Novels online

Chapter 377

My Villains Episode 377

62. deception tactics(4)

“……You look lively.”

“uh? What are you talking about all of a sudden??”

On the way back to the Rose Garden Inn, Goleman, who was walking side by side with me holding a torch, had an uneasy expression on his face..

“You look light on your feet. He started before the sun rose and worked all day..”

“It's because I have good physical strength. If you're jealous, exercise too.”

“Is it because of your physical strength?... But, you were sagging like pickled cabbage until you stopped by Atalanta's tent, right?.”

“……Did I??”

“yes. That's right.”

I tilted my head and scratched my chin. Perhaps because I haven't shaved for two days, I have some thick beard growth..

“Is it because blood circulation is good?.”

“Blood circulation is?”

“There is such a thing. You will find out when you grow up..”

We finally arrived at the lodgings just as the innocent 17-year-old rancher was blinking his big light brown eyes..

“Oh, Nari. Are you coming now??”

In the front yard of the Rose Garden Inn, Henryk the Hairy Man from the North and Sernot the Mercenary were sitting around on chairs. They even lit a bonfire, perhaps to endure the cold night air..

“What are you doing if you're not sleeping? I'm cold too.”

“Well, compared to the winter in Baden, this isn't even cold. The atmosphere in the city is so ghastly that I just sit there for the first time..”

“What is the number? There are over a hundred city guards walking around right now, so what are they doing??”

“Have you not seen those bastards? They are as soft as dried sardines, they are not trustworthy at all..”

The soldiers gathered at High Castle never truly trusted their comrades from different affiliations. Different affiliations mean different lords serving different lords and different hometowns, so there are strange regional feelings in each unit..

This sense of heterogeneity among the soldiers was suppressed to some extent by Prince Ulkar's training, but it did not disappear completely..

In fact, rather than disappearing, it may have actually become concentrated. This feeling is fueled by the competitive spirit that blossoms as they compare their skills during training..

Ulkar was also concerned about this, but it was not a problem that could be solved immediately. He said that this is a problem that will naturally be resolved over time and when an enemy with greater differences approaches..

In the end, rather than trying to force his troops to assimilate, the prince chose to use competition as motivation and whip his soldiers. Control over the entire army was secured by sufficient supplies and the control of officers and non-commissioned officers..

“……Ugh, I'm trying. Go in and sleep. Because the security guards are also working hard..”

The city guard is currently under the command of 'Arrogant' Lord Lyam..

He was the greatest knight in High Castle in terms of his loyalty to Ulcar. After the assassin's invasion last night, it was obvious that Sir Gisella, the 'Bird Hawk Knight', would be as bright-eyed as he was..

“But Nari. Umberta and Esson,”

“Eson and Nabal, go in. If you want to stand still, sit on the first floor. What should you do if the fire is lit like this? They're protesting because they don't trust the city guard.?”

I am a knight who came from a mere mercenary background. It's true, anyway, that's what it says externally..

For this reason, there is no particular sense of kinship with either the subjects who previously followed Ulkar or the newly joined lords. Moreover, the troops I had were extremely ambiguous, with the characteristics of both mercenaries and private soldiers mixed in half..

As a result, my men, numbering just over a hundred, became an isolated group that looked only at me, with a color different from any other unit in High Castle. Ulkar said this wasn't a big deal, but I thought a little differently..

“It's a situation where the enemy is right in front of you, and you have to trust and rely on your allies to decide whether to fight or not.……

“But Sir, how can you trust people who don’t even know your name or hometown??”

“Then at least pretend to believe it.”

Only after I got a little annoyed did they start to quickly clean up the place. I was about to go in first with Gollman, but Henrik must have remembered something late and snapped his fingers, saying, 'Ah.'.

“That's right, Nari. Lady Hayla is waiting for me with a guest.” "customer? who?" “It was a lanky man, but he had his hood pulled down. I tried to check his face, but Miss Heila told me to just let him in..”

Lord Eordan, the Blood Knight. I have to go quickly and take a look..

……As I entered the first floor, I came across a scene that I couldn't ignore..

“Princess?”

“……Ah, Lord Phoenics. Now you're back?”

It was Theodora..

She sat alone in a corner, far away from the fireplace, even on the first floor, which was dark because the candles were sparsely lit. Instead of wearing his usual armor, he was wearing a loose tunic with silver embroidery on the collar..

It was a bit awkward to sit alone after midnight, but there was even a bottle of alcohol and a glass placed in front of the princess. It's truly a pitiful situation, itself.…….

“What are you doing alone??”

“that is.”

Theodora answered with an ambiguous face, as if smiling..

“As I was having trouble sleeping, I remembered that I had found some good wine in Andal-Viren and was tasting it..”

“Tasting? Didn’t you eat a bit too much to say you were tasting it??”

“ ah.”

At first glance, the slightly opaque glass bottle was more than half empty. Is there a drink or two left?.

Now I see that the princess's cheeks are slightly flushed, and her light green eyes have also opened up a little. It seems that he deliberately suppressed his divine power in order to get drunk..

Theodora seemed a little embarrassed and dragged the bottle in front of her..

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you..”

It was obvious it was a lie. If I hadn't really meant to make people worry, I would have just quietly drank it in my room..

“what happened?”

“…… It's no big deal. “I heard Miss Hayla is waiting for you, so don’t worry about it and just go up.” Hmm, I guess you should never go there. I took the sword belt, put it on the table, and sat down across from the princess. As her eyes widened, I handed the helmet to Goleman and shrugged..

“I'd like to take off my armor first. Can I sit down for a moment??”

“……Of course, do whatever you feel comfortable with..”

Gollman, who was extremely dull, was handed the helmet and tried to complain, saying, 'Why are you doing this here?' I handed him the gauntlet and made him shut up with a look, then asked Theodora..

“Oh, Ute Kwai said he would go to the cathedral with his sister-in-law. Did anything happen??”

“No big deal... … I guess I should say that. Yes, there was.”

“yes? what's going on?”

Actually, it was a question that didn't really mean anything, just to start a conversation, so I just rolled my eyes..

“Who made a fuss??”

Even though Iofiya was a pagan shaman, I didn't think there would be any trouble in Andal-Viren's cathedral. Including the Holy Knight Theodora, my companions, the monk Okan and the cathedral knight Kavar, are all with me..

No, apart from the priests, isn't there Utekwai? I thought there wouldn't be a fool in High Castle who would start a fight after seeing him next to Iopiya..

The princess answered with a bitter smile..

“No, it wasn't that kind of thing... … . That girl named Iopiya, her spirituality was amazing..”

“Spirituality?”

“exactly. While attending a service with Father Gospatrick's permission, I fainted. Perhaps I felt your presence indirectly..”

It was quite a puzzling statement, but I quickly nodded as the princess continued her explanation..

Iopiya is a shaman from the steppes of the far west, and worships a goddess called 'mother' or 'mother goddess'..

The mother goddess she served and the god of light served by the Gwangmyeong Church were completely different beings, but they were still gods. Thanks to this, the spirituality that developed while serving the mother goddess, especially the sense of feeling God, was also displayed in the Gwangmyeong Church cathedral..

“Feeling a pagan god rather than the Lord I worship... … It is a very special experience for a priest. It must have been a daunting task for the young shaman..”

“Then, EOPYA,”

“You may be sick for a while, but you will be fine soon. You don't have to worry too much..”

“Is that so? That's good……

I swept away my shocked heart..

Although I only met Iopiya not long ago, I had enough motivation and responsibility to take care of her. She's a soul shaman, a hero character in the game, and before that, she's my friend's sister-in-law..

I haven't been able to pay attention because I've been busy with work, but I'll have to pay more attention from now on..

But, Iopiya is Iopiya, and now is the time to focus on Theodora in front of me..

“Is it because of what happened with Iopya that you are sipping your drink with such a dark expression??”

“Hmm? My expression is dark.?”

“yes. Very much.”

“……I see. But not because of that witch doctor girl..”

Perhaps because she thought there was room for misunderstanding, she quickly added:.

“Of course, she's sick and that's something to worry about. However, for a priest, facing a new god is not always a bad thing. If you overcome it well, your spirituality will become stronger and more mature. “I see.”.”

Goleman spread his cloak like a bundle, put my armor set in it, and grumbled as he went upstairs..

As I felt much lighter, I picked up the glass in front of Theodora..

“Since you probably ate a lot, I can have a drink too.?”

“No - that cup,”

“Wow, it's really harsh. Where is this grape wine??”

The princess pursed her lips for a moment before answering..

“……Bülsruhe Mountain, wine.……

“Bühlsruhe, Bühlsruhe? Princess, isn’t that your family’s territory??”

“Yes, *hmm* yes..”

Duke Strom. Theodora's family is the family headed by her uncle, Duke Avilambus..

“……They say someone else's rice cake looks big, but my enemy's alcohol tastes better..”

This was meant to keep in mind that Duke Avilambus was the actual head of the 15,000 army that lurked in front of High Castle..

Even when people treated my uncle as an enemy, Theodora didn't say anything. Well, even though he is her uncle, he is the enemy of enemies who killed her father and brothers..

Theodora kept his mouth shut when the story of his enemy came up. Although his eyebrows narrowed slightly, he was priest-like enough just by not spewing out anger, hatred, or a desire for revenge..

I understood her feelings and slowly opened my mouth..

“Princess, you are having a hard time too.?”

“What do you mean??”

“Living as a paladin.”

“……It's not easy. But it's much better than when I was a nun..”

“I understand why. Because I can ride Brightmere as much as I want.?”

“Hehe, that’s right..”

Perhaps because of the mention of her favorite beautiful white horse, Theodora smiled with a slightly relaxed face..

But even for a moment, her smile became tinged with bitterness..

“Yes, riding Brightmere is one of the few freedoms I am allowed..”

“You can't point a sword at someone you hate, and you can't raise a shield to protect someone you love.……

Light red lips trembled slightly and a sigh followed..

“Looking back, I've been like that my whole life. When I was an immature child, when I was imprisoned in a convent, and even now that I have become a Holy Knight. I'm doomed to just sit back and watch my loved ones leave.”

Only then did I vaguely realize why she was depressed..

Last night, her uncle, Prince Ulkar, was visited by an assassin, but she feels helpless as she cannot do anything..

You may see a overlap between your childhood when you had to watch your beloved father, two older brothers, and younger brother die, and your present self, trapped in Andal-Viren..

That miserable feeling was something that others could not easily empathize with. Even after emptying my full glass of wine again, I couldn't find the words to comfort Theodora. That was the reason why I started chatting casually..

“I often have strange dreams.”

“……strange dream?”

“yes. I fell into a city I had never seen before, and wandered through unfamiliar landscapes... … . Sometimes, they fly in the sky on huge machines that look like birds..”

When I used hand and foot gestures to describe what the plane looked like, the princess made a shocked expression..

“……What a strange dream. As expected, Kyung is the wrong person..”

“Is that so??”

I continued with a stupid smile even when I thought about it..

“Aren’t you still curious??”

“hmm?”

“It's a dream of flying in the sky. A dream of not just falling headlong from the sky to the ground, but floating in the sky for hours..”

Theodora said nothing..

“I'll show you when the war is over.”

“Do you hate it??”

“……no, no.”

She twitched her lips and smiled slightly..

“I'm looking forward to it.”

“thank god.”

I finished the last glass in one go and got up..

“Okay, business is over, princess. Hurry up and go to sleep..”

“Hehe, I understand. Not like that.”

After shaking her head, Theodora followed me and stood up. Before I knew it, I had a pretty deep smile on my face..

That smile was so amazingly beautiful that it made me feel proud..

As I slowly opened the door and entered the room, there was a somewhat cold atmosphere. The atmosphere was so calm that it was hard to believe that the two people were sitting across from each other.…….

“Uh, Heyla.?”

Instead of Hela, who was looking at me quietly, Lord Eordan, who was sitting across from her, spoke..

“I've been waiting, master. Please sit down..”

“No, wait a minute..”

Hayla raised her hand and pulled the string hanging next to the fireplace. Then, a while later, Rowen appeared..

“You called me, girl.?”

“Can you prepare some bath water??”

“Yes, of course. I just turned off the fire, so I'll reheat it right away..”

Rowen, who was turning around while saying that, suddenly tilted his head..

“Oh, by the way. Haven’t you had a bath a while ago??”

“huh. Phoenix will do it, not me..”

“Oh, is it me? All right.”

Before I could stop him, Rowen left, and I shrugged my shoulders at Heyla..

“What's so urgent? After the talk, you can get ready..”

“Take a bath first.”

“uh?”

“Take a bath first.”

“What's wrong, suddenly?”

She continued speaking in a low voice..

“Incense and the smell of alcohol.”

“Uh, uh?”

“Take a bath first.”

I was confused as to whether it was an order or a recommendation, so in the end, I nodded silently..