Chapter 402
My Villains Episode 402
63. The Silver Prince's Knights(9)
Purr-
A spotted cat, who was walking briskly on the well-paved flagstones, was tousled. He seemed very excited, so he smiled and rubbed the back of his neck..
““Hey, why are you so excited?” No matter what I said, he was busy walking with his head held high. Unlike when he was acting like a burden horse, he looks like he's showing off..
Spotted is a horse I obtained after defeating magic bandits at the mouth of the Salt River nearly a year ago. Although it is not comparable to a battle horse with a good pedigree, it is young and energetic, so it is an excellent horse to use as a riding horse..
Oddly enough, despite the harsh journey, he was not seriously injured and was fine. So, whenever I didn't want to attract attention, I would ride the spotted horse. Riding a demonic beast that exudes the scent of a carnivore, I arrived in an unfamiliar city.
'Cause it's not a wise move to come in.
When I talk about Bicorn, Fritz suddenly comes to mind. That bastard, I hired him as a stand-in to hide that I wasn't at High Castle, and he was so mean..
-Hey, Nari! What are you going to do if I give you a pittance of money and make you do this crap??
-You explained to me that it was unavoidable for operational reasons..
- Still, that's right, I also have a thing called face. Are you telling me to imitate others? Let someone else do it instead of me.!
-……If I say something nice, then I should say something. I'll triple your weekly wage..
-You think that money is everything. I don't do it,!
He's been having infrequent seizures lately, so I gave him treatment myself..
In the process, I was able to be confident again. Of all my subordinates, the only one who can imitate me is Fritz..
That bastard followed me around on the battlefield with his teeth clenched, and his skills improved again.
go.
-……Well, if nothing else, just give me the Baikon and the knife and go..
- why?
-Why, X8. I can't even use blood magic, so I need to have that skill so I can pretend to be a ruler.!
I resolutely refused to hear Fritz spitting out his broken molars..
Well, it is important that he imitates me and deceives the imperial army. But what's more important is that I use my fighting power to deeply stab the enemy's soft lower abdomen..
-That's not possible. Instead, Heyla will help you, so you can imitate the Blood Knight properly..
-Hey, I'm not taking Miss Heyla.?
_uh.
-……What kind of stupid thing is that? It would be much better for you to give me the bicorn and take the girl with you..
-I'm doing this because I have my own thoughts, so why not just shut up and criticize me??
It won't be easy to perform my role without a cold-breathing sword or a demonic beast with two horns..
However, since you can imitate using blood magic with Hela's assistance, it won't be noticeable even if there is no black ice. I'll just focus on the sit-in, so it doesn't matter if there's no Bicorn..
He whined a bit, but you don't have to worry about it. If you imitate me, Fritz will be satisfied with the imperial knights attacking you like a pack of dogs..
Therefore, the person for whom I really felt sorry was Hayla, not Fritz. When I explained the situation, he seemed to understand.…….
I suddenly swallowed dry saliva. It's because her cold yet moist eyes came to mind..
Is it because of the liveliness and superhuman vitality of someone in their early twenties, plus the blood magic? It seems like this damn body doesn't know what satisfaction is..
When I look back on the past month, even though I have no reason to feel deprived, just thinking about Hayla's eyes, scent, and body temperature makes my lower abdomen feel warm.…….
“Hehehe.”
As I was calming my body and mind using blood magic, Atalanta, who was driving the horse to my right, sighed..
“Ha, I can't believe I've suffered so much here and are treated like this..”
“what‘?”
“I can't see it?”
She glanced around, her amber eyes flashing..
After entering Auduenne, we encountered groups of soldiers everywhere on the road to ‘Vallezolis’. The soldiers deployed in groups of six or seven, separate from the guards, were mostly heavy armored soldiers or crossbowmen. Their eyes were explicitly directed in this direction..
“If it weren't for me, these things that would have become fish food are now glaring at me like they're looking at some kind of thief..”
“Hmm, well.”
Sir Langbolt, who was riding on the other side of Atalanta, touched the end of his mustache and opened his mouth..
“I don't think Lord Lyam would have let that happen..”
“……I think he could have held this port without the help of me and my men.?”
“of course. He is a capable knight, and he had elite soldiers when he defended Auduenne..”
“Ha, could it have been handled with that much power? “I don’t even know what the ‘Witch of Hymn’ is.” “I know that you fought against that monster and defeated it. However, would it have been possible to achieve such performance without the support of ‘Shield Maiden’ and ‘Half-Elf’??”
Last fall. Prince Ulkar, who was confronting the army of the Mittergeland Empire on the plateau, sent six hundred troops to the 'Arrogant' Lord Lyam and sent them south to deal with the fishmen army that was rampant on the coast..
Lord Lyam, who went south, subjugated the fishmen with Auduenne at the center. At the time, apart from the soldiers of Sir Lyam and the prince, the one who was most active was 'Aran Hares' Atalanta. The ones that followed were Grania, the ‘defeated maiden’, and Io Piya, the ‘half-elf.’.
In particular, when dealing with the Witch of Hymn, it is said that it was Iopiya who blocked the powerful mental wave that accompanied the strange song. Thanks to this, the army was able to drive out the fishmen while Atalanta tied up the Witch of Praise..
“What do you want to say? The sacrifices of me and my warriors were insignificant, and it was only natural that we would be treated like this.?”
Atalanta shot Sir Langbolt like a lioness growling. However, the Iron Knight shrugged his shoulders without even blinking despite that ferocious gaze..
“It can't possibly be like that. As your comrade in arms, I just want to give you some advice..”
“……Ha, advice? That's okay..”
“Instead of constantly puffing up your little balls and complaining, find a way to erase the shameful reputation your fellow countrymen have built up. That would be beneficial not only for you but for the entire Nudein people..”
Lord Langbolt's expression was calm, and he seemed to have no hatred or ridicule at all toward this cult..
Atalanta must have noticed this, muttered 'Mawzir' and tightened her grip on the reins. Since she seemed to be in tears, I stopped Lord Langbolt and took her side..
“Please don't be like that. It’s understandable that Atalanta feels unfair, right?.”
“Sir, you think so.?”
“of course. Following the prince's orders, he shed blood to protect a city he didn't know about. Wouldn't you be angry to see him being so cautious??”
“You'll only understand if you listen to their perspective..”
“That's their position.?”
“that… … . Wouldn't it be better for you to say it yourself??”
Atalanta's face cracked at Sir Langbolt's question..
“I don't know what you heard, but I don't deserve to be treated like this..”
“……Looks like something's going on?”
She bit her lower lip and confessed the truth as if she felt unfair..
“Yes, it's true that some of my kids have shoplifted..”
“shoplifting?”
“…… Because they were warriors from a newly adopted clan, they were not properly controlled. Well, I just stole some bread or alcohol. Not only did I compensate you, but I also punished you properly..”
Sir Langbolt smiled bitterly and shook his head..
“It seems like the residents here have different opinions. It's a Milanese tradition to cut off your wrists if you steal..”
“It's a tradition that only applies to pagans. I think being whipped to the point where I couldn't even open my eyes for a few days was punishment enough..”
“Yes, I heard that you punished your subordinates yourself. He has great attitude as a leader. But the problem is that your men didn't just steal things..”
“I assure you, it's a false accusation..”
“If so, I'm glad……
Sir Langbolt sighed briefly and continued speaking with a stern expression..
“If the harmed women give birth to children with the same skin color as your compatriots, then there will be no turning back..”
“That will never happen..”
Sensing the implications of the conversation, I turned to Atalanta..
Atalanta must have failed to manage her facial expressions, as she read the emotion of disgust on my face. Her expression became stiff..
“Nick, you can’t believe me.?”
“……you believe.”
“I believe? What does that mean??”
I was trying to answer, but I shook my head..
“Let's talk later.”
Atalanta nodded while making a disapproving expression. Before we knew it, we had arrived at Val Ressolis..
Thanks to the guidance provided by Sir Slanwith, a senior knight guarding Auduenne on behalf of Viscount Cirillo, we were soon able to enter Jean Vallesolis..
Auduenne's stronghold was much grander and larger than when seen from a distance. At first glance, it seemed to be larger than all three castles in High Castle combined..
The only ones allowed to enter the castle were me, Sir Langbold, and Atalanta. Although we felt overly cautious, we decided to take comfort in not demanding disarmament..
“welcome.”
The person who welcomed us was a middle-aged steward. Since he was the one who managed the government offices of Auduenne, he must have been quite high-ranking among Viscount Cyril's vassals..
He glanced at Lord Langbolt and Atalanta, then fixed his gaze on me..
“……Are you Lord Phoenix??”
“Yes, that's right..”
“Huh
The steward blinked for a moment and then spoke quickly..
“Before taking him to the main temple, there is someone who would like to see Lord Phoenics privately..”
“Let's go.”
“If you follow along - yes?”
“Let's go.”
It was obvious who the person who wanted to meet me would be..
So instead of asking a question, I gestured to take the lead. Perhaps it was an unexpected reaction, but the steward took the lead with a shocked expression on his face..
The place Sir Langbolt headed to, leaving Atalanta behind, was the tower attached to the castle..
Unlike the main building, which was guarded by Auduenne's soldiers or the Count Milgrester's household soldiers, this tower was guarded by blood knights..
““I have brought you Sir Phoenics.” The two blood knights standing guard at the stairs leading upstairs were as motionless as stone statues. He just glanced at me and the steward with his inanimate eyes streaming through the cracks of his helmet..
Then, when one of the two nodded slightly, the manager, whose legs were already shaking, ran away..
“……Can I go up??”
After confirming that the steward's shadow had disappeared, the Blood Knights slowly lowered their heads..
“Yes, master.”
“…… hmm. “It’s a title I can’t quite get used to.” Although he spoke with a chuckle, the two blood knights showed no reaction. Both of them are probably Baluin or Zahakar, and at least one of them is a close blood relative to me, but they don't even 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 man waiting upstairs would like me loafing around here..
“Phew.” I took a short breath and then climbed the stairs..
my biological father was a fraud.
I had no recollection of anything before being sent to the orphanage, so it was only when my military service was over that I learned about it..
Looking back, I think I was quite shocked because the story about my biological parents was so different from what I had secretly imagined. When I was young, I was so curious about the people who gave birth to me, but after hearing the story, I thought it was fortunate that I found out only after I grew up..
My adoptive father was a good man..
He was an ordinary but conscientious office worker, and a warm, if not unpleasant, adult. Although she was a faithful Christian, she was not overly dependent on church or pastors like her mother, and although she liked alcohol a little, she was not the kind of person who got drunk and behaved indecently..
Considering how lonely I became right after you passed away, I think the only person who really considered me family was my father..
Phoenix's father, Count Achele... … Well, I don't really have anything that can be called a memory..
He was the younger brother of Skiele, the previous Duke of Eyland, and was a man of both pedigree and ability. Because he was the most powerful among the blood knights, he was given the title of earl although he was given the title of single champion, and held important positions including admiral of the Iron Scale Fleet, protecting Eyland's foreign lands..
As a result, it was not the outgoing father or the mother who died during childbirth who raised Poynix. An inanimate object called Clan took care of Phoenix..
In addition, it was after Poynix was designated as the pregnant woman that she was officially recognized as the legitimate child of the blood white family. Poynix, who had a lowly mother, had never called Count Achelé his father, and had only met him face-to-face once in a handful of times..
In other words, before I was possessed, Phoenix was never treated as Count Akele's son..
So, I thought I could easily fool Count Akele by playing the role of a son who suddenly finds his father.…….
““What are you?” These were the words that the bloodbath, who was sitting in a dark room on the top floor of the tower, said as soon as he saw me..
“yes?”
“I asked what you were.”
‘I wasn't expecting a greeting like 'It's been a long time', but the question was so sudden and cold that I ended up making a stupid face without realizing it..
Count Akele looks just like me... … No, I look like that guy. Anyway, the Count had an even colder smile on his face..
“It's Jaha who makes that stupid face.
There's no way it's Kyle.”
“Answer me. What are you??”
……Somehow, I can already feel it..
What type of person is the gentleman sitting in front of me right now?.
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