Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 150

Chapter 150. The Repeater (2)

'Yulian has been imprisoned.'

Upon hearing this news, Felkhor gazed up at the walls of North Pole with an incredulous expression.

'Why would that fellow...?'

Having just dealt with the demons at the peak of the Blizzard Forest, the news had left Felkhor feeling dizzy.

The reason he was at this location was due to a strict order from Bishop Pintel.

- 'Escort Sir Yulian.'

It was widely known among those affiliated with the Dawn Society that he had an abnormal loyalty to Yulian.

Therefore, he knew that disobeying this order would lead to severe punishment.

- 'Felkhor, if any harm befalls his noble personage, I won't stand idly by.'

That crazy bishop would surely take responsibility for his words.

Recalling Pintel's grim expression, Felkhor decided to find a way to somehow get Yulian out.

A visitor came to see him in the midst of this.

***

"Kuheum."

In truth, the girl in front of him made Felkhor uncomfortable.

In the past, Rinne belonged to 'Follower', an organization formed by the 'Sword Saint' Hayden Reich to oppose the Dawn Society.

Now, with the 'Sword Saint' having defected to the Holy Kingdom, its influence might not be as strong as before, but Rinne was still part of 'Follower'.

'An enemy of the Dawn Society.'

At the same time, an enemy of Yulian.

"How did you find me?"

Could it be that she knew he was part of the 'Dawn Society'?

It's said that a thief's legs fall asleep at their own guilt.

Felkhor could only think that was the reason she, as a member of 'Follower', had come to find him.

"It wasn't too difficult."

"Why is that?"

"You were the only one with your head uncovered in this cold weather."

What kind of wretch was this?

Why does everyone have to talk about my head whenever we meet? Is that it?

Cursing internally, in that moment, Rinne placed something on the table.

Human beings, you know...

"Hmm? This is... a North Pole soldier's uniform."

It was the kind of clothing any soldier serving on the Northern Front would wear until it was near falling apart.

Bringing this, Rinne spoke in a low voice, as if not wanting anyone to overhear.

"It's a message from Sir Yulian. Wear this and blend into the North Pole wall."

'Ugh.'

Felkhor inwardly grimaced.

The desire to quickly return to the capital was overwhelming, yet it seemed tasks kept piling up.

Even with those feelings.

'Returning alone would probably cause even bigger trouble.'

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Felkhor eventually embraced the clothes Rinne handed him.

"Damn it..."

But still... Even if it's an about-to-be-discarded military uniform, is it okay to take military supplies so recklessly? Is it fine because it's just clothes?

Such questions arose.

Moreover, what connection did she have with Yulian to, as a member of 'Follower', follow his words?

However, the curiosity wasn't enough to directly ask her about it.

Moreover, as for his affiliation with the Dawn Society...

'As long as it's not revealed.'

Felkhor's priority was returning to the capital.

He didn't expect any help from old, cumbersome questions on that matter.

'I still don't understand why he wants me to blend into the North Pole wall.'

Even so, following orders was second nature.

He is the most prominent bishop, and since Felkhor was merely a monsignor, defiance was not an option.

"But..."

Rinne squinted her eyes, scrutinizing Felkhor.

"Haven't we... met somewhere before?"

Even though Felkhor was startled, he responded with calm composure.

Scratching his head, he said,

"If you can't remember, doesn't that mean it's our first meeting?"

***

Entering the heavily-guarded 'North Pole wall' wasn't too difficult.

A place always struggling with a shortage of manpower.

Moreover, recent attacks by the 'One-Armed Demon' and 'Barbarian Invaders' exacerbated this shortage, so much so that it would not be a stretch to say that the wall's security was nearly non-existent.

'What am I supposed to do here?'

Safely within the 'North Pole wall,' Felkhor began to question why Yulian had ordered him to infiltrate this place.

He had dealt with both the barbarians and the One-Armed Demon.

The remaining demons had fled, and any stragglers he encountered on the way had already been dealt with.

As he tilted his head, Felkhor let out a sigh.

'There must be a reason for this.'

Perhaps there was a way to secretly extract Yulian from imprisonment or maybe open the gates and escape together.

Something to solve the situation.

'First... I need to get acquainted with the geography of this place.'

Though not entirely unfamiliar with 'North Pole', as it had been a long time ago, it was necessary to reacquaint himself with the area.

With that in mind, Felkhor wandered around.

'The security isn't tight, so perhaps they wouldn't notice if I secretly get Sir Yulian out?'

While such thoughts crossed his mind.

"You there, what are you doing here?"

Some soldiers wearing the 'North Pole wall' uniform approached, perhaps having sensed something suspicious about him.

Gulp.

Swallowing dryly, Felkhor slowly turned his head to face the soldiers.

"... Who are you? I've never seen you before."

"Indeed."

This doesn't feel good.

As Felkhor quickly brainstormed ways to escape his current predicament.

"Oh, now that you mention it, wasn't there support sent from the 3rd Subjugation Unit? Is he one of them?"

The 3rd Subjugation Unit?

"No way, if they were going to send support, wouldn't they have come with the leader all at once, rather than alone?"

Of course!

Felkhor decided to exploit this flaw in their logic.

"No, I am indeed from the 3rd Subjugation Unit."

"What?"

"See, I told you so."

"Then why are you here alone?"

Think, Felkhor, think.

As he scrambled to organize his thoughts internally, Felkhor recalled something Yulian had told him in the deserters' village.

"... That quartermaster's food is so horrible..."

Damn! I've screwed up.

In truth... it's the only thing he could think of. It was the only thing he remembered.

'What to do now? If they find out I've infiltrated, it'll cause an uproar.'

"Oh... right, that old coot. He can't even make decent food but constantly babbles about pointless philosophy."

'Hmm?'

Surprisingly, his earlier words seemed to have resonated.

"Is it really that bad?"

"It's nothing short of swill. Moreover, he puts pineapple on every type of bread."

"Every bread?"

"Yes, even in the soup. It makes you want to throttle him."

As the soldier rattled on excitedly, he glanced at Felkhor.

"In any case, welcome to the North Pole wall."

"Since this place is as crappy as it gets, the food is at least guaranteed to be halfway decent."

"Want me to show you the way to the dining hall?"

One of the three soldiers stepped forward and began leading the way.

"Hey, just show him around and come back!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not goofing off, you know."

Felkhor subconsciously followed him.

'... That was close.'

It was quite a decent improvisation. Remembering Yulian's words in that situation.

'See, I've completely fooled the North Pole soldiers.'

With those thoughts, he admired his quick thinking.

"Sir Felkhor, what brings you to the North Pole wall?"

The previously animated soldier now addressed him with a calm tone.

"Huh?"

Had he mentioned his name?

As he felt a sense of déjà vu, Felkhor's mind raced.

"Could it be... are you associated with the Dawn Society?"

"Yes, that is correct."

Felkhor let out a breath of relief upon seeing the soldier nod his head.

'Well...'

How could they be this easily fooled just by saying I came from the 3rd Subjugation Unit?

"Why, you ask? Sir Yulian instructed me."

"Did Sir Yulian really say so?"

As Felkhor nodded, the soldier paused in thought for a moment.

"That makes sense. It seems Sir Yulian has accurately assessed the current atmosphere of the North Pole wall."

"What do you mean?"

Meeting Felkhor's gaze, the soldier replied.

"Sir Yulian seems to have considered not just breaking out of prison but also taking control of the North Pole wall."

***

"So, you're saying you fought alongside Sir Yulian during his service in the north?"

Felkhor effortlessly blended into the unit after infiltrating the North Pole wall.

While the introduction by another soldier of the Dawn Society certainly helped, a bigger factor was his association with 'Yulian'.

Given the reputation he gained from his deeds on the Northern Front, Yulian had become a legend of sorts.

Recent events, such as the 'One-Armed Demon's' attack, only heightened his fame, making Yulian an idolized figure among soldiers, overshadowing their interest in any derogatory monikers.

Unlike the Wedge Knights who barely fought, the soldiers remembered him as the hero who led them at the frontlines against the barbarians and demons.

"Yeah, see this scar on my eye?"

"Uh, hmm."

"This scar is from fighting with Sir Yulian, I tell you."

"Wow..."

The other soldiers gasped at Felkhor's words.

Though he felt a twinge of guilt at their admiring thumbs-up.

'... I only spoke the truth.'

Comforting himself, he eased his conscience.

The scar on his eye did originate from a battle with Yulian after all.

Though the fact he got beaten to a pulp is a secret.

"But why was Sir Yulian imprisoned?"

"They say he entered the wall without proper travel documents, as I heard it?"

"Thrown in jail over such a trivial matter? Shouldn't he have been sent to North Watch instead?"

"... You fool, can't you tell?"

Curious soldiers spat curses at each other.

"His Highness the Third Prince couldn't stand the emergence of another hero not himself, obviously."

"Does it affect the succession to the throne?"

"Naturally. When returning to the capital, he must be the hero representing the Northern Front! If Sir Yulian seems poised to take that spot, they must find a reason to lock him up!"

Distrust towards its leaders like 'Kaldrach' and the Wedge Knights brewing among the soldiers rose unabated.

"Damn, like our sun as always."

"Damn bastard, only caring for the Wedge Knights and pushing the rest of us aside, huh?"

"Aren't we soldiers defending this wall too? Why do we have to be discriminated against with that 'Wedge Knights' title?"

Accumulated dissatisfaction building to a peak over time.

By establishing his private army of 'Wedge Knights', favoritism became apparent among soldiers of equal standing.

The discontent among North Pole's soldiers already piled high.

"What are we soldiers defending this wall fighting for?"

Picking at this scab.

Felkhor started scratching it.

"What are we protecting this place for? Just more discrimination?"

Having once served on the Northern Front and it being near his hometown, he precisely targeted their grievances.

"Even before His Highness the Third Prince got here! Without the 'Wedge Knights', the North Pole wall functioned well, didn't it?"

"Right, right!"

Soldiers nodded in agreement with Felkhor's words.

"Then why did His Highness Kaldrach create the 'Wedge Knights'?"

"Of course, so he can easily control the soldiers of the North!"

Though he knew little, Felkhor confidently spouted his theory as if it were factual.

"By creating non-existent ranks, those unintentionally elevated would police those below them, and any grievances would result in internal strife!"

Thus establishing a hierarchy wherein Kaldrach only needed the top predators to obey.

Whether his conjecture was correct or erroneous mattered little.

What mattered was inciting the soldiers of the 'North Pole wall' to release the hero they'd begun to idolize: 'Yulian'.

"But Sir Yulian, disregarding rank, treated all soldiers equally! Upon hearing of the danger at North Pole wall, he traveled and succeeded in its defense!"

Instilling in the soldiers' minds that it was unjust for him to be imprisoned.

"Does it make sense? For a man who's created confusion with ranks not needed at North Pole wall to roam free when the one who sacrificed for our safety is imprisoned?"

"It's wrong!"

"Of course, it's wrong! Sir Yulian should be freed from captivity at once!"

Like a wildfire across a dry field, soldiers' grievances grew louder, and their reverence for 'Yulian' solidified further.

"Freedom to Sir Yulian!"

"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"

Watching this growing wave of ideology unfold, Felkhor was struck with awe.

'Uh... well... Sending me here was the right move, right?'

Initially questioning his mission, this spontaneous rally of soldiers turned Felkhor's uncertainty into resolve.

'It has to be correct... Sir Yulian ordered it after all.'

Clacky's Corner:

LOL.