Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings - Chapter 7 - Encounter

Chapter 7: Encounter

In the early morning, I led several ships to Rougvelt.

The sails of the ships bore the crescent moon crest of the Lightless family, which devours the sun.

Before reaching Rougvelt, there were several attacks by sea monsters.

Even though they were called sea monsters, they were nothing more than small fry.

They were sliced into sashimi by Carlos before I even had the time to cast a spell.

The closer we got to Rougvelt, the more frequent the attacks became.

On the ships following behind, Clinton’s private soldiers were fighting back, but by the time we reached Rougvelt, they seemed quite exhausted.

Despite only a few consecutive battles, they looked really worn out.

Perhaps they are not accustomed to fighting monsters, or their training is lacking.

Even though they seemed quite skilled in plundering.

The main event is yet to come, and I dread what lies ahead.

The sea demon Straff had the ability to spawn a large number of octopus-like creatures, minions of Straff.

In the story, the protagonist’s forces mainly dealt with the countless octopus monsters that swarmed them, while simultaneously targeting the main body, Straff, with artillery fire, resulting in victory.

The recent increase in aggressiveness and mass spawning of sea monsters in Rougvelt is probably due to these minions of Straff.

I intended for the private soldiers I had Clinton prepare to deal with these minions, but surprisingly, they seem really useless.

Well, as long as Carlos and I are here, dealing with the minions should not be a problem.

If there’s anything that bothers me, it’s the fact that I haven’t seen any of Straff’s minions among the monsters attacking us since earlier.

The types of monsters vary, including Mermen covered in scales, Swordfish with sharp sword-like heads, and even giant Sea Serpents.

According to the sailors, these monsters are encountered occasionally during voyages, but being attacked at this frequency is unheard of.

And the behavior of the attacking monsters is excessively aggressive, clearly indicating that they have become more ferocious.

In the sea demon Straff battle in the story, the monsters that appeared in large numbers in the sea were minions of Straff in the form of octopus-like creatures and not normal sea monsters.

Normal sea monsters were not becoming more aggressive.

“Hmm…”

What could be the difference from the story?

Or could this be caused by something other than the sea demon Straff, an entirely different factor affecting the sea?

While feeling a slight unease, the ship continued on and reached Rougvelt.

By the way, Clinton is on one of the ships following behind.

I conveyed via telepathy that only Carlos and I would disembark at Rougvelt and instructed him to stay on the ship.

If I let Clinton off here, there might be a riot in the village again.

Accompanied by Carlos, I disembarked from the ship.

The first person to rush over was a stern-looking man with a cross-shaped scar on his forehead, the head of the sailors, Greg.

“Hey, young noble!? W-What in the world is this…?”

He was holding a spear in his hand.

Well, if several ships come bearing the crest of a noble family, it’s only natural to be cautious.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve come to exterminate the monsters.”

“What!? D-Did you come to exterminate the monsters…!?”

Greg was astonished as he looked at the ship.

“Expect intense fighting. There’s a danger of damage reaching this far. Evacuate the villagers.”

“W-What!? Is that true?! Understood, I’ll go do it right away—”

Just as Greg was about to turn around, a wooden bowl flew towards me.

The bowl was swatted away by Carlos, who was standing behind me, and fell into the sea.

Looking at where the bowl came from, there was a tough-looking boy with a bandana tied around his head.

He looked about 14 or 15 years old.

He stared at me with hostility.

Carlos narrowed his eyes and reached for his sword, but I stopped him.

Rougvelt is a village of uncouth barbarians; reacting to every little thing will waste time.

When Greg saw the boy, he widened his eyes and yelled.

“Fol! What the hell are you doing!? This monk is a benefactor of Rougvelt!”

Calling me a monk and addressing me, a noble, like this, is disrespectful.

“Fool, why do you trust what the noble says? What evacuation? You’re just planning to loot the village while it’s unguarded, aren’t you!?”

“Don’t say stupid things, Fol! This monk is different from Clinton’s men!”

Their vulgar argument is like a brawl between monkeys.

By the way, Clinton is on that ship over there.

It’s going to be troublesome if they knew, but I won’t mention it for now.

As I watched in disbelief, Fol suddenly raised a wooden stick from somewhere and kicked the ground.

The next moment, he was in front of me.

“…Huh?”

“Don’t ignore me!”

Suddenly taken aback by the unexpected action, I was mercilessly attacked by Fol with the stick.

However, Carlos intercepted it with his rapier.

“Tch.”

Fol clicked his tongue.

A brief standoff between Fol and Carlos ensued, with me in between.

Interrupting them was Greg.

“What are you doing!!”

“Guh!?!”

With a shout, Greg kicked Fol in the side, and Fol fell into the sea in an arc.

Fol surfaced from the sea, still yelling.

Normally, striking a noble is unacceptable.

Normally, I would be the one to execute him, but I found out yesterday that the majority of the residents of Rougvelt are uncommunicative beasts.

Although it’s frustrating to deal with fellow humans like this, it’s unavoidable when dealing with dumb animals that can’t communicate.

Even though they’re wild monkeys, making mistakes is due to their low intelligence.

However, no matter how much of a monkey they are, Fol’s movements were too fast to follow with the eye.

Even though they don’t have magical powers as commoners, are they physically skilled?

Indeed, they should be entrusted with monster extermination.

“Monk! I’m really sorry! What should I do to apologize…!”

I generously forgive Greg, who bows his head.

“It’s fine. I don’t expect you to have any manners towards nobles at this point.”

“No, it’s a problem beyond manners. Fol is usually not the type to pick fights with everyone like this…”

“That’s quite a hostility. We’ve never met before. Is it because I’m a noble?”

“A little while ago, Fol’s childhood friend was abducted by Clinton’s private soldiers. Although he tried to save her… since then, he’s been resentful towards nobles. It’s an unreasonable request, but please don’t think badly of him.”

“I see.”

Well, it’s a common story.

I’m not particularly interested though.

“By the way, Greg, are all those young men who are exterminating monsters as strong as that kid?”

Since Clinton’s private soldiers seem surprisingly useless.

Fol’s physical abilities are remarkable.

If they seem useful, I’d like to bring them along.

“Fol is exceptional, but the others are also skilled. If you’re okay with it, take them with you. They’ll be of great help.”

He’s quick to agree.

“But will they follow orders? Even if they’re skilled,

They don’t seem like they’ll follow orders after that kind of confrontation…

Based on Fol’s behavior earlier, he doesn’t seem like he’ll follow orders.

If the others are the same, bringing them along will only be a hindrance.

“That’s not a problem. The others don’t have any ill feelings towards you. After all, you saved Lilia-chan.”

Lilia? …Oh, the innkeeper’s daughter.

“Wait a moment. I’ll call them now.”

Saying that, Greg returned to the village and came back with a group of strong men.

There were about ten of them, all slightly thin, perhaps due to malnutrition, but they were all taller and sturdier than Fol.

Fol was said to be exceptional, but are these guys really weaker than Fol?

The reactions of the men when they saw me were varied, but all relatively friendly.

“Oh, so you’re the noble who saved Lilia-chan!”

“You’re smaller than I thought!”

“We heard you wiped out the soldiers, so we thought you’d be some big guy!”

As always, they have no sense of delicacy. 

What kind of environment breeds such unintelligent, monkey-like humans?

It’s hopeless, being here gives me a headache.

“Hey! That’s a noble, you know!? What are you chatting with them for!”

Fol, crawling out of the sea, approached while yelling.

Ah, another headache.

“Shut up for a moment!”

And with that, Greg’s punch landed on Fol with all his might.

Fol, holding his head in tears, and the men laughing at him.

“Enough with the farce. We’re here to talk about monster extermination.”

At my words, Greg and the men tightened their faces.

“From now on, we’ll lead a fleet to begin the extermination of sea monsters. If successful, the frequent attacks should lessen, and fishing will return to normal.”

The men let out impressed sounds.

“…But, the soldiers we brought unexpectedly turned out to be useless. I want to borrow your hands, soldiers accustomed to battles at sea.”

Well, it’s not like we need their help to eradicate the monsters, but having more hands makes it easier.

There’s a possibility of damage occurring, but it doesn’t matter how many commoners die.

Either way, it doesn’t matter, but the men’s reactions are positive.

“It’s decided!”

“It’s our problem in Rougvelt.”

“If we leave it all to these kids, we’ll be done for as men!”

Among the enthusiastic men, a particularly large man stepped forward.

A stern face with a cross-shaped scar on his cheek.

He looks like Greg, his son perhaps?

“Of course, we’ll go. Rather, let us help, we’ll surely be useful. These seas are our backyard.”

The big man reached out his hand as if seeking a handshake.

I didn’t shake his hand, instead looking him straight in the eye.

“Are you also Greg’s son? You’re quite disrespectful for not even introducing yourself.”

“Oops, sorry, I’m just a country bumpkin. I’m Log, the eldest son of the chief Greg.”

He really is Greg’s son.

Even down to the cliché, it’s tiresome.

There’s no need to mimic an ugly cross-shaped scar.

“Stand up immediately. If you’re coming, get on the ship. Log, you come with me.”

As I tried to take Log onto the ship, Fol, who had been restrained by Greg, continued to yell.

“Wait! A noble doing monster extermination for commoners? I can’t believe it, what’s the real motive!? What do you gain from doing such a thing!?”

…An annoying commoner.

As I watched him with annoyance, Log bowed his head.

“Oh, sorry for my incompetent brother.”

Ah right, so Log is Greg’s son, making Fol his brother.

“It’s fine. I also have an incompetent brother.”

Unlike me, who lives in a separate mansion, my younger brother, still only 10 years old, lives with our parents in the main mansion.

His magical ability is less than half of mine, a very incompetent brother.

Come to think of it, in the story, after I was killed, my brother became the successor of the Lightless family.

And believe it or not, he ended up cooperating with the protagonist’s forces.

With someone like that as the successor, there’s no future for the Lightless family.

For the sake of the Lightless family, I should be the one to succeed.

“My lord, you’ve grown up…”

Carlos muttered that deeply.

Is it because I spared the yelling commoner without executing him?

Hmph, I’m not so impatient as to kill an ignorant monkey.

But regardless of my intentions, Fol didn’t stop yelling.

“Hey, what are you ignoring! You! You spoiled noble brat with a smug face! You idiot! Shorty!”

…Huh?

“You little brat…? Wait, hold on, this won’t do…!”

“Y-You baldy!?”

I approached Fol, who was being restrained by Greg, without a word and grabbed him by the collar.

Although Carlos tried to stop me, I have had enough.

Fol, surprised by my sudden action, and the crowd in a commotion, I leaned in close to Fol’s face.

“Listen, I’m only 12, that’s why I’m short. Don’t get cocky just because you’re a bit taller than me, you commoner.”

Although unintentionally, a high density of magic overflowed from my body, but Fol, who should have been directly exposed to it, remained calm.

“Hah, you finally noticed me. I thought you noble brats don’t see commoners like me.”

Fol smirked provocatively.

Is he seeking attention? He’s an irredeemable scumbag.

I formed a large dark ball in my hand.

“It seems like you want to die.”

“You finally showed your true colors. Nobles really are scum.”

“You’re the one provoking me.”

“You’re always doing shitty things even when provoked.”

“I see. Die.”

As I was about to blow Fol’s head off, Carlos came and restrained me.

“—Please stop! In that position, you’ll involve others!”

Greg, restraining Fol, looked at me with a pale face.

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue and dispelled the magic.

Greg breathed a sigh of relief, and Fol laughed.

“What, are you scared? Even though you’re a noble, you’re just a kid.”

“Shut up, you!”

Greg yelled at Fol.

Log, on the other hand, punched Fol aggressively.

Tears welled up in Fol’s eyes.

…Damn brat.

I asked Carlos, who had been restraining me all this time, to let go.

“No.”

“Stop using magic.”

“…Understood.”

Carlos released me easily.

I glared at Fol.

“Hey kid. Whatever grudge you have against nobles, whatever background you have, I don’t care. I’m not even interested.”

“What did you say! You’re the ones—”

“I don’t care. Don’t take out your unreasonable grievances on others. I’m here to save your village, so don’t get in my way.”

“…I don’t trust you. What’s in it for you to do something like this!?”

I let out a deep sigh.

“…It’s pointless to say this to an uneducated monkey like you, but I’ll say it anyway. Listen, the activation of sea monsters will not only affect Rougvelt. If left alone, not only fishing, but also commercial ships crossing the sea will be attacked. If that happens, the economic impact on the Lightless territory will be immeasurable. No, the damage won’t be limited to the Lightless territory, it could affect the entire kingdom. If monsters land, there will also be human casualties. It should be obvious if you think about it. It’s not about trust or anything like that, it’s not about you commoners.”

“…?”

As I spoke forcefully, Fol tilted his head with a confused look.

…No, he probably doesn’t even understand half of it.

This is why I hate ignorant fools who pick fights even though they don’t understand the consequences of their actions.

I let out a sigh and summarized the story for this monkey to understand.

“This is not about gains or losses, it’s about interests. If we leave monsters alone, the Lightless territory will suffer. Monster extermination is not for you. It’s for the Lightless territory—thus, a duty for me. Don’t misunderstand, it’s not for you commoners.”

After saying that, Fol turned his face away in frustration.

“…I don’t like the last part about commoners, but you’re saying you’re doing monster extermination for yourself, not for us.”

“…If you understand, shut up.”

With that, I boarded the ship.

Following behind me, Log, looking uncomfortable, and the men, started boarding the ship one after another.

Carlos, following behind me, wiped his sweat with a handkerchief.

“You showed great patience. I was really worried you might execute that young man on the spot.”

Ah, I really was going to kill him this time.

But if I killed Greg along with him, it might look like a hostility towards Rougvelt itself.

That would be too much trouble.

But was there really someone like Fol in the Rougvelt in the story?

With such a strong personality and skillful physical prowess, he would have participated in the Straf sea monster battle, wouldn’t he?

Thinking back, there was no kid like Fol.

Or perhaps, he would die within the next three years, or leave Rougvelt due to some circumstances.

But Fol? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere…

While thinking about that, as I and the men boarded the ship, a light footstep echoed from the pier.

Turning my gaze towards the sound, a figure jumped up from the pier.

The figure landed in the center of the deck, sitting down comfortably.

It was Fol.

“If monster extermination is real, I’m going too. I can’t rely on just you guys.”

Throwing his favorite cutlass on his waist to the floor, Fol began to relax in place.

Although I had various thoughts about his incredible jumping ability and athletic ability, it was more irritating than anything else.

I pointed at Rougvelt and glared at Fol.

“Get off.”

“No way. You said it yourself, it’s about interests, right?”

“Don’t use the words you just learned as if you understand the current situation, you monkey.”

“Who are you calling a monkey!? You’re the one who’s short! Shorty!”

“…I’m going to kill you.”

I grabbed Fol.

And thus, a scuffle broke out on the deck between me and Fol, with Carlos and the men all joining in to stop us, Log presenting Fol’s strengths and useful points in a presentation, and also Log delivering a powerful punch to Fol after doing so.

Greg stayed in the village, directing the residents to evacuate.

Why didn’t he keep Fol under control, that useless person.

And so, with all this commotion, the unforgettable voyage began.