Episode 83. The Voice of Fantasy
In the snow-covered village, believers in pure white armor and plain clothes stood in a row.
The gold borders on the clothes and all belongings stood out. The colors did not overlap at all with the piled up snow. Rather, it seemed as if a path of light had been cut through the snowfield.
The current time is noon.
The Knight Commander, standing at the head of the procession, shouted for departure when he was informed that it was that time.
It was a pretty late start.
That’s because the criminals we’re dragging in now were caught just a few days ago.
As soon as I captured him, I wanted to take him away. Even if the snowstorm hadn’t blocked my view.
“I can finally see ahead!”
“It’s finally possible to transport criminals. You’ve endured it well.”
The priests who had set out were talking nonsense in various ways.
I always expected them to be formal when they walk, but it’s different when they march.
My legs are going to be moving non-stop for a few days, so that kind of thing gets pushed aside as a minor thing.
In the first place, the ritual is a custom that is not well observed outside of the holy place of Kreuz.
“The snowstorm around here is just plain blizzarding. How many days has it been going on?”
“Once I start, it’s like a never-ending stream. I think it’s been a week already.”
“I was worried that the guys might run away. Fortunately, the deputy commander’s measures were perfect.”
I couldn’t move forward hastily for fear of being swallowed up by the blizzard.
Because it is located near the crevasse snowfield, the cycle of snowstorms is so long that it is different from other regions.
It takes several days to walk to the next town, and if you take a wrong turn, it’s all over.
If you can’t find the exit from the snowfield, you’ll be stuck wandering in the snowstorm for the rest of your life.
Then, the effect of the magic tools for keeping warm will gradually be diluted, and they will all turn into frozen fossils.
Because of that, we had to stay in the village until the snowstorm stopped.
They waited until the weather calmed down, even risking the possibility of the prisoners escaping.
And today at noon is exactly when the snowstorm is starting to let up.
“I have a few more days to walk, and I wonder if I can sleep and stay up all night in this bitter wind. I hope I don’t freeze to death on good terms with those sinners.”
“But I still don’t understand.”
“What kind?”
“Why do you keep such incompetent people alive and take them away? Considering the crimes they are accused of, it wouldn’t be strange if they were executed individually. Are you sure that your highness the Cardinal has given you such orders?”
“How would I understand? The commander’s orders are the cardinal’s orders.”
Sir Crudy, the vice-captain.
‘Gamur Brutus’, the leader of the first stellar corps, which is even higher than that.
He is the one who walks at the head of the procession of light leaving the village and orders the sinners to be spared.
Because the punishment was so severe, they left them alone under the pretext that execution would be nothing more than a sabbath.
It was just exhausting to have to monitor all the guys locked in the iron bars.
“But do the cadets who came from Alighieri this time know that fact?”
“Of course you wouldn’t know. I told the kids that I was just a regular thief… but that’s definitely not the case.”
The Pope’s troops are having a hard time with just one bandit group. Doesn’t it seem unnatural no matter how you look at it?
“Because they are members of Helheim, who were once notorious throughout the continent.”
* * * * *
It was predictable from the introduction of the main story that this was no ordinary prisoner transport. As is usually the case in episodes featuring this type of transport, there is always an attack.
And behind him stands the leader of the first platoon standing in the front row.
Gamur Brutus. The man who leads the dazzling army of knights and has a strong presence, is actually a sinner himself.
Because by the time he was done cleaning up these sinners, he had already been taken over by one of them.
Even the commander of the legion is helpless in the face of unexpected variables. The fact that the criminal he had to deal with was also a skilled person was also a factor in his defeat.
After all, the guy was once a senior member of the infamous Helheim organization.
Eventually, the soul of the man named Gamur Brutus was pushed to the back, and the soul of a sinner settled in his empty spot.
In other words, he is a knight commander in name only, but he is actually a psychopath who does not understand common sense. He is truly a man of two minds.
‘It’s strange to drag these criminals here in the first place.’
It would be simple to execute him on the spot, but why did you take the risk of escorting him to the Holy Land?
Does this make sense?
“Eww… why is it so cold even though the snowstorm has stopped?”
“Haha – It’s not ordinary, perhaps because it’s notorious for being the coldest place on the continent.”
“Should I take off my ring for a bit?”
It was so cold that I could still feel the cold even though I was armed with all kinds of thermal equipment.
So what would happen if I took off the ring Igrit is wearing now?
Even in the cold, Mary felt curious and touched the ring…
Swish!-
“Eww!! My… body…! My body!!”
“You idiot! Get back on your feet!”
Mary felt the bitter cold deeply.
There Ruska was getting nervous, but Mary’s hands were already frozen and she couldn’t move.
“Brrrrrrr… O, my hands are numb… I’m sorry… I think this is the end for me…”
Now even her mouth was frozen and she couldn’t speak properly. Mary deeply regretted taking it off for nothing.
“What do you mean it’s over? It’s over! Seriously!”
Unable to stand watching, Ruska wrapped her arms around Mary’s stiff body and put a ring on her hand.
Because of the difference in height between the two, it was a situation where they could easily be mistaken for sisters.
Mary looked up at Ruska’s face, who seemed cold on the outside but actually cared for her friend, and smiled brightly.
“Thank you! You are my eternal friend too!”
“Come on, don’t stick to me! It tickles.”
“Hehehe…”
Just as she had done to me, Mary nuzzled her face into Ruska’s arms, savoring the softness.
As they were cavorting, Jenny watched the carriage pulling the prisoners.
I approached Jenny and asked.
“Who do you think it is?”
“what?”
“You told me. There must be an author among them who controls werewolves.”
“…I’m not sure yet.”
It was Jenny who took on this mission, even though she knew it was quite dangerous.
The reason is that the sorcerer who controlled the lycanthrope that killed his mother may be here.
“But it would be a bit much to ask about each and every one, right?”
“That’s right. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get an easy answer just by asking. But there are some clues. According to eyewitness accounts, there are claw marks on the sorcerer’s back that look like they were scratched by an animal.”
“Then let’s take them off one by one…”
“Of course not!”
I had a burning desire to find my enemy, but I had no intention of crossing the line.
Even though it was just a passing remark, I reacted sensitively.
“There’s still a week left, so there’s no need to rush. Let’s take it slow.”
“okay…”
While Jenny was being comforted, one of the sinners looked over. It was Justa Margil, whose eyes had met mine before we set off.
It was still a sinister smile, and I wanted to rip its skull apart with Leviathan.
That pervert was giving me a look as if he was targeting me, which made me even angrier.
‘I want to eat it.’
I really wanted to poke my finger through his skull.
I wouldn’t be feeling this way if it weren’t for that damn long hair.
But even if it’s not now, the opportunity to punish that guy will come sooner or later. Until then, all you have to do is walk.
As we entered the forest, one of the knights turned his back on us and spoke.
“Are you having a hard time?”
“No, not at all. Are you okay?”
When the group leader, Trisha, asked each of us individually, we all simultaneously answered, “No.”
Since everyone else was a woman, my male voice was suppressed.
“I thought you’d be nervous since this is your first time on an official mission, but you surprisingly aren’t intimidated.”
“Don’t worry. I can guide you well because I’ve already done something similar in my first year.”
“Hahaha. That makes me feel relieved. Let’s do our best together, ladies.”
“Please take good care of us too.”
The conversation was ending warmly, but I was the only one who felt unnatural.
What just happened? Ladies?
I took a deep breath and fell into deep anguish at the fact that it included me as well.
* * * * *
As they entered a certain area of the forest, the priests stopped walking and sat down.
It’s already 9pm. We’ve been walking since noon, so we’re both getting cramps in our legs.
It takes about a week to walk from here to Kreuz. It’s impossible to walk that distance 24 hours a day unless you’re mechanically equipped.
Even now, walking is unavoidable as we cannot enter the warp gate.
Even if they have strengthened bodies blessed by God, they cannot overcome fatigue and hunger.
“You will only be provided with food for the next three days. After that, you will have to feed yourself, so keep that in mind.”
“thank you.”
Trisha shared with our group some bread and a cup of juice she had received from the priests.
It seems that they packed it before leaving Aramos Town. However, judging from the fact that they were only able to get three days’ worth, it seems that the town had its limits.
While the crew members were eating slowly and chatting among themselves, I quickly finished my meal and stood up from my seat.
“Radon, where are you?”
“Bathroom… no, I need to pee.”
“You have to go as far away as possible and fight!”
[Erosion rate decrease: -2]
[+200 Credits]
Actually, I didn’t even need to pee.
There is another reason why I left.
Because it’s time for Captain Gamur to contact someone to cause a mutiny among the convicts.
I went deep into the forest, damaging the overgrown trees.
When we arrived at the place where the snow was pouring down from the tree branches, there was a man wearing a black cloak over his head.
“Hey, Tosa-mul, why are you here all of a sudden? And what’s that?”
‘He’s going to do some shit from now on.’
The identity of that man is a member of the fanatic cult ‘Doomsday’ that Envyel belonged to.
Soon, we will contact the leader of Gamur and make a secret deal: a drug that will turn humans into monsters.
He’ll probably mix the medicine he got from that zealot with the bread and juice he just ate.
Then, the signs of monsterization will begin this morning. And with lycanthropy.
Among the sinners, there exists a sorcerer who controls lycanthropes.
With his powers, he will manipulate priests who have been transformed into wolves and disguise them as sinners.
And they plan to arrive in Kreuz pretending to be priests.
To kill the saints.
“Why is there a dark aura coming from that guy?”
‘Are you hungry? Then eat.’
“really?”
‘But I have to spit that black cloak out again.’
The fanatic was looking away, waiting for Gamur.
It was a good opportunity to assassinate him.
Fusuk!-
“Ugh!”
The fanatic vomited blood as he saw something coming out of his stomach.
The tail of the spirit that attacked from behind pierced his stomach, and he was swallowed by the spirit as he floated into the air.
It was so secret and perfect that not even a trace or a last word was left.
『Whew!』
Muto spat out the cloak he had eaten as I requested.
Thud thud-
When I heard the sound of snow falling, I hurriedly turned over my mask and turned Muto into a shadow, casting it back over my face.
Even though the color scheme was white, the guy’s ability as a shadow was still intact. This way, he could completely hide himself without having to use his main force.
And inside the pocket was a potion to transform into a monster.
Thud thud-
As the sound grew closer, it suddenly stopped. When I turned my head, there stood a pious man in the armor of a knight commander, Gamur.
Although it was a disguised form, its head, reminiscent of a lion, seemed to shine like the sun.
“Are you from Doomsday?”
The guy asked me a question using formal language. It was the moment when I was trying to answer naturally so as not to raise suspicion.
“Wait, vomit. Wouldn’t it be dangerous to reveal your voice here?”
‘what?’
“You and that guy are together now. Then he’ll be suspicious when he hears your voice without your cloak.”
If I just talk to him like this and send him away, he’ll be suspicious when I meet him in person later and talk to him. Is that something like that?
‘I see.’
“So I’ll say it for you. Even though I look like this, I can change my voice freely.”
‘You had that feature?’
“Just watch quietly.”
As expected, it seems like there are many functions that even I don’t know about since it’s a high-level lord. This time, I felt that Muto was quite useful.
But I’m the one typing the lines. I’m the one who’s going to say the lines now, and I’m going to convey them into Muto’s head.
Then a distorted voice came out of my face on its own.
“Are you the young master of Helheim? Your disguise is truly amazing.”
“Thank you for coming this difficult way.”
“I’m honored. This is a golden opportunity to put my medicine to practical use.”
The voice was quite sweet.
It was like I became a completely different person, so much so that the term voice changer didn’t sound awkward.
“But that’s unexpected. I never thought it would be a woman…”
“…?”
I was speechless immediately, because I felt a great sense of discomfort at the altered voice.
And then the circuits in my head snapped shut and only one thought came to mind.
‘This shit X’
How am I going to roast this fucking snake any time soon…
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
