How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 121

Chapter 121: Awakening Signal (6)

Lily listened closely to the voices coming from the communication crystal.

It seed like a serious incident had erupted within Blyer’s territory, and the unfolding details were rather fascinating to her.

It was the kind of excitent one might feel when watching a burning house.

They were hunting for the culprit who had massacred a group of dark shamans and escaped. Ever since the lord of Blyer ntioned the suspect’s identity, the na Alex Marcia had been repeatedly echoing through the communication crystal without pause.

‘Alex? Who’s Alex?’

It was a na she was hearing for the first ti.

Of course, most nas she ca across were unfamiliar to her.

She did know the na of Blyer’s lord, though.

Kal.

She rembered overhearing so passing slave hunters ntion that na months ago when she first encountered them in the forest.

Since then…

“Huh? That’s strange.”

Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t recall anyone openly talking about the lord of Blyer.

Recalling the wary gazes directed at her red cloak, she felt she understood why.

To form an alliance with dark shamans, sacrifices were a necessity.

It was a system built entirely on fear and control.

People were likely so terrified of being dragged off as sacrifices that they didn’t even dare to speak the lord’s na aloud. Judging by how even these vile dark shamans spoke his na with tension in their voices, Kal must be an exceptionally frightening figure.

Crack!

The shaman group burst out of the dense forest and began racing across a wide-open plain.

Their fierce pace caused the harsh rain to lash against their bodies like needles.

Frowning, Lily tightened her robe, while Keros, who was soaked like a drenched stuffed toy, voiced his displeasure.

“Grmph… Grmph!”

“Endure it. If we get caught, we’ll be forced to roll around in this weather. Got it… Ow!”

When she tried to pat Keros, he bit her finger in retaliation.

After lightly pulling on his cheeks to subdue him, she shifted her attention to the communication crystal she was holding.

Despite the rain, the voices of the shamans ca through the crystal loud and clear.

Judging by their discussion of different regions, it seed dark shamans were stationed all across Blyer’s territory.

They were rapidly sharing information and coordinating their next moves, and Lily couldn’t help but admire their efficiency.

The wide-range communication network appeared to be the key to their success.

‘How did they set up such a network?’

She wondered if a similar communication system could be established in the Ordor Forest.

Just imagine how convenient it would be to request food or snacks through a communication crystal whenever she wanted.

As her thoughts wandered toward how she could use this for her own comfort, a new update ca through the crystal.

[We’ve discovered suspicious traces at Wailing Hill. Shamans who weren’t listed in the orders passed through. There were two of them, and the trail leads south. We’ll begin pursuit imdiately.]

A short while later:

[We’ve found carriage tracks heading south from a village. The trail continues in the direction of the Korun River.]

The mont they ntioned the Korun River, the previously silent voice of Blyer’s lord echoed through the crystal.

[All units listening to this communication, halt your current missions and rendezvous with the hunting hound unit stationed near the Korun River. This is urgent. Move quickly.]

“Understood!”

As soon as the command was given, the shaman group changed direction and began heading south.

“All of you, mount the Van Dykes.”

Once they reached the seemingly endless plain, the shamans used the Van Dyke puppets as transportation.

The shamans climbed onto the broad shoulders of the ten Van Dykes, while Lily took a seat on the shoulder of the last one, sitting alone.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

The vibrations were intense.

Despite being heavily armored shamanic puppets, the Van Dykes moved at an impressive speed. While not as fast as horses, they were certainly faster than an average carriage.

Moreover—

Boom! Crash! Smash!

Whether it was rocks or trees, the puppets destroyed any obstacle in their path without hesitation.

To Lily, they looked like mindless wild boars.

Now that their movent had stabilized, the atmosphere grew quieter. While surveying the path ahead, Lily began to contemplate her options.

She quietly moved toward the rear of the group, thinking it might be possible to slip away unnoticed. If she suppressed her presence and disappeared now, it would probably take them so ti to realize she was gone.

‘Should I leave? Or should I keep following them?’

Until just a mont ago, she had been planning to slip away at the first opportunity and head back toward Blyer, which still lood in her mind.

But now, she had another choice.

‘This looks like it’s going to turn into an exciting fight.’

Lily loved watching fights almost as much as she loved eating.

She particularly enjoyed watching battles where the outco was uncertain.

Ever since she had gained the Eyes of the Full Moon, this habit had developed into a sort of hobby. And with their opponent being a group of dark shamans, she was even more intrigued.

Moreover, based on what she had overheard through the communication crystal, it seed they had mobilized a considerable force to capture this human nad Alex.

Was he strong?

If so, how strong was he?

And if she ran into him, how much fun would it be?

With her hands clasped together, Lily began daydreaming excitedly, prompting Keros to shake his head in exasperation. Here she goes again with her delusions. It seed her decision would be delayed for a while.

Just then—

[We’ve received new information. Hold position.]

At the sound of Blyer’s lord’s voice, the shamans ca to a halt.

What kind of information could have caused them all to stop moving?

Listening closely, Lily caught a ntion of a letter, though she couldn’t make out the specifics.

In the middle of the pouring rain, the shamans stood in silence, awaiting further orders.

Monts later, the lord’s next command ca through.

[The mission has changed. All units except the hunting hound division are to search the Korun River. The new target is Lochter Felice. Cease all efforts to pursue Alex.]

The shaman unit resud moving.

Although the objective had changed, they continued heading in the sa direction. As they advanced, the shamans began speculating about the revised orders.

“So the rumors must be true.”

“Rumors?”

“About Lochter Felice, the field commander of Hunt.”

“Oh, Hunt. So, does that an Alex was moving to aid Lochter?”

“That’s why we were ordered to search for Lochter. The lord suspects Alex might join forces with him.”

Lily was surprised.

Since when were dark shamans this smart? She couldn’t fully grasp the content of their conversation, but it sounded impressive.

But her surprise didn’t last long.

As soon as she heard the na Lochter Felice, she clapped her hands and made a swift decision.

‘A million gold! Let’s go!’

Lochter Felice was a famous na, one she was familiar with. No, rather than his na, it was the one million gold bounty attached to him that had caught her attention.

No matter where she went, all she ever heard were stories about Lochter.

When she had asked people about the bounty, they said one million gold was enough to buy dozens of villages.

This was a once-in-a-lifeti spectacle. Missing out on such a big event would be so regrettable she might lose her appetite.

And if she played her cards right, she could even claim that million gold bounty for herself.

If she stayed with the shamans, they would eventually lead her straight to the one million gold prize.

“But the Korun River spans the entire southern region of Blyer. How are they planning to find Lochter in such a vast area?”

“They were given orders, so they have to follow them. We’re going to be drenched and miserable for a while.”

“It shouldn’t take long. It seems like they’ve deployed a large number of units.”

As she listened to the shamans’ conversation and pondered how difficult the search might be, Lily suddenly felt a sharp jolt and a shiver ran down her spine.

Her eyes flickered as if sparks were flying in her vision.

She quickly looked up at the sky.

“…This…”

Between the dark clouds, blue sparks flashed and crackled.

Lily glanced at the shamans to gauge their reaction, but none of them seed to have noticed the phenonon.

Could it be that none of them could see it?

Perhaps the world’s gaze had abandoned them, corrupted by greed like the mages.

Among those who served the divine, the most gifted would be noticing that phenonon by now.

“Doggy, it looks like a new bearer of a Divine Na is about to be born. I wonder where it will happen this ti? Doggy? Doggy, are you asleep?”

It was the precursor to a Divine Na awakening.

The Call of the Sky had appeared.

“Lochter!”

At Karl’s urgent cry, Lochter slowly turned his back.

Assassins were charging at him, wielding a variety of weapons aid directly at him.

Lochter carefully set down the wooden box he had been carrying and drew his sword.

Shiiing―

The blade, stained with dried blood, erged, and Lochter stood unmoving, as if guarding the box.

His stance was as solid as a rock.

Then, he swung lightly.

A simple, direct slash.

But the result was astonishing.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

“…!”

The weapons aid at him were deflected into the air. The assassins, wide-eyed in disbelief, didn’t even have ti to react before their heads rolled to the ground.

“….”

Lochter sheathed his sword and gently picked up the box again, turning his back toward the river.

Karl let out a bitter chuckle as he watched the scene before him.

He hadn’t expected the scouts to pose a threat, but seeing how easily Lochter dispatched the assassins was chilling even to a fellow assassin like Karl.

Karl turned to look at Elton.

Elton, who had recently reached the fourth star rank after their experience in Laup Forest, specialized in fire-based assassination techniques. Yet even he was groaning in frustration.

“How is he?”

“…We can’t kill him.”

“Because he’s a five-star?”

“No, even if he were a four-star, it’d be the sa. There’s no opening to exploit.”

“No opening?”

“Even when he swings his sword, he leaves no gaps. His fundantals… they’re insane.”

For Elton to say that his fundantals were ‘insane’ ant that the stories about Lochter being a madman of a knight were likely true.

‘No matter how many tis I see it, it’s hard to believe.’

Shaking his head, Karl watched Lochter standing tall in the midst of the pouring rain.

What kind of life must he have led to build a back that solid?

Five years of basic physical training.

Ten years of basic swordsmanship.

Fifteen years of basic training solely for mastering slashes.

While everyone mocked him for his persistence, Lochter achieved five-star rank with only one sword technique, becoming a non-trait warrior.

When other trait awakeners openly laughed at him, Lochter raised his sword.

‘The hope of non-trait awakeners.’

Lochter was the only non-trait warrior who had repeatedly clashed with and defeated five-star trait awakeners.

The mad knight.

People used the term ‘madman’ to describe Lochter, but in other words, it ant sheer, relentless effort.

The foolish determination to fill the gap left by untapped talent with overwhelming hard work.

Lochter was a maniac for effort, to the point of absurdity.

“Master, we’ve taken care of them all.”

At the report, Karl shifted his gaze.

Their hidden subordinates had arrived.

As they approached the Korun River, they had been detected by scouts, but fortunately, they managed to eliminate them. The assassins who had just attacked Lochter were desperate remnants who had no way out.

The thing Karl had feared most was a flare being launched, but the weather had worked in their favor.

“How many?”

“A little over thirty.”

“Damn, they sent a lot. The hunting hounds will catch wind of us.”

“Shall we create a false trail?”

“No, there’s no need for that now.”

Karl looked up at the sky.

The rain was coming down so hard that it was difficult to keep his eyes open.

Any traces would be washed away in no ti.

The weather was on their side.

The problem was Lochter.

He was as stubborn as they ca.

“That madman won’t listen to a damn thing, and now we’re the ones suffering for it.”

“It’s family business, isn’t it?”

“I know. That’s why… we helped him.”

They had stolen the corpses that had been put on display as an example and handed them over to Lochter.

It was then that they saw the taciturn knight shed tears for the first ti.

Karl and the others watched quietly as Lochter stood by the river.

He was pouring fine white ash from the wooden box into the flowing water.

This was a mont they couldn’t disturb.

Lochter was saying his final farewell to his deceased family.

Despite the risk of exposure, they had co all the way to the lower reaches of the Korun River for this reason alone.

It was where Lochter wanted to send off his family.

The place where he had first settled with his wife and daughter before becoming a knight.

“…….”

He scattered the ashes of his wife and daughter into the river below.

It was here that he had t his wife, married her, and raised his daughter. He had accepted an offer from the forr lord of Blyer and dedicated twenty years of his life to Blyer.

All that remained now was the rotting corpse of the forr lord’s heir, who had made an example of his family.

He had sent off his wife and daughter. He had sent off his friends.

Most would have built a grave, but Lochter didn’t want those he loved to remain in this corrupted world.

“Be reborn in a new world and live happily.”

He had lost everything.

He wanted to follow them, but he still had unfinished business.

After sending them off into the river, Lochter pulled out a banner from his coat.

A bitter smile appeared on his face as he looked at it.

It was Blyer’s banner, an emblem of honor awarded to him when he beca the captain of the knights.

Lochter unfurled the banner.

As it fluttered in the wind and rain, he quietly recited Blyer’s oath of loyalty.

“My beloved family, whom I protected for a lifeti. My cherished estate, where we shared joys and sorrows. My brilliant holand, Blyer.”

Lochter no longer shed tears. His emotions had long since withered away, leaving him with only one remaining feeling.

“I’ll kill them all.”

With an indifferent gaze, he slashed the fluttering banner diagonally.

Thus was born the Betrayer Knight, Lochter Felice, Kal Blazer’s sworn nesis.

The dark clouds rumbled with blue sparks.

It was a sound only those who served the divine could hear.

So would feel the presence of a Divine Na, so would see it, and others would know its exact location.

The Call of the Sky had descended, signaling the birth of a new Divine Na.

Everyone knew it as the signal of awakening.