Chapter 125: Second Phase, Start!

Chapter 125: Second Phase, Start!

Not every noble demesne is the same, huh? House Helvass is literally a mansion with walls around it while Baron Teullons home is a castle.

While I wasnt an expert on the homes of nobles, I have experienced a few of them, or more specifically, three. House Helvass mansions near Carine Village, Firwood, and that one home that House Helvass Viscount neighbor. As you can see, I am an expert. No joke, of course.

Jokes aside, this was my first encounter with a nobles castle, and honestly, it fitted more with my image of how a noble would live outside a city or town. A defensive structure situated amid the wild, designed for the pure protection of both fief and home. Not only a bulwark for the nobles family, but also a symbol of conflict for his enemies.

It scratches another fantasy itch, you know. I was aware I couldve seen a lot of castles if I were to just tour around Europe; for example, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is super famous. But, well, that option is kinda impossible now. So, watching the lonely, grey castle towering over me from inside these snow-white covered woods instead was just great. Sure, Ive been saying that my fantasy itch has been scratched a lot, but can you blame me if I keep experiencing new stuff in this world?

Then, it kinda does peeve me that none of the people from this castle were doing exactly what I figured a noble should be doing: protecting their land and people. Ellaine always kept reiterating that nobles should serve as protectors of their lands honorary given to them by their masters, so I guess that impression must have been imprinted in my head. How funny that I was being influenced by Ellaine here.

Who goes there?

As my party was approaching the massive gates of Baron Teullons castle, a single soldier watching over the walls called out to us. He looked at my party for a moment before directing his eyes behind us to the gathering of Rashan villagers who followed us up here.

I greet you on this auspicious WindDay, Mister Soldier. Please, open the gates! I shouted in response, so he could hear me.

Huh? flabbergasted at my sudden remark, the soldier took a moment to recompose himself. This is the castle and demesne of Lord Baron Teullon! The gates will stay closed until orders are given to open them! Even the servant of the Goddess does not have the authority to order the opening of the gates!

Well, ok, they recognize me at least.

I shrugged and continued speaking, If you, Mister, cannot open up the gates, then I request you send for Captain Zik of Baron Teullons garrison.

Captain Zik? Well, hes-

Are you rejecting my request? I can understand why opening the gates might be too much, I dont wish to cause you any problems, but surely calling the captain of the army is the minimum courtesy you can afford. It is early in the morning on this winter day, and I have come here despite the cold. Will you send away a priestess of the Goddess when she wishes to speak?

My insistence seemed to have persuaded the soldier, who nodded his head and literally ran away as he asked me to be patient.

After he was gone, I heaved a deep sigh as I complained to the person next to me. Urgh, speaking like this is so annoying. It really doesnt suit me.

Hang on, Hestia. You are doing a fine impression as a noble. Just remember that we are doing this for the villagers. Saori, whom I was complaining to, gave me an encouraging pat on the back.

Yeah, I will. Straighten the back, chest out, and speak confidently while maintaining eye contact. Imitating Ellaine on this was the correct choice. I scratched my head with a wry smile as I remembered the image of Ellaine giving out orders to her servants and retainers. I then walked over to the village chief who was standing a bit further behind me with the other Rashan villagers. Mister Jorgen, how are you and the others faring?

Thank you, Lady Priestess. The cold isnt good for me, but Im pretty sure the others should be doing better than me and my wife, ha ha ha! the elderly village chief joyfully answered. However, is this really necessary? We can protect ourselves in the village, there is no need to get yourself in trouble for us, Lady Priestess. Even the Goddess wouldnt want you to do this much for us when youre about to head in a battle to protect our village.

Dont be like that, I bluntly denied his words. Didnt you hear what we said? The onnikai will lead another horde into the village and attack you while we are gone. Sure, we can get rid of this current horde, but the ruin is very deep. If we go to the bottom floor and some onnikai sneak past us and into the village, then can you really say that the guards are enough? You need to fight inside the castle with the soldiers, otherwise youll just be overwhelmed. This has nothing to do with Goddess Aurena.

To begin the second phase of this Quest, our first objective was to get the villagers to safety, or at least get them to an environment where the chances of surviving is the highest. With the possibility of onnikais sneaking out while our party fought in the depths of the ruin, leaving the villagers inside their village would be too risky. We learned about the existence of Baron Teullons castle when we overheard the conversation between the guard and army captain, so thats why were here.

Persuading the villagers themselves to move wasnt much of a challenge, as most see me as a priestess of the church of Aurena after my sermon. I feel like a pastor whos using their authority as a religious figure to move people purely through faith alone. Its certainly an experience, and its certainly good that it happened now.

A few of the villagers were reluctant to go, even with my word, but that quickly dissipated once I informed them that the onnikai wasnt interested in destroying their homes and belongings, but their cattle and lives. It was a weather the storm kinda moment for them. There were a few with some annoying reason that made them want to stay, but we handled it somewhat. I can calmly say that every single villager and guard was with us right now.

We waited for a while until Captain Zik appeared on the walls. Surprisingly, a man in a fine suit also showed himself.

Lady Priestess? Captain Zik said before noticing the village chief and Dan, the guard captain.

I hope the winds of Goddess Zephira have found you well on this beautiful WindDay, Captain Zik. I have but a simple request for you: Please, open the gates and allow the villagers from Rashan village to enter and stay inside Baron Teullons castle while my party enters the ruins and eliminates the problem plaguing your Lords fief, I stated in my noblest tone and conduct.

However, instead of Captain Zik responding, the man next to him moved forward and spoke, Ah, a grandiose WindDay to you too, Lady Priestess of the Church of the Goddess. I am Evalk, the seneschal of the Teullon Barony. While I admire you for showing so much concern for our dear serfs, as the seneschal of Lord Baron Teullon, I cannot allow the gates to be open.

Ahhh, so hes the seneschal. Well, this will speed things up nicely.

Ahh, the illustrious seneschal of Baron Teullon, it is a pleasure to meet you. This will expedite the process, I said with genuine joy at this welcomed surprise. Please, can you open the gates to let the villagers in? Our party will fulfill the Quest the moment they are safe.

He raised a brow, looked at me for a moment, before widening his smile. My Lady Priestess, I believe my voice is not powerful enough to deliver my words to you while this wall stands between us. Perhaps speaking over some tea will be more pleasant for you. However, my previous words still stand. I cannot open the gates.

He just called me deaf, huh? Hie, fair enough. I did just ignore what he said.

Placing my hand on my cheeks, I continued my current persona. You cannot? Oh, may I know why?

Why, my Lady Priestess, isnt it obvious? As the representative of Lord Baron Teullon in these lands, I cannot afford to risk his lordships home. I have heard a very clear report from Captain Zik, and news of the previous adventurer group has appeared, which makes me worry for my Lords land. As the seneschal, I must choose the correct choice to protect his possessions.

Oh, then what about the villagers? Isnt their safety important, too? Directing my hand behind me, I presented the mass of villagers standing before the castle walls. Their eyes bore through at the seneschal.

He acknowledged them for a second, but the next moment he began stroking his beard as if he wasnt affected by it. I heard the reports from the village chief about what you told everybody. A horde of these onnikais was inside the ruins, yes? Truly terrifying. I will make sure to send a few soldiers to reinforce the garrison of the village while your Ladyship fixes the problem at its roots. It sounds like a plan, no?

The seneschal looked so smug when he said that. He was about to say goodbye to me, but

Huh? Are you possibly deaf or just forgetful? The seneschal froze in place, his expression began to harden as his eye twitched for a split-second. Didnt I say that I will fulfill the Quest the moment the villagers are guaranteed their safety? Do you believe I would simply have brought the villagers to the castle in the first place without considering other options? Does Baron Teullon have so little care for his subjects, or are you the problem here, Seneschal?

Hmph! Impudent! the seneschal responded. How rude of you to think so little of my Lord, Lady Priestess! There is courtesy to be shown to a servant of the Goddess, but you are exceeding my patience! Lady Priestess, mind I remind you that you are an adventurer who has accepted our Lords Quest as a representative of the hunters guild? Why are you threatening me that you will not fulfill the Quest if we do not fulfill your demands? There is a limit to a Priestess authority, especially from a foreign one!

Sure, there is a limit to a priestess words. Im just a priestess now, and a foreigner to boot. It wouldnt make sense for my words to have the same authority that a clergyman from Firwood would have.

However, I am not just a priestess.

Saori, your turn.

With that simple command, Saori activated [Air Walk] and quickly ascended to eye level with Captain Zik and the Seneschal Evalk. She then pulled out a parchment hidden inside her jacket, rolled it open, and began reading from it.

With this official document signed by me, Marquess Lambhart Richard Sirius, I attest to the identity of the person holding it. Under my authority as the Lord of Firwood and an advisor to Lord Duke Isaac Albreaus Greenveil, I hereby grant full ownership of this document to Hestia Atsuko. Under the authority given to me by Lord Duke Isaac Albreaus Greenveil and His Royal Majesty, King Artorias the noble, Hestia Atsuko, from the Dragonewt Country, Loatryx, will be granted the privilege of a temporary Greifnoble of the Kingdom of Artorias while she remains in the Duchy of Greenveil and the lands of His Royal Majesty, The King. This magic contract was signed under the scrutiny of all involved Lords and the eyes of the Goddess!

A thundering roar chased behind me as bellowing footsteps became clearer and clearer. Looking behind me, a horde of zombies were hot on my tail while the onnikai beast gave chase by contorting its body to fit through the hallways. Weirdly, the garms didnt chase me.

Following the path I took to descend down, I ascended through the ruins in a mad rush without worrying about anything else. The onnikai beast would occasionally shoot out black projectiles or other attacks to slow me down, but using my spells to protect myself was easy enough with my defensive skills warning me about the attacks.

After a while, I exited the ruins while the onnikai beast kept screaming and screaming non-stop. Following the plan, I led the onnikai beast away from the ruins and into the forest. Meanwhile, music began to play.

Loud electric violins and guitars began playing, accompanying me and the onnikai horde in our chase. Once the drums began to play, I felt like I was attending an electronicore bands concert, as the heavy sounds of the percussion fused with the shrill electric music.

.

In my purgatory, I make the devil cry

In Hellfire

All you hear are his screams, begging to be released

Its Music

.

A blue mist exited my body and two long, crimson scaled wings spread. The music continued playing as I entered even deeper into the woods. It had to be as far away as the ruins as possible.

Once enough distance was made, I took off my party bracelet and amulet of Aurena and put them inside my storage. I stopped and my voice resounded through the woods once again.

I descend on Earth with Wings of Death!

The surrounding trees burst into flames. No plant, no stone, no insect was left untouched as the whole woods turned into a sea of fire with the snap of my finger, scorching this place like hell on Earth. A wall of flames marked the edge of this purgatory, incinerating anything attempting to escape outside this arena.

[Music Resonation (Moderate)] [Stage Fever (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

.

A Storm of Fury

Creating Ash and Dust

I am the Incarnation of the Sun

I shine so brightly, I bring your death

My lineage belongs to the God of Dragons!

.

Blue mist once again covered me, but this time, it blocked my whole body like a veil. My limbs grew larger, my muscles began to expand, and my bone spikes erupted from my body. My whole body wasnt just being armored with scales, but the scales grew to a size that could serve any human as a decent small shield.

Once the mana mist disappeared, my eyes locked with the onnikai beasts. A low rumbling could be heard exiting from my mouth, while the ground beneath me was crushed under my weight.

I am a dragon.

[So, how do you like the present? I made sure to find a proper stage for our battle and music to make this a legendary encounter. You know, I havent gone wild for a looooong time!]

Fire appeared from the ground, not due to my scale-dust, but through the power of my second [Idol] song [Dragon Fire]. It was the first damage based song that I created and it had the special ability to not only imprison anybody to wander inside my arena but also independently produce flames to attack my enemies. It was a boss stage creating song.

[Well be spending some time together, so hopefully youve become stronger as I told you to be! You will receive the privilege to fight me in my true form!]

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, maaaanaaaaaa! Youuuu! Eneeeeemyyyy! Kiiillllll!

Suddenly, the onnikai beast form changed once again. Its head grew in size as a purple-black aura began forming around its body before it traveled to the front of its mouth. [Danger Perception] and [Foresight] were warning me like crazy as they told me to dodge the attacks at all cost. In my dragon form, my [Draconic Barrier] was supported with my higher Vitality and Wisdom stat, so tanking a couple attacks was the easiest in my true form, so hearing my skills tell me I cant take this attack was a bit frightening.

I have come this far by listening to my instincts and skills, so I didnt even hesitate the use pounce to the side like a lion. My dragon body looked pretty cumbersome with all my spikes and carapace making me look like a tank, but I still had an agile, serpent-like body designed to stay mobile since my days as a [Young Spark Fire Dragon].

After dodging, the onnikai beast released a giant ball from its mouth, shooting and landing at the location where I used to stand. A massive black explosion erupted from the spot, scorching the location in a liliac light and leaving a crater behind. It then looked at me for a moment, changed its body back to a centaur but keeping its eldritch-like head with spikes as teeth.

Ok, ok, you got stronger. Definitely creepier, though.

With the noon sun glaring down on me, I activated [Purple Flash] and quick-cast [Symphony des Feuergottes] as I think using my whole power would be the best choice now. A massive red magic circle appeared in the sky and a rain of fire poured down onto me for a second, erasing a massive amount of onnikai zombies that got locked inside the arena while they were chasing me.

[Symphonie des Feuergottes Movement (Allegro)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Flames began surrounding me like moths attracted to light, rotating around my body in a defensive formation. The music of [Dragon Fire] was booming through without any signs of stopping, accompanying this battle like inside a video game.

Scales of steel, claws of destruction

The Dragon Fire will scorch the lands

The Idol will never fall

She will bring Absolution!

My voice was being accurately replayed through [Aerokinesis], making this whole song feel like battle music. It empowered me.

[Welcome to my stage. Lets rock n roll.]