Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 29

Episode 29. Mixed Stone (2)

In this worldview, the strength of demons is classified by their shape and number of horns.

However, in the game, demons larger than a triangle are given unique names based on their special abilities.

One of them is the dream beast Hamelin.

The name of a demon that appears in the Pyrun Forest near Bernidan.

The reason I can recall his name so clearly is because of the notoriety this demon called 'Hameln' has.

'No wonder the wiki has over 15 pages of strategy pages.'

As an erosion demon, once the erosion of a certain area is complete, Hamelin can then turn that area into its own fortress.

A labyrinth whose entrance and exit change every day.

The color is normal, but it's a swamp that you get addicted to the moment you dip your feet in it.

A mental attack on Hamelin's main body by demons armed with all sorts of status abnormalities.

And so on.

When I heard the three words, 'Border City Bernidun', 'Triangle Demon', and 'Pirun Forest', I could easily think of the demon 'Hameln' because it was a demon that was like a nightmare to the players.

It was also predicted that the subjugation schedule that had been delayed since Ascension Day would be brought forward because we could recall the abilities that 'Hameln' possessed.

It's been about two days now, so probably tomorrow.

If not that, then on the day the anniversary begins… … .

“Lord Yurian! Lord Oronil has requested that you come to the mansion immediately!”

──I expected it to be like that, but it's faster than I thought.

I was spreading Bernie's specialty, bacon jam, on bread with my back to the warm sunlight, and I looked at the face of the 'closed eyes' agent who had hurriedly opened the door and came in. Then, the 'color of fear' began to rise above his head.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t even realize you were eating!”

“No, it’s okay. It was an urgent matter.”

As I took a bite of the bread, the rich sweet and salty flavor began to spread across my tongue. It’s not a famous dish for nothing, I thought, smiling.

It's the perfect taste to start your day.

***

When I arrived at the mansion, the first person to greet me was Oronil, who, unlike yesterday when he was proud, looked as if he was dying.

Next to him stood a woman who appeared to be his wife. She, like Oronil, had a bad expression and seemed restless.

“You called, Lord Oronil.”

As I politely greeted O'Ronil, he slowly raised his head and met my gaze.

It was just past midnight. It had only been a day since we talked yesterday, but there was a worried look on his face, as if something had happened.

“…….”

When he finally opened his mouth, the first thing he said was about his daughter.

“My daughter, Terina, hasn’t opened her eyes since last night.”

"okay."

“The attending physician also said he didn’t know why this condition occurred…….”

O'Ronil mutters with a blank expression. When I listen to him, it seems that his daughter, whom he saw yesterday, has lost consciousness and collapsed.

The cause of the illness is unknown.

It must have been shocking news to the Count and his family, as even the attending physician was unable to figure it out.

“Terina is my precious child, whom I finally had after suffering numerous miscarriages. Why on earth did this happen to Terina…….”

If it had been Yurian, would he have been sarcastic here? Suddenly, such a thought occurred to me, but I was not cold-blooded enough to say such a thing to a father who was grieving for his daughter.

“The reason I called you is because of my daughter, Terina. I thought maybe you… might know why my child can’t open her eyes.”

“I am not a medical expert to begin with. I am an expert in demon subjugation. The fact that you have called me here means that even Lord Oronil has some idea about this matter, doesn’t he?”

Ahem.

Oroniel's low groan, full of self-reproach, echoed through the room.

“Well then, let me tell you first. As Lord Oronil has guessed, the reason your daughter cannot open her eyes right now is probably because of the demon in the Firun Forest.”

Hope appeared in Oronil's eyes as he heard my words.

Because I have clearly revealed to you the source of my daughter's abnormality and the cause of her illness that was unknown until now,

Oronil asked me again, not in the dying pose he had just taken, but in a panicked and urgent manner.

“In that case… please bring forward the subjugation schedule that was postponed yesterday! Is Ascension Day right now! My daughter…!”

“It’s already too late.”

But when I pointed out that what had just happened was the work of a demon, the hope that had bloomed on his face subsided along with my answer.

“Th, what does that mean!!”

“The demon sleeping in the Pirun Forest is called ‘Dream Hunter Hamelin.’ It is a triangular-class demon with three horns, and it is an erosion-type demon that puts down roots in the ground and makes the nearby land its own territory.”

As I continued speaking, O'Ronil watched me open my mouth with a very serious expression.

“As it absorbs the energy of the earth, it spreads pollen to sow its seeds among the animals around it.”

“Oh, you mean seeds?”

“Animals that have been planted with seeds will soon become Hamelin’s limbs and begin to move. Fortunately, it doesn’t have much of an effect on humans, but there are exceptions.”

“What is that…?”

“Little children.”

His face darkened suddenly. It seemed as if he could easily guess what kind of situation his daughter was in based on what I just said.

“It’s especially fatal for children who have just lost their baby teeth. The space where a tooth has fallen out is connected to the nerves, so it can easily reach the head.”

“Well, then wouldn’t it be better to quickly subdue that demon right now!”

O'Ronil shouted at me in frustration, but my answer was cold.

“As I said before, it’s too late. Haven’t they already started their activities? Demons aren’t stupid. Especially those that are as big as Triangles are quite intelligent.”

In war, you only take action when you think, "Can I defeat my opponent?"

“Hameln, called Dreams, has decided that the Pirun Forest is under his feet and has begun his activities once again. And he will use the Pirun Forest that he has ruled to hinder all our efforts to find him.”

“Then, even now…….”

“In the meantime, Lord Oronil’s daughter will lose her life.”

Oronil looked at me with wide-open eyes. Above his head, the color of 'anger' was rippling, so much so that it wouldn't have been strange if he had swung his fist at any moment.

However, such intense emotions did not last long. The color of 'anger', which had been gradually diminishing like a flame that had nothing left to burn, eventually completely disappeared.

“Lord Yurian, I was wondering if you could please…….”

"yes."

“If you had allowed the subjugation when you came yesterday, could this situation have been prevented……?”

“Yes, I came from the system for that.”

Ugh.

A groan of sorrow escaped Oronil's lips. When his wife finally burst into tears, Oronil began to comfort her.

“Do you want to save your daughter?”

When I said a word to them, O'Ronil, who was startled, turned his gaze to me again.

“Is that, is that… possible?”

“It’s possible. But it would also harm Lord Oronil. No, to be precise, the border city of Bernidan.”

“Damage… you mean?”

"yes."

I sensed something suspicious, but perhaps my concern for my daughter was greater, so my distrust of him quickly disappeared.

Instead, such distrust turned into great trust.

The smiling executioner of the Empire, Yurian Cryphat Frasson. This character has several nicknames, one of which is 'Master of Demon Slayer'?

“Oh, I can endure any kind of damage. For the sake of my daughter……!”

“Is that so? If so, that’s great.”

I was about to smile at Oronil's answer, but then I realized, "Oops!" and decided to hide my emotions as much as possible.

If Yulian, who already had a bad reputation, had laughed in this situation, she would have looked like a villain who was playing with her daughter's life.

***

Dream Hamelin.

As I said before, there will be more than one or two players who will be tickled by this name.

That's because if he starts to resume his activities, he'll start by turning the Pirun Forest into a labyrinth, and he'll stop players' steps with minions armed with all sorts of status abnormalities.

Even this labyrinth's exit changed with each passing day, making it impossible to create a systematic strategy.

Because of this, people called this Hamelin a demon full of the production team's malice.

'When I vented my anger on the bulletin board, all I got were comments telling me to fight back with violence and brutality.'

Of course, I am also one of the victims of this mass of malice. Of the 15 pages listed on the wiki, I wrote about 7 pages, so the anger I felt at that time is indescribable.

Now, I have become 'Yurien' and am in a situation where I have to destroy that lump of malice. However, I don't feel as helpless as I did back then.

I could have spent days and days struggling to get through the labyrinthine Pirun Forest.

I wasn't afraid even though I could face enemies armed with all sorts of status effects, including poison, seizures, corruption, and blindness.

The reason was very simple.

Rather than facing those risks, I chose the simplest and easiest strategy.

I didn't think about what would happen later.

***

“We’re ready, Sir Yurian. Now, if only the wind would change direction, we could begin.”

“But… do we really have to do it this way?”

“This is what we have to do. If we leave it like this, it is obvious that Bernie will also become a threat. It is foolish to leave the risk factor alone.”

“But…… Burning down the Pirun Forest……”

The 'Closed Eyes' members were looking at me with bewildered expressions, holding cans of oil that had been spilled.

“I don’t plan on burning down the entire Pirun Forest. I’m just going to disinfect the areas where demons have taken root.”

“Is that okay? Lord Oronil will be very angry. Isn’t the Forest of Pirun closely related to the Ascension Festival?”

When one of the closed-eyed agents asked with a worried voice, I answered.

“Lord O’Roniel has also given his permission. He has prioritized the safety of the citizens of Bernieden over Ascension Day.”

“Why is the person who was against it just yesterday…….”

The agent who had been speaking glanced at me. When I smiled at him slyly, the agent who had been coughing in vain lowered his head.

“Oh, no. I think I said something wrong.”

Should I clear up this misunderstanding? I didn't mean to threaten you in any particular way, but I think you might be thinking that way.

“The wind has changed direction!”

It was then that one of the other members announced loudly that the wind direction had changed. All eyes around me turned to me.

The members of 'Closed Eyes'. And, even the soldiers of Bernidin who were sent here at Oronil's words.

“Then let’s begin.”

Is there any need to wait?

With my words, the agents and soldiers simultaneously threw the torches they had raised into the Pirun Forest.

As the torch touched the trees that were heavily sprinkled with oil, the flames began to grow and become fire demons.

Knock, knock──!

The sound of sparks flying and the acrid smoke began to fill the surroundings, and I tapped the sword at my waist as I watched it.

Gh …

And then, a huge ground rumble began to resonate along with the screams of the monster in agony. At the center of the sound was a monster tree with human faces carved all over it, 'Mongsu Hamelin', running towards us.

“Hee, heeeeek!”

“Demon! Prepare for battle!”

Some of the soldiers, terrified by the onslaught of the giant triangle demon, sat down or stepped back.

I paid no attention to that sight and instead took a step forward, pulled out the Moon Sword at my waist, and sent an aura through the sword body like I always did.

It had a terrible appearance and was as big as a giant tree. But there was no reason to be afraid.

Of the 15 pages listed on the wiki, 14.9 are all about how to break down the fortress he built.

The number of characters described in the demon strategy called 'Mongsu Hamelin' was less than 500 at most.

The moment he reveals himself like this, it's safe to say that his fate is over.