The Villains I Taught Became Heroes

9 – Not a Monopoly – 2

The atmosphere in the tavern was not particularly pleasant either.

When I came before, there were quite a few people enjoying themselves, but now a gloomy atmosphere prevailed.

In this kind of atmosphere, even if you drink a lot, you won’t get drunk.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Wine, please.”

“Give me a glass of milk and a glass of whiskey.”

He talks as if he wants wine.

Sowol seemed to be displeased with my order, but she didn’t complain about drinking.

She just drank the milk that came with a dissatisfied expression.

As I spent some time with her like that, I grabbed the owner passing by my side.

Perhaps because I had seen him quite often, he smiled and sat down when he saw me.

“Innkeeper, the atmosphere is too depressing. Is it because of the missing persons incident?”

“Yes, that’s right. Well, the atmosphere has been even worse since there were stories about seeing ghosts a few days ago. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there are rumors that ghosts appear in the village every night and attack people.”

A ghost incident? Is this also related to socializing?

“Tell me more details.”

“My friend knows it well. He claims to have seen the ghost himself.”

The owner pointed to a man drinking with a blue, sullen expression.

Leaving Sowol behind, I went over there.

Surprised when I sat in front of him, he only let out a heavy sigh without showing any recognition of my face.

“Are you the master?”

“Do I look like one?”

“How could I not know the hero of Wolasan…”

“Oh, really? Then our conversation might speed up a bit. You say you saw a ghost?”

“Yes, that’s what happened… It was a few days ago. I was on my way home after drinking… There was something hazy on the dark road.”

Hazy.

Is it a ghost-type monster?

Ghost-type monsters are beings that come out of deep dungeons or ruins, so when regular people see them, they mistake them for ghosts…

Wait a minute. It doesn’t seem like a mistake, though. If it’s a ghost type, it’s a ghost, right?

“It pulled something out of a person who was lying on the ground and then looked straight at me. Those empty eyes were so terrifying…”

“Empty eyes, huh? Could it look like this? In the shape of a skull…”

I showed him a drawing of one of the ghost-type monsters I know, ‘Lace’.

After looking at it for a while, he shouted in surprise and nodded quickly.

“Yes! That’s it!”

“I see. This is Lace, a ghost-type monster. It’s not easy to spot.”

“A monster appeared in the territory? Then… is that true…?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, you know. It’s just a rumor going around in the back alleys. Absolutely. It’s not something I’m saying…”

“Okay, tell me.”

“There’s a rumor that the recent missing persons case… was the lord’s doing.”

Huh? The lord?

What did the lord do to make him want to make his own territory people go missing?

“The rumor says that the lord is using them as sacrifices to summon demons…”

Ah, that’s too outrageous.

Of course, summoning demons is not impossible in this game.

But demons are so expensive. Can they really be summoned by sacrificing just a few people?

By the way, the rumor that the lord sacrifices his own territory people…

It must be a rumor spread by the aristocrats.

Is he trying to deteriorate the public safety of the territory and establish the influence of the aristocrats here?

I ordered him a drink and returned to my seat.

As I was gone, So Wol silently stared at me while drinking another glass of milk.

“If you’re wondering what I talked about with that man…”

I summarized the information I heard earlier and explained it to So Wol, who looked puzzled.

She seemed to not understand it either.

“I’ve also heard of ghost-type monsters before. But they don’t appear in places with many people, right?”

So Wol’s words were correct.

In the mid-game of the Ghost series, monsters of this kind appear only in remote and deserted places, like ancient ruins.

Despite having good base stats, these creatures become a nuisance from the mid-game onward because they possess physical attack immunity skills, forcing parties to include at least one magic user.

Did such a creature really appear in a city with so many people before the game even started? No explanation could be offered other than someone messing with the game settings.

“And the lord attends the church service every week. To think such a person is involved in demon summoning…”

“The important thing is to create chaos. By spreading false rumors like this, they aim to worsen public safety, instill fear among the residents, and establish their influence within the territory. It’s a cunning move that’s easy to overlook.”

“Is that so? What should we do then?”

“Let’s start by resolving the ghost commotion. It seems to be related to social activities. Ghost-type monsters are more active at night, so let’s pass the time here until nightfall.”

I raised my hand after downing a glass of whiskey in one go.

“Give me another one here!”

I continued to indulge in drinks at the tavern until nightfall.

Leaving the delighted owner, who was pleased to have earned some money after a long time, behind, I exited the tavern with Sowol. The splendid moon illuminated the dark sky.

“Master, are you okay?”

“I’m not drunk.”

Right. I’m perfectly fine. Would I get drunk just from a few bottles of whiskey?

However, Sowol seemed concerned, clutching the hem of my robe tightly without any intention of letting go.

Oh my, my disciple. The thoughts of a master are truly dreadful.

“But could you let go a bit? It’s hard to walk like this.”

“Master, are you staggering?”

“Oh, this is just part of the preparation for using the Drunken Sword Style.”

“…But why are you using honorifics?”

Well, just playing around with a joke.

I patted Sowol’s head vigorously. The silky sensation under my hand felt delightful.

From Noble mtl dot com

“Oh, dear. You’re such a good disciple. I’ll give you another praise sticker for treating your master so well.”

I peeled off a praise sticker and stuck it on her cheek.

She seemed a bit embarrassed but didn’t resist, indicating that praise stickers were indeed excellent rewards.

“Oh, Master!”

That’s when I heard the voice I had heard earlier today.

Turning around, it was Ann.

Unlike before, when she was with the soldiers, this time she was alone.

However, seeing the figure still dressed in armor, it seemed they were patrolling alone.

“I didn’t expect to meet you again like this!”

“Yeah, it’s unexpected.”

I didn’t anticipate seeing you here again either.

“But… have you been drinking? How about taking a break, even if it’s in the guard office?”

“No, no, I’m fine…”

It was when she was about to decline her suggestion.

A disturbing sensation loomed from the alley.

“…This.”

Ann reached for the hilt of her sword at her waist.

As she anxiously gazed in that direction, the sound of something slithering approached.

“A ghoul?!”

An undead creature.

It was a monster created when a magic-wielding individual died and turned into an undead, stronger than zombies, considered a higher-tier monster.

Naturally, a type of monster unseen in the village.

“Oh, darn it… Master! Please step back!”

Drawing her sword, Ann rushed forward.

Blocking the ghoul’s attack with her shield on her left arm, she spun around and sliced at the creature.

However, the ghoul was a corpse, and inflicting proper damage with conventional slashing was not easy.

“Haargh!!”

Aware of this, Ann used her sword to restrain the creature while continuously attacking with her shield.

Right. It’s hard to cause damage to a ghoul through slashing or stabbing.

So, the usual tactic is to block its movements with attacks using shields or blunt weapons.

“You’re fighting well.”

“You seem experienced.”

It was around the time when she responded to So Wol’s murmurs.

Evading a sharp claw attack with a spin, Ann thrust the tip of her shield into the ghoul’s head.

*Thunk!*

It was a powerful strike.

As the ghoul staggered from the blow, she charged, ramming into it with her shoulder and knocked it down, then mounted on top, repeatedly striking it with her shield.

Anne looked at me as the struggling ghoul, pinned under her, finally had its head completely destroyed, rendering it immobile.

Her face was filled with pride.

If a knight from a local fief managed to capture a ghoul on his own, he deserved commendation, no doubt.

“Master! How was that?!”

“Excellent, but it’s not over yet.”

“Huh? Uh… Ahhh!!”

Behind the puzzled Anne, something hazy revealed itself.

Followed by a powerful attack.

She tried to block it with her shield, but the attack effortlessly passed through, slamming into Anne’s body.

“This, this is…”

A voice trembling with fear. It was quite different from the voice earlier.

Understandable.

The monster in front of her was a powerful creature that could be called a ghoul, the race.

“Oh… Aah…”

Did she realize she couldn’t win?

Fear crept into Anne’s expression.

Completely demoralized, she sat there, trembling.

This could be a big problem if left unattended.

“Aaahhh!!!”

With a eerie scream, I fired a magical blast towards the creature that seemed to be trying to finish it off.

As the race, struck by it, turned its empty gaze towards us, I smiled and said, “So-wol, want to give it a shot?”

Without hesitation, she walked forward in response to my question.

Oh, I like this daring attitude.

If she succeeds, I’ll have to give her a commendation sticker.