WeTried Translations

Translator: Goku

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Became a Villain Perfect for Leveling Up

Chapter 038

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38. Eagles and Horses (1)

In a state where dying immediately wouldn't be strange, coupled with the slow speed of the elevator. A stubborn refusal to die like this, feeling wronged, made me steel my resolve even further.

Clunk-

How many minutes had passed? When the elevator made a noise signaling its exit from the underground city, I used the hammer as a staff and disembarked.

“……….”

Not long after stepping off, seeing the elevator immediately descend. It seemed Maeve had begun her pursuit.

“…Haa.”

Anticipating hardship until the checkpoint changed, I let out a death-laden sigh. And moved, leaving a trail of bloodstains on the floor.

The place connected to the underground city was, as I remembered, inside a cathedral isolated in the forest.

Long neglected, even now in the morning, dust floated so thickly it obscured vision.

Opening the door and stepping out of the cathedral. The hand I had briefly rested on the door became severely soiled with dust.

Was it like this when I cleaned the Altar of Lamentation, sweeping dust with my bare hands?

To cling to my thinning thread of life, I deliberately listed meaningless thoughts as I walked down the mountain.

“…….”

As I descended the mountain until its rugged terrain became gentle. In the distance, a city surrounded by a royal castle appeared.

Pesoniac.

An early-game area briefly passed through during gameplay.

Was it an area with no particular boss, just giving a few items?

Looking at the city, I discovered a small tower in the back, the starting area where players first opened their eyes in the game.

“…I wonder if the Fortress of Training is there too.”

Suddenly, a question arose as to whether that area, which provided the clue to my possession… truly existed in reality.

The Fortress of Training, an area reachable just a short distance from the starting point.

Since it was less than five minutes away from Pesoniac, I thought I might drop by on my way back.

《 Checkpoint designated ▶ Pesoniac 》

Upon reaching Pesoniac’s entrance and updating the checkpoint, I entered the city, thinking I would check for the Fortress of Training and then commit suicide.

Seeing the giant hammer on my back, guards approached and asked my identity. When I vaguely explained I was a wandering knight, they just warned me not to cause trouble and left.

In the 1st Playthrough, that is, in the game, Pesoniac appeared as a ghost town with all its inhabitants completely missing, unlike now.

I wondered how such a large city could become a ghost town with not a single person left.

What exactly is 'ruin' that such a peaceful city could collapse in just a few years?

“…….”

Refusing the priests who offered to use healing magic on me, I proceeded through the city. And before I knew it, I had arrived at the starting area.

A colossal tower.

A tower resembling a prison, with a slightly different feel from the Altar of Lamentation, was visible.

Having no business there, I moved my steps. And went in the direction where the Fortress of Training had been.

“….”

There, was a fortress where boisterous female knights were diligently training, sweating profusely.

“……It was there.”

It was a landscape exactly as I remembered.

Though armored undead didn't roam, that place was truly a real location.

“I hadn’t seen wrong….”

Facing the truth. My eyes welled up for no reason.

The fact that this area truly existed was enough to evoke hope of returning to Earth and a sense of nostalgia.

“…Who are you?”

“…….”

“State your identity. This is an area restricted to outsiders.”

A female knight, having spotted me from afar, walked over and pointed her sword at me.

Having achieved my objective, I waved my empty left hand as if apologizing, then turned my back.

“…Wait. Your condition…?!”

The female knight was startled, having discovered my severed left hand and blood spreading on my back. It was a miracle I was standing with wounds that would make dying immediately not strange.

Not unaware of that myself, I thought it was time to die in a quiet place and was about to move into the forest. But.

The female knights, unable to leave a half-dead man, swarmed me at once, grabbed my limbs, and began dragging me into the fortress.

“This…. Let go….”

Easily subduing my resistance, which was several times stronger than an adult man's, they confined the half-dead man within the Fortress of Training.

Although their touch was rough. I understood that their intention was to not pass by an injured person.

However….

“Aagh!! Ku-heeup!!”

The process of being forcibly treated was excruciatingly painful.

The pain of scraping festering flesh from my side with a knife. Of removing embedded lead bullets without anesthesia. Of pouring an entire bottle of disinfectant was indescribable.

“Let me die!! Kuh-haak!!”

It was a terrible treatment process that made me realize the tortures I had endured from Eirene, Carmen, and Maeve were not even tortures by comparison.

“Anesthesia…! Please, at least anesthesia…!”

“I’m sorry. Unfortunately, the anesthetic ran out today, hoho! You’re a man, so just bear with it.”

“Kkuh-heuk!!”

Even when I pleaded for anesthesia. The nuns urged me to endure, saying their stock had unfortunately run out today.

“How can I…! Aaagh!!”

If it were just small cuts or wounds from a knife, perhaps.

But anyone who could endure having wounds deep enough to show internal organs scraped out would be strange.

“…….”

In the end, only when I had shed tears and snot, was I freed from the torture disguised as treatment.

Now, hospitalized, tightly wrapped in bandages in a half-mummified state.

I had become a rare spectacle as the only man in the Fortress of Training.

From the start, this knight order was unusual, consisting solely of women.

“……Excuse me.”

As if I were the only male student in a girls' school that had just turned co-ed this year. When I uttered a word in the awkward atmosphere of being stared at.

“His voice is handsome too.”

“He’s good-looking too.”

“…Isn’t he a romantic knight?”

The female knights all shrieked in unison, creating a commotion.

“……….”

It had been so long since I experienced such a human, everyday scene. I became speechless, dumbfounded.

No killing intent was felt. An incredibly peaceful atmosphere and space, where everyone held their own goodwill.

…It felt like I remembered that unforgettable day spent with the Aquila Knights. I lowered my head and wiped my face.

If I had tried to trust people even a little back then.

If I had tried to face goodwill and interest a little more, would the outcome have been different?

Only after realizing that spilled water cannot be gathered, did I understand how warm the world was.

….

It was the 4th day, and my body's condition had greatly improved.

I also learned that the name of this knight order was the Valkyrie Knights. And gained information that it was a group with a considerable history.

Separate from settings and regions not appearing in the game. The Valkyrie Knights possessed their own history.

Chatting idly with female knights who occasionally came to gawk. I gained one new piece of information.

That the Vice Commander was currently missing.

When I asked for her name. They said Sigrun.

“…….”

The Vice Commander of the Valkyrie Knights. Sigrun.

…Briefly surprised by the fact that she, the last NPC to inherit memories, was from this place.

I made a conjecture about why the Fortress of Training had been blocked in the game.

Unlike the 1st Playthrough, where only crumbled ruins remained, in the current 2nd Playthrough, the knight order stood intact next to the mountain.

“A knight order next to a mountain…? Landslide… That can’t be.”

Would something terrible happen due to a natural disaster?

Even if a landslide occurred, it wouldn't cover this entire large fortress… would it?

“Wait…. If someone intentionally caused a landslide, that changes things.”

The judgment was that if someone had intentionally manipulated things behind the scenes, it would be entirely possible to bring disaster to the Fortress of Training.

“If the identity of the hostage holding Sigrun… is linked to a landslide?”

It was certain.

Dina, she had used the landslide as a hostage to threaten Sigrun.

“………I have to tell them.”

With the thought that I had to inform them of this immediately. I staggered out of bed.

Immediately, I headed to the Commander’s office and knocked on the door.

“What is it, suddenly?”

The middle-aged Knight Commander who opened the door greeted me with surprised eyes.

“If you’re thinking of being discharged, book a physician in Pesoniac and select knights to assist you….”

“-You must evacuate immediately.”

“…What?”

“A landslide will occur soon.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Someone… has laid groundwork to collapse that mountain.”

“Hoh…?”

When I hastily explained that the mountain could collapse at any moment, naturally, all my words were dismissed as nonsense.

“Ha! Speak sense. That mountain is densely forested, and even if it collapses, it won’t cause damage here.”

“…This is related to Sigrun.”

As my persuasion had no effect, I took a bold step and mentioned Sigrun’s name. The Knight Commander’s eyes narrowed upon hearing her name.

“…Related to the Vice Commander?”

“……….”

“You… you know what that means, don’t you?”

In a situation where I might be dismissed as manipulative and the Knight Commander’s sword might be drawn. I quickly thought of a good way to assure her of my acquaintance with Sigrun, and then opened my mouth.

“…Sigrun has… kissed my cheek before.”

Deciding to just blurt it out, I conveyed the information, which was true even if taken out of context. The Knight Commander’s expression turned strange.

“Surely… the reason Sigrun ran away was because of you….”

“…That’s not it. She… is currently holding this fortress hostage.”

“What…?!”

Upon revealing my acquaintance with Sigrun, the Knight Commander's face became much more serious, as if she was now willing to believe me.

“…Tell me more. Who is holding this place hostage?”

“……A woman named… Dina.”

“Dina… I’ve never heard that name before.”

The Knight Commander, seemingly hearing the name for the first time, rested her chin in her hand and gazed at the mountain reflected in the window.

“If by any chance this information is false, you will have to pay with your life.”

“Understood.”

“Your personality is as bold as the rumors say. It’s no wonder Sigrun fell for you.”

“……….”

If I refuted the 'fell for you' part, our fabricated relationship might be exposed, so I kept silent.

“I will immediately dispatch a search party to explore the mountain. You wait here.”

The Knight Commander draped a golden cloak over her shoulders and hurried her steps.

“…….”

Watching her trustworthy figure depart, I let out a sigh of relief.

This would prevent the deaths of innocent people who had no connection to this.

“…Eirene will hate this.”

I felt sorry for Eirene, whose heart must be burning with anxiety, endlessly waiting for my return to the Altar of Lamentation.

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