My Demons - Chapter 104



Only Krnovel

My Villains Episode 104

interlude. pursuers

The ‘Bathorn Inn’ was crowded with sailors, merchants, mercenaries, and soldiers as usual. This is because the complete vitality of the city has seeped into every corner of the alley.

“I decided to accept the request.”

Grania’s declaration made her colleagues silent for a moment. The first to break the silence was, as always, Arnal.

“Are you okay?”

“what?”

“Of course the prince is a good person, but, um, the situation is not easy.”

Grania quietly munched on the cheese and then shook her head.

“We are mercenaries. “There is no need to worry about the complicated circumstances of his superiors.”

“But sister.”

Farrell, a young man with a rough beard, scratched his head.

“Try just this once. Even if you go through a lot of blood to save the city, you are blown away by a single command from the royal capital. Moreover, on the day when the ‘lion with its tail pulled out’ becomes king.”

“The prince is a trustworthy employer and a warlord with 100 victories. “What’s more important?”

The nun, Olga, who was fiddling with her beer mug, nodded slowly.

“Well, that’s true. And the prince’s army has also greatly increased. You may be kicked out of the city, but the outlook is not all bleak… … “What would you do if the number of heads increased? “The placenta is chaff.”

Grania smiled slightly at Arnal’s grumbling.

“The fact that most of the placenta is chaff is the same for our mercenary corps, Arnal.”

“… … Wow, I never imagined those words would come out of your mouth. “Is that something you’re proud of?”

“It’s reality.”

Grania continued speaking while putting thickly cut cheese on the bread.

“To become a tycoon, you need fame. To gain fame, you must have results, and to have results, you must have skills. “You can get it all if you join Prince Ulkar.”

Anton, who had been sitting quietly, sighed.

“But sister, the plateau won’t be easy. “It is a place where even Prince Ulkar cannot guarantee victory, and a mercenary unit of less than thirty people can be reduced to dust in an instant.”

“Prince Ulkar destroyed the empire on the plateau eight years ago. The prince now is much more skilled, wiser, and more famous than then. furthermore,”

“It’s much lighter. “You’ve become one-armed, right?”

As Grania quietly glanced at him, Arnal shrugged his shoulders. Then, she leaned her body against the backrest and clicked her tongue as if regretful.

“Ah, I should have caught that guy. Because I ended up becoming a knight.”

Farrell frowned at Arnal’s lament.

“That brother… … . “I recognize your skills, but a little bit.”

“A little, what?”

“Everyone knows. “Sometimes it gets a little weird.”

Grania said, scratching her eyebrows at Farrell’s words.

“… … Farrell. “If it’s because of Uncle Gilius.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

Farrell waves his hands and speaks gibberish.

“Well, at that time, Uncle Gilius and I were both possessed by a witch and lost our senses, and you made that, um, mistake… … It must have been because he rushed at me swinging an axe. however… … ha.” Farrell took a sip of his beer with a sigh. Then he put down his beer glass and bit his lip.

“Honestly, yeah, that guy is kind of weird. I stabbed Uncle Gilius… … “For some reason, he had a happy expression on his face.”

“Farrell.”

“And don’t you remember when you first saw me? The one where you tied up dozens of human parts and dragged them around? “That bastard is perfect.”

“Farrell, stop.”

“••••••Phew.”

As Farrell crossed his arms, Grania smiled slightly.

“I know. “When Phoenix gets into a fight, he sometimes looks strange.”

“The degree to which it becomes strange,”

“But Farrell. Phoenix saved your life. Both I and Arnal have owed our lives several times. “If it weren’t for Phoenix, the city would have burned down and only ashes would have remained.”

“… … And, I don’t know if I’ll ever meet Phoenix again, no, even if it’s not Phoenix. If you meet someone that strong, don’t show your teeth carelessly. got it?”

Farel remained silent in response to Grania’s sincere advice.

And that silence matched perfectly with the silence that fell over the entire first floor of the inn.

“what?”

It was as if time had stopped, and the people filling the hall were staring in one direction, frozen as stone.

There was a woman. Shin-high boots and leather pants covered her long legs. The boots had a consistent texture, as if they had been tanned by a skilled craftsman, and the pants had a subtle sheen.

He was wearing a good white shirt, a red vest with golden buttons, and a cloak he had just unbuttoned over his arms.

It was a strange outfit.

There was nothing that ordinary women liked to wear, such as a kirtle, gown, or headkerchief.

Since he didn’t wear a robe, he didn’t look like a wizard, and because he didn’t wear armor, he didn’t look like a mercenary.

However, the woman’s appearance was too beautiful to be mistaken as to whether she was dressed as a man. And, it seemed like the woman had no intention of hiding her own beauty.

Moderate height, thin and long limbs. A curve full of tension flowing through the body. Porcelain-white skin contrasting with jet-black hair, sharp eyes, straight nose, and slender chin.

Lastly, bright red and plump lips that attract attention.

In short, she was a fatal beauty.

“… … Wow, fuck.”

Forgetting the conversation we just had, Farrell let out a shallow exclamation. At the sound that broke the silence, the woman’s eyes turned to Farrell.

gulp.

Farrell swallowed dryly without even realizing it. Because it was only after I met her eyes that I saw a new side of her woman.

The pitch black eyes contained no emotions. The white face without blood or expression looked like a lifeless doll.

The woman quickly looked away from the frozen Farel. She then slowly walked towards the bar. Although she didn’t even make a sound, dozens of pairs of eyes followed her.

A woman stopping in front of the bar looks at the young waitress, the young waiter, and the middle-aged man in turn.

“Are you the owner?”

“… … “Yes, that’s right.”

“I want to hear the story about the bloody prosecutor.”

A low, slow voice. The innkeeper wet his lips without realizing it as he spoke in a tone that gave off a certain elegance.

“Yes, something.”

“… … It’s too noisy. “Is there a quiet place?”

The innkeeper seemed to be possessed by something and was about to nod, but suddenly came to his senses and was embarrassed.

“The clerks are all inexperienced, so I can’t leave the place. “I’m sorry, miss.”

The woman wordlessly took off the pouch hanging from her belt. Then, with her calloused white fingers, she picked up a gold coin and placed it on her bar.

“If you like the story, I’ll give you ten more chapters.”

The innkeeper accepted the gold coin without saying a word.

The woman was very easy-going, not befitting her noble appearance and dignified manner of speaking. She was like that when she entered an empty room and saw that she sat down on the dirty bed without any objection.

And while the innkeeper told the story, the woman sat motionless. She just blinked her eyes slowly, occasionally.

After a long story, the woman finally opened her mouth.

“So, where did you go?”

The innkeeper was silent for a moment, then touched his nose and answered.

“Is it a week ago? He said he was going west by boat. “He probably didn’t go to the Empire, so he probably went to Abidden.”

The woman nodded quietly. And she opened her mouth again.

“You know more.”

“… … yes? “What is that?”

“Don’t hide it, tell it. “I really need to know where Poi went.”

The innkeeper closed his mouth after being speechless for a moment. She then asked with a bit of doubt in her eyes.

“Are you acquainted with Phoenix, or rather, Lord Phoinix?”

“huh.”

“… … “What is your relationship?”

“That’s not polite.”

The innkeeper made an expression of ‘oops’ at the sudden remark. But the woman answered obediently.

“cousin.”

“cousin? “Are you saying that Phoenix is ​​a cousin?”

“huh. And, she is also my fiancée.”

“••••••Yes?”

The innkeeper opened his mouth wide at the woman’s leisurely confession.

“No, my cousin…” … “Did you say she was your fiancee?”

“huh. Now tell me. “What you know.”

The innkeeper looked confused for a moment and then shook his head.

“I haven’t heard that Poynix has a cousin and fiancee.”

“okay? “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. “Do you have any way to prove their relationship?”

The woman blinked for a moment.

“well.”

“… … “Then, I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“why?”

“Because I am indebted to Phoenix. “If it weren’t for that friend, this inn would have been reduced to ashes.” The woman blinked again.

Silence followed. Just as the innkeeper was considering whether to get up from her seat, the woman spoke.

“Phoenix of Zahakar. I am 21 years old this year. His father corrected, his mother died while giving birth to Poi. My older brother died a few months ago, and I have three cousins. He is a hand and a half taller than me and weighs less than twice as much. By nature, he flies like a leopard and is so healthy that he has never had a minor illness in his life. He is a genius at martial arts and loves riding horses, but perhaps because of his mother, he is somewhat lacking in blood-stamping skills. I like cows, pigs, and sheep, I hate chicken and vegetables, and I can’t eat fish. He is always confident and hates talking to people of low status. I hate alcohol and think hanging out with women is a waste of time. “With me too,”

As the woman continued speaking slowly and endlessly, the innkeeper waved his hand with a tired expression on his face.

“Wait a minute, lady, stop.”

“why?”

“I know you know more about Phoenix, but… …

“however?”

The innkeeper scratched his chin and looked embarrassed.

“Still, I can’t believe you’re engaged to Phoenix.”

“You don’t believe it? why?”

“It’s very different from the Phoenix I know.”

The woman’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“different? how?”

“Um, that’s… … “I don’t think you even know what Poynix likes to eat.”

“I like cows, pigs, and sheep. After grinding and sprinkling fennel, it turns into blood.”

“No, miss. “You said Poynix can’t eat fish, right?”

“huh. “You can’t even put it in your mouth.”

“The Phoenix I know was a person who was very excited about fish.”

“… … You ate fish? “Poiga?”

“yes. I liked grilling them whole on skewers, tearing open fish shells and putting them into porridge to eat, and frying them in oil. I especially enjoyed eating it with beer. “It was ready to eat anything with fins.”

“… … Even beer? It’s not. “That can’t be possible.”

“And there aren’t many women either… … . hmm.”

As the innkeeper’s expression darkened, the woman pulled out her pocket. Then she held out a handful of gold and silver.

“tell me. hurry.”

Silver and gold coins flowed from the woman’s hands. The innkeeper’s mouth opened slightly.

“Are you going to give me this?”

“I’ll give. “Tell me quickly.”

The innkeeper, who had a shocked expression for a moment, became lost in thought. The woman waited patiently for her, and her innkeeper finally gave her a sigh of relief.

“… … You said you were Poynix’s fiancée’?”

“huh.”

“then… … . “I guess you wouldn’t be happy to see Poynix with another woman?”

“Is this the story of the fire witch?”

“Yes, you know.”

“Poy is not interested in women. Even if she is accompanying you, she will have no other feelings.”

The innkeeper’s face distorted slightly.

“Poynix might be like that. But not the fire witch, that bitch.”

“why?”

“At our inn, there was a child named Daria.”

The story continued about the relationship between Daria and Phoenix, Ellen’s relationship with Phoenix, and the relationship between Ellen and Daria. The woman’s expressionless face distorted slightly, just slightly.

“A few days before Phoenix left, Daria came to see me.” The woman was quietly blinking her eyes.

“I said I couldn’t let him go like this and that I would follow him. “The boy said that it was a lie that Poynix and his party were going to board the ship, and that they were definitely heading to Longville.”

“Longville.”

“yes. however… …

Tears streamed down the innkeeper’s rough cheeks.

The woman listened quietly.

“That night, Daria disappeared.” Quiet blinking. Intersecting eyelashes.

“The next day, three days later, a week later, he didn’t show up. “I don’t have the courage to see Amel.”

twinkling. Jet black eyes.

“They say the patrolmen saw it. Dari, that kid… … “I’m with the fire witch.”

Flash. indifference.

“I tried talking to the security, but they are fucking bastards. Those bastards always have nothing to do. Even when the inn was attacked, they came late and showed their form. “They always said bullshit, such as saying that he would have left the city, that he would have been kidnapped by thugs, that he would have been torn limb from limb by an artist.”

The innkeeper sobbed.

The woman stopped blinking. If you look closely at the black eyes, you can see red energy, curiosity, and interest.

The woman opened her mouth.

“You think the artist got his limbs torn off?”

“Hmm, big. Ah, yes. An artist. He’s crazy. There were rumors that he was a guy who killed people in the back alleys and took their blood. Come to think of it, it was uproar for a while, but it’s quiet these days.”

“… … “Tell me in detail.”

“… … Isn’t it obvious? This guy is a blood magician. “I heard the blood is gone. He must have played something with it!”

A man with a dignified appearance and a bulldog-like appearance spoke passionately.

Across from him, a parchment scroll

A man was sitting at a scattered desk.

A man with gray hair. He was a handsome man with a gloomy aura. He nodded quietly.

“Well sir.”

A heavy voice that matches his appearance. The red-faced man cleared his throat.

“… … Hmm, I guess I got a little carried away.”

“I think of it as a passion for the city. Guard Captain.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, I have confirmed your request. “Thank you for visiting this morning.”

Light brown eyes stared at the guard captain. The guard commander, who realized it was a celebratory guest, quietly left the room.

The gray-haired man quietly leafed through the parchment. After some time passed, someone knocked on the door.

“This is Dirk.”

“come in.”

What appeared after opening the door were men wearing black cloaks. Bounty hunters led by a one-eyed man.

“I found it?”

“I searched every village from Leadburn to here, but I couldn’t find it.”

“Yes, you had a hard time.”

The handsome man glanced at the men and smiled slightly.

“This is everyone’s first time in South Harbor, right? Go to a place called Drunken Pony. Everyone will be eating breakfast. Oh, Dirk and Tobias are staying.” ” ancient.” While his men stampeded out, the handsome man leafed through his parchment. Dirk, the one-eyed man, opened his mouth, moistening his lips.

“Captain.”

“hmm’?”

“I think this job will be difficult.”

“why?”

“There is no way to find the goal.”

“You have an impression. Anyone can recognize it at a glance.”

As the handsome man called the captain spoke with a grave expression, Dirk sighed.

“Didn’t the Captain say that the Marquis of Ivail would have cast a spell while he was dying?”

“It did.”

“Is there anyone in the world who can take the Marquis’ spell and be safe?”

“Probably not.”

“Captain!”

The handsome man answered as he continued to look through the parchment.

“The Marquis asked me to tell you the last spell he used.”

“yes?”

“The new Marquis responded directly. Corruption, mutation, decrepitude, torture.”

“Corruption, mutation, decrepitude, torture… …

“If it were the curse of corruption, it would have already turned to dust. If it’s the curse of torture… … Even the infamous Eastern assassin would have committed suicide.”

While saying that, the handsome man picked up a piece of parchment and held it out to the young man standing behind Dirk.

“Tobias, get this guy. “If you give them enough money, they will follow.”

” ancient.”

When the young man named Tobias left the room, the handsome man looked through the parchment again.

“The problem is the curse of mutation and that week of aging. If those are the two spells the Marquis used, the assassin will be transformed into something we don’t know.”

Dirk’s expression darkened.

“Then how are we going to find him?”

“Be patient. “If we finish our work hastily, the wrath of Marquis Alphard will be upon us.”

Saying that, the handsome man picked up a piece of parchment.

“You just have to pretend to do it. Doing something nutritious like this. ruler.”

“… … What is this?”

“Read it.”

“Erenar Radacalin, trainee of La-Palais Palace, 17 years old, beautiful blonde hair, escaped after killing Grandmaster Zemar… … Dirk flipped open the parchment and frowned.

“Wait a minute, if it’s Radhakaline… …

“That’s Radhakaline.”

Dirk shook his head.

“This is too dangerous. “I am against it.”

“I got paid in advance.”

At the handsome man’s carefree answer, Dirk’s expression was completely crumpled.

“Captain! Are you saying that because being the Marquis of Alphard isn’t enough, you want to get involved with the palace? After all, it’s the Radhakaline family.”

“Three hundred gold coins.”

“What the hell, yes’?”

Dirk opened his mouth.

“I received three hundred gold coins.”

The handsome man leaned against the backrest and smiled.

“The down payment is three hundred won, if you kill it, it’s five hundred won, and if you save it, it’s a thousand won.”

As Dirk’s mouth opened to the point where he could no longer open it, the handsome man’s smile grew a little deeper.

Dirk swallowed his saliva and burned his remaining eye.

“What can I do, Captain?”

“You keep chasing the assassin. “I will catch this girl.”

“Do you have any clues?”

“She got the nickname ‘Fire Witch’ in South Harbor. “She flies in the sky and sprinkles fire like rain.”

Dirk glanced at the parchment and narrowed his eyes.

“It says you can’t use magic?”

“They say he ran away with a banned book. He probably learned the spell through that banned book.

hey.”

“Forbidden. “I guess I’ll have to retrieve that too.”

“okay. That’s a thousand gold coins, too.”

“Huh, crazy wizards. But why didn’t they catch it and ask us to do it?”

“Some magicians from the palace came, and they said they had been captured by Prince Silver’s pit viper and were drinking water.”

Dirk slightly frowned.

“The silver prince’s viper… … . “It smells really bad, and it can be a nuisance.”

“Wasn’t it like that at some point? And, it’s a lot of money worth taking, right?”

Dirk read through the information about the escaped wizard.

“… … Phoenix, Prince Ulkar’s knight, is accompanying the barbarian ‘Red Bear’. Take a boat to the west… …

“Those two are the problem. “The bloody swordsman and the red bear.”

While Dirk frowned and tilted his head, the handsome man continued.

“If you listen to the story, well, there aren’t really any monsters. “A swordsman who slaughters dozens of people with a single sword, and a barbarian who rips out the head of an ogre.”

Dirk, who had been tilting his head for a while while reading the impressions of the target and his companions, scratched under his eyepatch and answered.

“I don’t think it will be easy… … . Captain, do you plan to come forward yourself?”

“That’s right. “Because it’s a big deal.”

The handsome man stood up and stroked his hair.

“But why did you go west? “What is there in the West?”

“Aren’t you trying to escape to the empire?

peel?”

“well. Oh, and. While you’re in the city, do some more research on this guy named Phoenix.”

“You mean the bloody prosecutor?”

“okay. A bloody prosecutor, a bloody beacon… … “What did they say again?”

Dirk looked at the records on Phoenix.

“The Silver Prince’s Red Knight, the Beheader, the Witch’s Guardian… … . Ha, it seems like people in this town really enjoy coming up with nicknames.” “There could be one more.”

“which,”

At that time, someone knocked on the door accompanied by the sound of urgent footsteps.

“Captain, this is Tobias!”

“come in!”

Seeing the expression on Tobias’ face as he opened the door, the handsome man knew something was wrong.

“what’s the matter?”

“You know the guy I asked you to bring in? “Owner of the Bathorn Inn.”

“however?”

“He died.”

The handsome man’s eyes became sharp at Tobias’ words.

“die?”

“yes. “A body was just found.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know exactly… …

Tobias continued speaking with a slightly strange expression.

“The body was found by a young woman, and she screamed that it was an artist’s work.”

“… … artist?” “yes. Well, they tore the limbs and took the blood… …

” under.”

The handsome man’s mouth twitched. It was a ferocious smile that resembled that of a wolf.