Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 142

Episode 142. Kaldrak de Adratan (1)

As the night deepened, the temperature in the snowy forest began to drop rapidly.

The already cold weather had become so cold that it made my breath freeze, and outside the window a truly fitting blizzard was raging.

Brrrrrrrr… … .

Among us, the one who felt the cold the most was Pelkor. He looked so… … .

It can't be easy to look so pitiful and desperate.

Normally, it would have been reasonable to light a fire to maintain body temperature, but in this situation, they were trying to avoid being tracked.

Prayer beads and equalization control.

'Tsk.'

Isn't this the most basic of the basics?

And luckily I didn't feel that cold.

'but.'

It seems that the fact that he doesn't feel the heat or the pain is due to his innate temperament, but I thought it was fortunate at times like this.

“It seems that Felcor feels the cold a lot. Well, he must be cold since he has no hair on his head.”

“You little shit. What the hell are you talking about?”

“Haha.”

When Pelkor got angry, Zahat smiled faintly.

It's also astonishing how a blind gentleman can make fun of me.

'You like it. Surprisingly,'

“You, you, once this is over, I will definitely kill you with my own hands……. Urgh.”

Whether it's from the cold or from anger.

Pelkor swore, his hands and feet shaking and his head turning red.

“But, Sir Yurian……”

“Why are you doing that?”

I turned my gaze to Pelkor, who was trembling as he called out to me.

“D, Demon… Didn’t that Demon run away today?”

"yes."

“……What should I do now?”

What should I do? I have to find it again.

Fortunately, we don't have to go out of our way to find the 'one-armed demon'.

'It was a bit off schedule though.'

Because I know the exact location.

Originally, it was strange to encounter a 'one-armed demon' like this.

Perhaps, the unfortunate incident occurred because I was traveling with 'Zahart'.

The reason he was in the Snowstorm Forest in the first place was to eat witches.

'To absorb that magic, I guess.'

Although they are not afraid of cannibalism, demons also have a tendency to want to prey on 'magic' safely and without getting hurt if possible.

Sometimes, they would fight to eat the same demon, and sometimes they would suffer fatal injuries that could not be cured.

Of course, I healed with the magic I consumed, but there were times when the amount was insufficient, and there were also frequent times when I had no income.

In that respect, a 'witch' who can 'easily' absorb a lot of 'magic' would be a good way to grow strength without getting hurt.

'Besides, the witch cannot leave the Snowstorm Forest for the time being.'

Thanks to that, I was able to pinpoint the location of the one-armed demon. Since I'm going to try to find the witch anyway, that location is.

The top of a ridge that overlooks this 'snow forest' at a glance.

There, the guy will use his specialty, 'radio waves', to find prey.

'The fact that Kaldrak was so obsessed with capturing the one-armed demon must have had something to do with the witch.'

I don't know how this happened, but the two held hands.

And of course, as I expected, the 'witch' would have risked her life to request Kaldrak to capture the one-armed demon for her research.

Up to that point, I can understand. But the most puzzling point is.

'The question is, how did you meet the witch?'

The barrier in the Snowstorm Forest is a real blast. Even the most skilled players won't be able to get through it easily.

There are some strategies, but they take a lot of brain work to figure out.

That is, only players can do it.

'Save Road Divine Skill.'

In the first place, the 'Save Road' is essential for the protagonist to meet the witch in the Snowstorm Forest and ask for help.

No wonder the production team set the difficulty level with that in mind, and it even changes the dialogue script.

Of course, die-hard users who have played the game several times can solve it purely through experience without such a 'right method'.

'I'm one of those cases.'

… … Thinking about it this way, I really worked hard.

Now that I think about it… … I wonder why I was so absorbed in this game.

“If it’s been this long, then it’s time to go back…….”

Felcor, who seemed desperate to return to the system, was still shivering from the cold.

But why are you so cold? You said you're from here.

Ah! It's so cold… … I can't live.

So that's why you ran away.

“……Yeah, going back like this might be a way. You guys don’t have any particular connection to the one-armed demon, do you?”

If I just leave it alone and nothing happens, I want to just go away.

That kind of thing is annoying!

But I can't say that out loud.

“Even though it is the Northern Front, you have seen that demons are running rampant within the Empire, so as a master demon hunter, you know very well that you cannot back down, right?”

He acts like the narcissistic 'Yurien'. Very naturally.

“Besides, I know the location of the one-armed demon. Even if I don’t know, Lord Zahat?”

I glanced at him and he flinched as if he found my gaze unpleasant.

“I’m relieved that you can find it with your aura.”

As I said that, I looked at Felcor and Zahat once.

“By the way, it’s time to set a night watch today.”

A forest where demons roam.

Sleeping in a place like this without a night watch is tantamount to suicide.

Yurian, with his sensitive senses, will be able to sense the demon approaching even while he is sleeping.

‘… … I’ve never done it before.’

I know it's 'possible', but I'm not sure how it's 'utilized'.

Even if you put your hand in fire and it's fine, if you know that it's 'fire', you're bound to be reluctant to try it for the first time.

And getting enough sleep is also good for my mental health.

Therefore, you guys will be the ones to stand guard.

***

As dawn came, the snowstorm became more intense.

It was difficult to even see an inch ahead, and even sound was often buried in the heavy snowstorm.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…….”

Through the noise of the storm-like blizzard, Pelkor's snoring resonated loudly.

Then the demon is drawn to that sound.

'That kid's life, huh. I can't guarantee it.'

“In a blizzard of this magnitude, even a demon wouldn’t be able to move.”

Just as I was feeling a strong urge to throw a blanket over that guy's face, Zahat spoke to me.

“If you don’t sleep now, you might make the same mistakes tomorrow as you did today.”

“That won’t happen. I’ve made up my mind.”

Well then, that's good.

If something like that happens again, demon or whatever, my sword might be pointed at Zahat.

“I’m fine, so how about you go to sleep? I think that would be better.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t get much sleep. I’m not as weak as you guys.”

“Tch, tch.”

Zahat smiles slightly at my answer.

“Still, it’s better to sleep. If no one is coming, there’s no need to keep your eyes open, right?”

“No one is coming……”

I muttered to myself.

What that meant, Zahat seemed at first unable to understand.

"……hmm?"

He soon understood my monologue and placed his hand on the cane that was lying next to him.

“……How can I get through this snowstorm?”

There are two sounds approaching the shabby mansion.

Contrary to Zahat's words, it was approaching through this blizzard.

As if a disaster like a storm were nothing, so naturally.

The sound of them approaching, clearing away the snowstorm, was truly impressive.

“You’re a witch.”

“……Witch? Are you talking about the ‘Witch of the Snowstorm Forest’?”

“If not, who would be here, in this weather?”

The problem is the one coming with the witch now.

'Are you going to step forward yourself?'

I knew this would happen, from the moment I released the wedges and placed them in the 'Snowstorm Forest', to the moment I had the Academy's students join the search.

'Kaldrak the Adratan.'

The Third Prince has just arrived here.

Squeak.

The door opened.

Then, unlike the fourth prince, Yulsis, a man with a sturdy body and a small-looking woman followed him in.

“I see the precious sun.”

When you see the prince, it is natural that you should show respect.

As a citizen of the Empire, I knelt and bowed before Kaldrak.

At the same time, I could see how Kaldrak's expression didn't change even once while enduring this bitter cold.

A familiar-looking ring caught my eye.

'The Snow Rabbit's Ring.'

Is that what the guy took?

“I came to confirm the identity of the strange men who entered the Snowstorm Forest, but I see a familiar face.”

Kaldrak opened his mouth with a very serious tone, unlike his sturdy body.

Hearing his voice like that, unlike me who showed my respect, Zahat's expression crumpled.

“……Prince Kaldrak.”

Well, what happened between you two?

Not even setting an example makes the relationship look not very pleasant.

“Sir Zahat and Sir Yurian. It’s been a while, both of you.”

“Why did the decline come to this…….”

“Don’t be so nervous. I didn’t expect to see my former comrades like this, but I’m not here to capture you.”

Kaldrak shows a kind smile.

But I also know that there is a sharp sword hidden inside it.

“……So you came here to talk?”

"okay."

“What are you trying to say in this snowstorm?”

At first, Zahat was flustered, but he gradually began to calm down and his speech began to take on a calm tone.

Before long, like the 'blind warrior' I knew, I started to measure the distance between myself and the other person and be on guard for any unexpected situations.

“The wedges don’t seem to come together.”

Zahat, who had been scanning the surroundings with his aura, muttered in a voice so small that only I could hear.

This blizzard. If you weren't a 'witch', it would be quite difficult to move. If you didn't have a holy relic like the 'Ring of the Snow Rabbit', it would be even more difficult.

“What I have to say is simple.”

As Kaldrak said earlier, it seems he didn't come here with the intention of fighting.

He glanced at the woman right next to him, the 'witch', then turned his gaze back to us and opened his mouth.

“I wish you would leave the Snowstorm Forest as soon as day breaks. We will deal with the demon you were chasing.”

Deal with it, if that means 'killing' the demon, then I'll leave regardless.

“That is impossible. Damn it.”

Zahat, of course, refused.

Kaldrak's purpose is to capture the 'Demon'. I heard about this from Linne.

After all, our goal is to eliminate the 'one-armed demon'. We can't sit down at the negotiating table by capturing it.

“Zahart, I think you misunderstood.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I am saying this to ‘notify’ you out of consideration for our old ties, not to ‘negotiate.’”

Kaldrak smiled leisurely.

“Since the location of this place has been discovered, you have to run away. Do you think you can avoid the pursuit of the spikes and kill the demon in this dangerous blizzard forest?”

… … It’ll be hard.

It would probably be impossible.

"that……."

“Zahart, comrade who shared life and death with me on the Northern Front. That is enough. Sir Yurian, I will leave this matter alone, so how about you just go back?”

Zahat seemed hesitant at the repeated invitations and notifications from Kaldrak.

It's not that his will to kill the one-armed demon has wavered. However, he seems to be worried about what will happen in the future if he refuses Kaldrak's words now.

'Since the witch was cooperating from the beginning, it was impossible to proceed without being caught.'

He has completely placed the northern front under his control, and has also made this blizzard forest his own.

Worst case scenario.

“Sun of the Empire, may I, with all due respect, say something?”

“Okay, tell me, Sir Yurian.”

“It seems that Your Majesty has something to do that requires you to stop searching the Blizzard Forest for the time being.”

Fortunately, this dire situation presents a way out.