WeTried Translations

Translator: Goku

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Became a Villain Perfect for Leveling Up

Chapter 022

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22. Aquila Knights (1)

Thanks to the time invested in sweeping and polishing the altar, the dust diminished and an atmosphere as if someone lived there lingered.

I even carved a few simple pieces of furniture myself with Freud’s Fang.

Regrettably, Carmen had not visited the Altar of Lamentation even after a month had passed.

I had no idea if she was trying to keep her previous promise, or if she had fallen into despair upon realizing the truth about her father.

Whenever I thought of her, a genuine curiosity about whether she was doing well, and a bitter taste, lingered.

Quietly, I sat on the wooden chair I had made in front of the Altar of Lamentation and chewed on bear nettle berries.

Eating the same berries every meal made me long for cooked food.

Meat, or at least vegetables with sauce.

I wanted to eat such food.

“…Should I go to a city?”

That was why the thought of going to a city came to mind.

Because in a city, I could eat proper human food.

After a long time, I opened my status window to check.

《 Name: Dean Level: 14

Perk: Addicted to Defeat ( - Upon defeat, opponent’s level increases by +14) 》

It seemed my level had gone up by a whopping 4, perhaps gaining experience when I massacred the prisoners in the underground prison.

I had been so distracted that I only checked my level recently, and the joy I felt upon discovering that it had risen was inexpressible.

One fact I learned was that the ‘Addicted to Defeat’ perk raised the opponent’s level by an amount equal to my current level.

In other words, the higher my level rose, the higher the risk of death became.

Assuming I raised my level to the maximum of 999, what if I was careless and someone killed me?

At that moment, something truly dangerous would happen.

Bosses as bosses.

Criminals as criminals.

And even more so, if it was an NPC with a grudge against me…

The joy of leveling up, paradoxically, returned as a subtle worry.

The somewhat positive aspect was that I had become stronger than before by distributing the stat points acquired after leveling up to Strength.

《Stats:

• HP: 4

• Stamina: 7

• Mana: 6

• Intelligence: 3

• Strength: 1 (+4)》

Although it only increased by 4 points, the fatigue from tasks requiring physical strength had significantly decreased compared to before.

“…Shall I move?”

Organizing my thoughts, I stood up from my spot to depart for the city.

While it wouldn't particularly matter if I continued to stay at the Altar of Lamentation, I wanted to alleviate the loneliness of wanting to see people just once.

Before setting off on my journey, I considered closing the Altar of Lamentation’s door but decided to leave it open.

Because if Carmen were to return again…, I wanted to meet her and talk.

Besides, I still hadn’t gotten back the shoes I had given her to wear.

Since I was going to the city anyway, it seemed like a good idea to get a pair of shoes for Carmen too.

I could earn money by doing odd jobs.

I had no intention whatsoever of extorting people like a common ruffian, as I had done at the Abandoned Academy… St. Liberta Academy.

《 Checkpoint designated ▶ Holy City Aquilian 》

As the distance wasn’t very far, I was able to reach the city around midday.

The Holy City Aquilian served as a hub city, which one passed through when heading to various regions.

Because of that, there wasn’t really a boss, and there were many merchants selling items or strengthening equipment.

…In other words, this Aquilian was the place where I had massacred the most NPCs.

I pushed Freud’s Fang, which was tucked into my waistband, further inward so it wouldn’t be visible.

Carrying a weapon was merely for self-defense, just in case.

I vowed repeatedly never to point this weapon at ordinary people.

Aquilian couldn’t be called a bustling city like Earth, but it was a beautiful city that drew its own crowds.

I passed through the noisy, bustling city as a quiet traveler.

Even though I was wandering around in a shabby state, with so many people, my presence naturally went unnoticed and didn’t attract attention.

A longed-for everyday scene.

Though slightly different from Earth. The sight of families or couples strolling around.

And friends playing mischievous pranks on each other as they walked.

And seeing people like me, wandering alone, it felt like wherever people lived, it wasn’t much different.

So much so that I forgot this world’s setting was dark fantasy.

Wandering through the city wherever my feet took me, I entered the shopping district, thinking I might do some odd jobs.

Where money flowed abundantly, means to earn money naturally existed.

“Cheap, cheap! Seasonal mangoes, 200 silver!”

“Clothes for 1000 silver, today only!”

I quickly passed the entrance of the shopping district, which was full of typical marketing.

Because most employment agencies where one could get work were deep within the shopping district.

“Hey, Oppa? Today, the wares are really good… Hieek!”

There was even a small incident where a woman in decadent attire spoke to me, then got scared by my appearance and ran away.

…I do shave and wash my face by the river near the Altar of Lamentation every day, you know.

Since my general aura tended to be dark when I didn’t make an expression, this part couldn't be helped.

As I entered deeper into the shopping district, I somehow found myself in the red-light district.

There were crowds of people reeking of alcohol, and those spoiling for a fight if you met their gaze.

『Joel Employment Agency』

Just then, I found an employment agency with a vanity-filled sign.

The sign, adorned with gold and jewels, somehow exuded a subtle sense of trustworthiness.

Even if such a place might swindle money, it was highly likely to reliably provide work to a pauper like me.

I turned the doorknob of the employment agency and entered.

“Kwah-aaargh!!”

Just then, a burly man flew and collapsed at my feet.

“Are you here looking for work? Wait a moment.”

When I checked who had so easily sent the burly man flying, it was a middle-aged woman with short-cropped hair, wearing an eyepatch.

She coolly told me to wait a moment, then dragged the man back and brutally beat him senseless with her fists.

As her fist, quietly pounding the man, struck his face, the man with a caved-in skull let out gasping breaths and died.

“Phew…. My apologies.”

As if such things had happened many times, she wiped the blood from her fist with a blood-stained handkerchief and approached me haughtily.

“So, did you come because you need work?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

After glancing at the dead man and answering her question, she let out a chuckle and stared intently at my face.

The middle-aged woman extended her index finger to point at my eyes, then casually kicked the dead man aside and gestured for me to sit on the sofa in front.

“Dressed in St. Liberta Academy attire, with a threatening but handsome face… You must be a runaway young master who knows nothing of the world, aren’t you?”

“Think what you please.”

As I sat on the sofa, she skillfully poured tea into a cup and handed it to me.

Since I was thirsty, I didn’t hesitate to pick up the teacup and drink the lukewarm tea.

A slightly bitter yet subtly addictive aroma permeated my entire body.

“What can you do?”

As if there was no reason to refuse a guy like me, a simple background check began.

“…Nothing.”

“Ha! I’ve never seen anyone as honest as you.”

As I told her the truth, having no particular abilities to appeal with, she slapped her knee hard and burst into laughter.

“I figured as much, so I’ve already drugged you.”

“…?!”

When the word “drug” reached my ears, I realized it was a trap and hastily stood up, pointing Freud’s Fang at her, but.

Thud!

The drug had already circulated throughout my entire body, completely releasing control of my limbs, and I collapsed onto the table.

“You shouldn’t carelessly accept food given by strangers, kid.”

The middle-aged woman poured all the remaining tea from the teapot onto my head.

Then my pupils dilated, and my mind began to grow distant.

“It’s tea brewed with opium, so the effects will last a long time.”

The identity of the slightly sweet yet addictive taste was opium.

“Since you’re handsome, there’d be some demand if I sold you to a brothel… If you were ugly, you could’ve done normal work, you know.”

“F-ck….”

“Swear all you want. After you go to the brothel, your tongue and limb tendons will be severed, so you won’t be able to do anything anyway.”

The woman raised my collapsed body and sat me on the sofa.

Even in my muscle-relaxed state, I somehow managed to swing Freud’s Fang, but she easily evaded my sluggish movements, twisted my wrist, and made me drop the weapon.

…It was a complete misjudgment to have entered this place relying solely on Freud’s Fang.

“Sleep well. By the time you open your eyes, you’ll be on your way somewhere.”

“Keo-heok!!”

Thus, I was struck in the solar plexus by her and vomited.

“…Phew. Today’s work is a bit tough.”

As I slumped limply with unfocused eyes, the middle-aged woman, mistaking me for having fainted, stretched her stiff body, opened the back door, and disappeared.

“…Ugh.”

Soon, as silence settled, I somehow regained my balance and stood up from the spinning world. I then re-holstered Freud’s Fang, which had fallen to the floor, at my waist.

…I had to get out.

Just as gutter rats divided themselves by rank, I had no intention whatsoever of living as a male prostitute.

Concentrating as much as possible not to fall, I escaped from the employment agency.

“Haa…. Haa….”

To escape the dimly spread red-light district, I walked aimlessly towards the shopping district.

When I brushed past passing delinquents, I glared with my eyes as much as possible to avoid trouble and kept going.

Not long after, the moment the shopping district came into view again.

“Oppa-deul…! That’s the guy!”

Led by the woman who had tried to tempt me then ran away, numerous burly men blocked my path.

“That guy looked at me with weird eyes, I tell you!”

No sooner had the disgustingly fawning conversation ended than a fist flew at me.

Puh-eok!

As my face was struck hard and I lost my balance, swaying backward, one of the burly man’s companions appeared from behind and grabbed me.

“Hit him! Let’s strip this bastard of everything he has!”

After that, a one-sided beating ensued.

I was hit in the face, hit in the stomach.

Kicked in the legs.

My groin was mercilessly struck, and bruises spread all over my body.

I felt no pain.

I didn’t know if it was because of the drug’s effects, or if this level of pain was simply nothing compared to the deaths I had experienced in the past.

“Huh? This guy has a weapon?”

As the beating continued and I collapsed to the floor, the bastards rummaged through my clothes and found Freud’s Fang.

The brass-colored dagger, with its own unique appearance, seemed quite valuable, so they tried to take my dagger.

“N-no….”

I gripped the dagger tightly to prevent them from taking it.

“Hey, kill him.”

As I gripped the dagger to my chest, refusing to let go, the bastards surrounded me and began to stomp on me.

The act of predominantly stomping on my head and ribs was the skilled movement of those who had killed people this way many times.

As my lips split open, and the sensation of bones shattering made the strength in my body gradually drain away.

“Stop!”

A presence that halted everyone’s movements clearly resonated, piercing through the noise of the violence.

“Do not cause a disturbance in Holy Aquilian!”

Soon, as the light footsteps of rattling iron armor drew closer, the bastards who had been trampling me hastily fled without looking back.

A noble. Or a guard.

I didn’t know who it was, but the brutal violence simply ceased due to the appearance of one person.

“Are you… alright?!”

As I looked up at the sky, my entire body covered in bruises, someone’s hazy figure was extending a hand to me.

Armor that distinctly revealed the body’s lines.

A massive greatsword slung across their back.

And bluish eyes filled with righteousness.

…The identity of the one who had saved me from violence was a female knight.

Feeling a vague sense of familiarity with the shape of that armor, I tried to grab the hand she extended, but then I fainted.

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