Chapter 518
My Villains Episode 518
67. Lord of Icebovald(11)
‘The garden created behind the 'fiancee's mansion' is dark and gloomy because it is surrounded by a high wall. There is an open dirt road between the bushes, but it is narrow and the scenery is unremarkable, so it is far from a nice walking trail..
The outline of the figure standing tall in the center was so faint that it looked like the shadow of a banyan tree. The shadow that appeared in response to the signal from the silently honking ram's horn glanced at the person lying in front of it..
A man who has fainted and is being cared for by a 'half elf'. Although he was quite tall, he seemed to be in his late teens at most..
“……In short, do you mean to control interest??”
“There's a problem?”
“That's not the case. I'm just curious about the story.”
“story?”
The woman stared at the shadow expressing doubt..
The two people facing each other were wearing similar outfits. Black, matte greaves that seem to sink into the darkness, a skull-shaped mask with a mane, and even a short cloak..
However, while the man's mask was black like armor, the woman's mask was white with a ghostly energy flowing through it..
“You have to tell me that too?”
The woman's voice, which passed through the white mask, was low and mixed with an unpleasant metallic sound. The bizarre voice modulated by the 'Howling Mask' made the listener shrug his shoulders without realizing it..
The man standing under the shadow of the linden tree seemed familiar with the strange voice and answered without any expression..
“You can't just bring in a disciple without hearing every single explanation. Shouldn’t we at least know who the interest is?.”
“That's your job. Take him and find out. We also teach the skills of gatherings..”
““You mean all the tricks?” The woman in the white mask thought for a moment, then nodded calmly..
“As talent and time allow.”
‘Kshan’, the man immersed in the shadows, narrowed his eyebrows without realizing it..
“How much time will you allow??
“Pick him up in the evening and send him back around midnight..”
“……her. You must be very busy. But that way, you won’t be able to reach that level even if you work hard for several years..”
“Hurry though. Because I want to show my accomplishments before I leave..”
The man’s face distorted viciously. Feeling lucky that he was wearing a mask, Kshan slowly opened his mouth..
“It's not the Lord's will, it's the Prince's will. This time too.”
Despite the shadow's dissatisfied words, the owner of the Pisa Sword did not seem to care much..
“Does it matter? Anyway, I'm the one giving the orders..”
‘This Opiya, who was taking care of the fainted Egon by alternately releasing the 'neutralization' and 'transportation' spells, glanced at Lannon and Kshan..
Since I didn't know any Eastern languages, I couldn't tell what kind of conversation was being exchanged, but I could easily sense that the atmosphere between the two was not very lively..
However, there was no way for this Opiya to know whether it was because of a specific problem or if it was just normal..
After all, the Lannon she had seen so far generally looked like that. Calm yet sharp eyes, low but cold voice…….
‘It was like that when she was called 'the black woman', and it got even worse after she got a strange mask and was called nicknames such as 'white banshee' and 'woman who walks silently'. Although she rarely shows herself, she sometimes exudes a menacing presence when she emerges from the darkness..
The minions that Lannon brought in from somewhere, the so-called ‘masked shadows’, were no different..
They were an extremely secretive group, so secretive that few even among the high-ranking officials of Eisbovald knew of their existence..
However, in the process of suppressing the uprising of nobles and landowners and establishing an information network throughout the Baekryeong region, its existence became known. To be precise, rumors spread about assassins, sejaks, and informants wearing grotesque masks..
Eventually, everyone in the know became aware of it, but among the general public, opinions were still divided as to whether this secret group actually existed. As is usually the case with these ominous yet interesting stories, the rumors about masked shadows gained a lot of vitality..
‘Even to Iopiya, who was staying in the 'fiancee's mansion', the masked figures were unfamiliar and unpleasant beings. So, after confirming that Egon's condition had improved, she quietly retreated behind Lannon..
“……I will accept it. You said it was a command..”
Khshan responded quietly and gestured towards the back..
In response, the darkness beneath the wall stirred. Two figures with black faces, or rather, black masks without manes, stood up. They carried Egon like a piece of luggage and disappeared on the other side..
“Before I step down, I have something to report to the sword lord..”
“report?”
“This is a report on the expansion of the information network in the royal capital..”
Kshan lowered his voice, which was not loud before, even further..
Considering the language exchanged between the two and the surrounding situation, it was as if there were no ears to eavesdrop, but the shadow was extremely cautious..
“As I reported, we are reinforcing the existing information network, focusing on banks. We are in the process of planting ears at three locations, and among them, ‘Volgoron Cathedral’ has achieved some success thanks to the full use of spare funds. On the other hand, the Royal Palace and the ‘Hall of Dawn’ were as expected by the Sword Master.……
Lannon silently listened to Kshan's calm voice. Sometimes I asked questions for confirmation, but it was just listening to understand the content..
Iopiya, who had taken a few steps back, looked like the atmosphere between the two had calmed down a bit. Lannon showed unexpected concentration, and Kshan seemed very satisfied with his attitude..
Kshan, who had finished reporting on the establishment of the royal capital's information network, continued speaking as if adding:.
“And, I have some disturbing news. It's intelligence from 'Mid Isle'.,”
“……Mid Isle?”
“yes. Mid Isle is an island in the center of the Crescent Islands.-”
“know. I've been there.”
Lannon, who interrupted K'shan's explanation, thought of Marquis Ivail. A powerful witch doctor, called the guardian of the East Sea, and the owner of the Alphard family..
Marquis Ivail, the great lord of the Crescent Islands, was murdered by Lannon before he received his name. At the last moment, he uttered a strange curse, and the assassin hiding in the bedroom was transformed into a small wild boar..
“……sir. Sword Lord?”
“ah. huh.”
Lannon, who had been lost in thought, turned his gaze to Kshan again..
Instead of expressing doubt, he politely
continued the report.
“I said it was intelligence, but in reality it was closer to an eyewitness interview. A group with powerful martial arts has appeared in Mid-Isle - I find it disturbing..”
“……That's the Crescent Islands..”
“That's right.”
The Crescent Islands, especially Mid Isle, is a city that has built its wealth by brokering trade between the world of Gwangmyeong Bridge and the East for over half a century. With so many goods and people moving around, it was common for warriors from the East to appear in the Crescent Islands..
“However, when I checked the news in detail, it seemed that a member of the Qi Wu sect was included in the group..”
Its origins were a group of ascetics seeking long life and monks wandering around the plateau, but over a long period of time, the group transformed into the most famous martial arts group in the East..
When Lannon expressed interest through silence, K'shan continued speaking in a low voice..
“The facial features of a typical Oriental man, hair rolled up in a bun, old clothes that looked like gray robes, and a kick that broke a thick pillar like a cane pole. There wouldn't be anything special about it except for the last one, but since these are all combined, of course we have to suspect Jemujong..”
“Did they come to look for Iljin?.”
As the woman in the white mask muttered to herself, the man in the black mask nodded..
“It's very likely, but there are some doubts..”
“say it.”
“It's already been a year and 10 months since Prince Silver and 'Pacheon Shrine' disappeared after a series of events. It must have taken some time for the news to spread, a judgment to be made, and action to be taken - the legendary head of the law that they were proud of had gone missing, and it was only now that Qi Wujong had reacted. There is something suspicious about it..”
“What are you doubting??”
“If it's not the martial arts association, what else would you suspect?.”
“The famous Pacheonshin Monk came to the western continent in pursuit of the Sword Master. This is evidence that the martial arts society and Qi Wuzhong were working together to carry out a plan. There is no guarantee that the solidarity has now been broken..”
Contrary to his very stern tone, what Kshan now harbors are only vague suspicions and no specific details or evidence to back them up..
Lannon remained silent. As usual, I will listen in moderation..
Kshan is a member of a secret society with roots in the East and an executive of the Three Swords Association. It was natural to show paranoid wariness toward the martial arts association, which was either the main branch or a distant relative..
Somewhere between feigned reticence and genuine annoyance, Lannon suddenly remembered what his dearest friend once said to a subordinate:.
“……It's something that needs attention. I'll leave it to you for now.”
Kshan expressed his doubts in silence..
Well, as a branch sword master, it was always her job to manage the members recruited from the 'bank'. Now that I was saying I would leave it to you and all that, it was not only surprising but also a little funny..
Anyway, it wasn't the reaction Lannon expected. She asked with a grumpy expression beneath her mask..
“I have more to say?”
“no. That's it, Sword Lord..”
That was the end of the conversation.
The woman in the white mask turned around, and the man in the black mask disappeared under the wall..
Lannon wanted to run straight to the top of the mansion. But removing the annoying lump came first..
She looked back at Iopiya, who was examining her with eyes full of curiosity as usual, with an unmasked face..
“It's patrol time.”
“Uh, yes? this… … . It's already time.”
What Lanon is looking at are not the passers-by on the street, but the nobles, the wealthy, and high-ranking officials. As you walk through the depths of the mansion late at night, you are bound to pick up useful stories..
In fact, since coming to Eisbowald, the number of times Lannon has personally ‘patrolled’ is so small that you can count it on two hands. There are dozens of assassins who bow to the name of Pasa Sword Master, so why would she go through the trouble of a thief?.
However, this excuse that she used for a long time gained sufficient persuasiveness in proportion to the period of time she used it. Iopiya pursed her lips as if it were easy, then looked at me and opened her mouth..
“By any chance, can I borrow your arms??”
“I hate today.”
“What if I just quietly hide? I don’t even stick my head out..”
“I said I didn't like it..”
The young shaman's face darkened at the firm refusal..
Exploring the world through the body of a tiny animal was one of Iopiya's few hobbies. She enjoyed disguising herself as a white squirrel and sitting on the shoulder of a galloping rider or clinging to the hem of a leisurely walker's cloak..
For Iopiya, Lannon was by far the best vehicle - no, it was a medium of entertainment. Lannon was a being that roamed the rooftops like a cat with wings, and hanging on to the hem of her clothes gave me the feeling that the world was spinning..
Iopiya was very disappointed. If the other person had been a little duller, he might have secretly followed. But as far as she knew, there was no one in this city who could fool Lannon's senses..
“Just a moment, Mr. Lannon. then,”
Iopiya hesitantly parted her lips with Lannon, who was about to pass through the side road next to the mansion and head toward the main street..
“‘‘Fairytale’ is-” As she was walking away, she glanced back at the shaman. It was fortunate for IOPIA's emotions that the face full of unpleasant emotions was hidden behind a mask..
“Why do you ask that? I think they will allow it?”
“that. Maybe.”
“idiot. Can you do it??”
Lannon had only experienced it once, and sharing sensations with others under the influence of magic was extremely unpleasant. Would you say it feels like a privilege granted only to you is being stolen?.
Perhaps forgetting that he was wearing a mask, Lannon put on a stern expression..
“Stealing is not allowed. If I get caught, I'll sell my eyes out.”
“ O ”
“The same goes for Foy and Hayla. If you do something creepy, something creepy will happen to you too. okay?”
“……That's creepy. I just.”
“ just?”
When the bizarre mask came right in front of me and let out a distorted voice, Opiya said, 'No...' … ' I muttered, and then he closed his mouth as if it was unfair..
After removing the lump, Lannon wandered around the shadows between residential areas and returned to his fiancées' mansion..
Instead of entering through the front door, she climbed the outside wall. Stepping along the fine grooves drawn at intervals of about 2 meters, she arrived at her room on the 6th floor in the blink of an eye..
She didn't make any noise until she opened the latched window, entered the room with the soft carpet, opened the thick door, passed through the hallway, and stuck her head toward the stairs. It was a quietness that was closer to magic..
‘ eww?’
Lannon, who had narrowed his eyes and focused on his sense of smell, tilted his head..
What she was after was the scent. Like a handful of fresh nuts sprinkled on a gently heated pan, the body odor is savory and refreshing, but also somehow gives a cozy feeling.…….
Lannon paused for a moment at the scent wafting up and down the stairs. For a moment, she walked to the 7th floor as if she was possessed..
Ellen's room was the most luxurious space in this huge mansion. In a way, it was natural. Ellen is not the type of person who can tolerate her room being inferior to others..
Lannon was able to distinguish different smells from the rich scent of the balm made from wild roses, which Ellen has been using recently..
The scent of all kinds of herbs and cloves was clear to whom they belonged, so I immediately ignored it, and although the pungent smell was a little strange, I didn't think there was any reason to pay attention..
Lannon entered the bedroom chasing the scent of his lover and narrowed his eyes in front of the bed filled with traces of love affair..
Ellen was lying down with a cotton blanket covering her neck down, and only traces and scent remained on the seat next to her..
Lannon quietly looked down at his sleeping enemy..
The face with sweat-soaked hair stuck together in a mess and the expression on it were so sad. Seeing that even though the anger is rising, the feeling of death is not rising, it seems that affection has been accumulated in its own way..
Tsk, Mongchi clicked his tongue and left the room. Jeongin’s scent led her down the stairs..
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