
“If you really want to take a bath, I'll get some water. You can warm it up because you can do it..”
“……are you okay. I just want to rest.”
“Yeah, well, you won't die if you don't wash for a few days. right?”
Phoenics said that and walked up to Ellen, who was sitting on the bed, and wiped her feet with a cloth soaked in water. Ellen's cheeks were a little red, but she seemed quite used to it by now and sat quietly until Phoenix dried her off with a dry cloth..
Poynix, perhaps impressed by his calm appearance, smiled and stood up..
“Okay, sigh..”
“wait for a sec.”
“ huh?”
As a small white hand grabbed the hem of the sleeve, Phoenix looked down at Ellen with a puzzled expression..
“why? Do you need anything? I'm still hungry?”
“……no, that's not it.”
She licked her pink lips and bit her lower lip..
“give me a hug.”
“suddenly?”
At the words he barely managed to muster up the courage to say, Poynix blinked and nodded willingly. He then took off the breastplate, placed it on the floor, sat down on the bed, and lifted Ellen's small body so that she sat on his lap..
“ it.”
Ellen shrugged her shoulders for a moment. Even though he asked to be hugged, he seemed to feel embarrassed when Poynix hugged him without asking or questioning him..
Poynix, perhaps aware of these feelings or not, wrapped his arms around her back and shoulders and hugged her warmly..
My stiff body softened under the gentle touch and moderate pressure. Ellen buried her face in a firm, wide embrace..
Phoenix suddenly opened his mouth with a playful expression on his face..
“ruler. I would appreciate it if you did what I wanted, I should..”
“huh? quickly.”
Despite Phoenix's encouragement, Ellen didn't say anything except to tap his chest a couple of times. Then Poynix patted her on the back with a smile on her face..
The affectionate patting continued even after the sun had completely set..
per quadah!
Poynix narrowed his eyes slightly at the loud noise coming from outside. And he listened to Ellen while holding his breath..
Colorful breathing sounds. It was clear that he was deeply asleep..
Phoenix carefully picked Ellen up and laid her on the bed, then left the room, making no sound of footsteps..
The Oressa tavern was in a minor disturbance..
“Hey. What was that just now??”
“I'm surprised, I'm sorry.”
Phoenix also guessed that it was either Stedman the hothead or Fritz the ponytail who caused the accident, but the two of them just sat quietly in their seats, muttering low curses..
The place where the loud sound came from was none other than the entrance to the bar..
“Oh my, damn it.”
The bar owner's second son blocked the door with his shoulder and screamed inside the bar..
“Lugon, Chigon! Bring me anything that can be used as a latch.!”
He was holding two pieces of wooden planks at his sides. Poynix thought that the rain and wind must have broken the latch and opened the door..
At that time, someone sitting in the corner of the bar suddenly stood up..
“blackwood!”
The person who shouted that in a cheerful voice was none other than Alena, the daughter of a charcoal maker and her husband..
“You came looking for me!”
The child, who was usually unnaturally expressionless, smiled brightly and ran towards the entrance of the bar..
“Alena……
When the child's father, a charcoal maker, stood up with a small sigh, Conwyr, who was sitting next to him, wrinkled his forehead..
“Why is that kid acting like that all of a sudden? What is ‘Blackwood’??”
“My daughter daydreams.”
“fancy?”
“ yes.”
The charcoal maker said with his lips quivering..
“He said that sometimes, a man named Blackwood comes to visit him. It's like having a conversation with an imaginary man..”
“……That's what the devil said.”
Maybe it was because Conwyer's voice of reluctance was quite loud. The atmosphere in the bar suddenly calmed down..
“oh." Did he think that heavy atmosphere would harm his daughter? The charcoal maker’s wife woke up in surprise..
“No, nothing like that. Alena, yes, is kind of playing house..”
Around that time, Alena dragged two empty chairs and placed them facing each other in the middle of the bar. Then he just smiled brightly as if he was waiting for something and then sat down on a chair..
“Since you came through a deep forest, I thought you wouldn’t be able to follow me..”
Alena has a lively voice as if she were talking to a close relative or a powerful neighbor.
paid a fee.
“It was my first time leaving Tvas, so I had high expectations, *sigh* Rough men, ugly monsters, and cold rain. I'm sick of it already..”
As Alena continued to chat, Gidon, the crossbowman who was tying the rosary around his neck, came out with a stern look on his face..
“Here comes the devil. Something needs to be done.”
He muttered, then reached into the leather pocket on his belt and took out a small, transparent glass bottle..
Freckled Mira frowned at that sight..
“Are you really going to sprinkle holy water on a little girl just because she's playing house? I know how much it costs?”
“I've told you so many times, it's not the money that's important, you stupid bitch..”
As Gidon said this and opened the cap of the holy water, the archer Kol came up and grabbed his wrist..
“okay. What matters is the command.”
“……what?”
“Your employer hasn't said anything yet. Are you going to waste his wealth carelessly??”
As Cole glared coldly and growled, Gidon gritted his teeth and glanced towards Phoenix, looking down at his temper. Phoenix shook his head with a frown, and Gidon licked his lips and then stepped back..
Alena, who had already finished chatting, blinked as if she was listening to something being said. All her attention was focused on the empty chair on the other side..
The people gathered in the Oressa tavern thought it would be better to just shut up like that than to talk to themselves like crazy, but that wasn't really the case..
Alena kept attracting the attention of those around her because of her strange atmosphere..
If you look at the child unconsciously like that, you will see the smiling face turn into a fake cry, the body stiffen as if struck by lightning, the lower lip drop, or the child burst into laughter again.…….
“……This won't work.”
The owner of the Oressa Tavern continued to stroke his bushy beard and looked back at Phoenix. His eyes flashed dimly beneath his wrinkled eyelids..
“Nari, this won’t work..”
what'?" “Please either stop that child who is spouting evil, or kick him out..”
Poynix frowned as if that was some kind of bullshit, but the old man was stubborn. He forgot the difference in social status and started picking up Poynix. The charcoal maker and his wife noticed him and approached Alena, shaking like aspen trees..
“Ah, Alena. Let's stop now. huh?”
Even though her mother pleaded, Alena was completely focused on the invisible Blackwood..
“Alena!”
The charcoal maker hugged his daughter with a somewhat determined look on his face..
“Wow!—!”
A loud, terrible scream that was hard to believe came from a child's voice came out. As Alena screamed and struggled like crazy, the mercenaries looked horrified and tried to stop the charcoal maker..
“Ha, ugh-”
When the charcoal maker stepped away with his hands trembling, Alena had forgotten about the fuss she had made and turned into a precocious young woman and sat down in the empty chair..
“……Really, all kinds of things are going on..”
Phoenix watched the scene quietly and walked away with an expression of unwillingness. He then glanced at Alena, who was concentrating on something, and then sat down across from her..
At that moment, something completely unexpected happened.
“and.”
Alena smiled as if she was ecstatic..
“It's been a while since I saw you like that.”
“••••••what?”
“long time no see. It's been a really long time.”
Alena added with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes..
“Really, it's been a while, Blackwood..”
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