Chapter 21 – Snake Den (3)

It was a rather pleasant, low-pitched voice. However, Veloc and Adel immediately raised their vigilance.

For it was a situation where they would have no right to complain even if that door opened right now and a rain of arrows poured down.

Adel raised a triangular shield, and Veloc also gripped his greatsword tightly using a broken table as a shield.

From outside, Sam’s voice was heard once again.

“I did not bring any soldiers with me, Sir. I came alone.”

Would they believe those words at face value?

Adel looked at Veloc.

At that look asking what he would do, Veloc nodded to signify leaving it to him.

“Enter for now. Know that if you play any tricks, I will smash your head.”

“I am entering now. D-Don’t shoot.”

Creak—

The door opened, and a man with slit eyes and a slightly plump body entered. Sam had come in.

The two took their stances, but soon relaxed.

As if his words were true, there was no such thing as armed soldiers attacking from behind or arrows flying.

Rather, Sam was startled.

“H-Hieeeek. Surrender, I surrender.”

Two knights with their eyes gleaming bloodthirstily in a space faintly lit only by candlelight.

Their comrades, dead for quite some time, floating with their skin turning purple beyond pale.

If there was anyone who could suddenly laugh upon seeing such a sight, they were a properly crazy bastard.

Of course, Sam was exactly that kind of crazy bastard.

For as the Serpent Lord’s exclusive chef, he chopped up and randomly killed living people, including Amela.

However, he could not show that openly. Because his Lord, no, master, had given a command.

‘He said he wanted to have a conversation.’

Rather than being angry at the young knight who chopped up seven of his subordinates in an instant, the master felt a liking toward him.

For he coveted the man’s overwhelming military power and body. So he sent him.

To bring him as politely as possible. The reason he took this task was simple.

Among the bandit-like subordinates of the Serpent Lord, he spoke the best and hid his expressions the best.

He was also the second apostle who had accepted His grace.

Chuckle internally, Sam again acted with a terrified face.

His hands trembled, and he rolled his eyes the entire time.

“Sir… To say it once again, I am Sam…”

“I heard you earlier. So, what is your business?”

Despite being interrupted, Sam did not break his poker face.

He merely bowed his head deeply.

“First, the reason I came is because I wanted to apologize for the rudeness from before.”

“You mean these friends who were causing a ruckus in the shop.”

“Yes.”

As Veloc pointed to the pile of corpses on the floor, Sam spoke with a slightly uncomfortable expression. It was a great acting performance.

Sam added,

“I heard they dared to insult your honor, Sir. And that, in your anger, you drew your sword.”

“If I endured in such a situation, the name of a knight would be wasted.”

“Indeed. Indeed. So, to also offer an apology, the Lord has invited you, Sir Knights, to the castle.”

“An invitation?”

As Veloc showed interest, Sam spoke excitedly.

“He said he wants to compensate you.”

Veloc and Adel turned their heads and made eye contact with each other.

Exchanging glances for a moment, the two nodded.

“What can you offer us?”

It was Adel’s question.

‘Of course. Greedy human bastards.’

Sam slightly opened his eyes. Between his paper-thin eyelids, his snake-like eyes briefly showed.

At that moment, a strange ripple arose in Veloc’s heart.

‘This is…’

Just like when he met Baphomet, the goat-headed demon, earlier, his heart throbbed.

Veloc knew this well.

One of the skills existing inside him.

“Unquenchable Fighting Spirit” composed one’s mind and drove away fear when facing a powerful enemy.

Thanks to this skill, Veloc was always able to maintain his composure.

The only time he felt such an uneasy feeling was when:

the skill level was lacking.

What that implied was clear. This man named Sam before his eyes.

He was no ordinary human. He was a demon.

‘Is the Lord not the demon? Or is this guy the Lord? If not, are there two demons?’

Veloc almost showed the agitation in his heart on his face, but he barely managed to hold it back.

Veloc drank the alcohol he had kept on the shelf straight from the bottle.

As the alcohol flowed down his throat, it barely calmed his throbbing heart.

Just then, Sam’s voice resounded. He seemed to have paid no attention to Veloc while conversing with Adel.

“I will give you gold. A very large amount.”

“Do you mean to settle the insult Lord Veloc received with money?”

Adel sneered. Sam shook his head as if that were preposterous.

“Of course not. He also intends to formally apologize for the subordinates’ rudeness.”

“What will you do, Lord Veloc?”

Adel’s look was clear.

It meant to follow Sam to the castle and strike down the lord-turned-demon in one go.

Veloc also intended to do so at first. But the plan got tangled. Some unknown variable had intervened.

Veloc hesitated. At that moment, a metallic clank resounded. Butcher, which he was carrying, reacted to his movement.

At the heavy weight felt against his back, Veloc felt all the hesitation inside him completely vanish.

In its empty place, a knight’s fighting spirit and courage began to well up. In addition, his desire for experience points.

‘Why on earth are you scared like a dog with its tail down? After checking the Lord’s identity, wouldn’t it be fine to just kill this guy together with him?’

Yes, he was confident. He had a loyal subordinate, and he had armor and weapons crafted by a master artisan.

He also had the skill points he had steadily accumulated.

What if there are two demons? He just had to strike both of them dead.

Veloc’s gaze directed at Sam, who was smiling the entire time. A sinister, bat-like bastard. No, is he a snake bastard?

Veloc grinned, baring his teeth.

“Fine. I will go to see the Lord. Guide us.”

“You will definitely be satisfied.”

Without knowing Veloc’s mind, Sam also bowed with a reciprocal smile.

‘Foolish human. Walking into a death trap on your own feet.’

As if the lavish hospitality was not just empty words, Sam brought a carriage.

“Please board.”

Sam, still wearing a good-natured smile, led Veloc and Adel to the carriage. As the two heavily armed knights boarded, the carriage’s wooden floor shrieked. But Sam did not care, gripped the reins, and smoothly started the carriage.

“Giddy up.”

Neighhh!

The whip was swung, and the two horses raised their forelegs. Soon, the two-horse carriage passed through Oker village and began to head toward the castle where the Serpent Lord resided.

The hooves tapped the dirt ground full of gravel, and stepped into puddles with a splash.

The horses snorted loudly. Leaving the flat ground, they gradually began to ascend a steep road like a cliff.

“A castle on a cliff. Quite romantic.”

Muttered Veloc, who was leaning his arm on the window frame and looking outside. It was because those cheap black-and-white movies from long ago came to mind.

Things like vampires, Frankenstein, or werewolves appearing in dark old castles.

Old films he had watched while holding his parents’ hands tightly and eating popcorn together when he was young.

That boy had now become an adult. And he had fallen into a strange game world and was going to strike down a real demon.

It was a shitty situation. It was also a dreamlike situation. However, the iron armor and greatsword wrapping his body woke him to reality.

While Veloc was lost in thought, thunder rumbled. Spurred by that, a drizzle also began to fall.

Perhaps due to the bad weather, the castle where the Serpent Lord resided was enveloped in complete darkness, casting a bleak energy.

Perhaps due to the gloomy atmosphere, Adel swallowed hard upon seeing this. No matter how brave a squire she was, placing her body into the enemy’s maw seemed to make her nervous.

She glanced at Veloc’s expression and clung to his side. She even lightly rested her cute head against him.

Adel was also wrapped in cold armor all over. There was no way there would be any warmth.

Yet, for some reason, Veloc felt her warmth. The loyal squire relieved his loneliness.

He felt he was not alone in this damn world.

Veloc lightly tapped Adel’s shoulder as if telling her not to worry. How much time had passed?

Finally, the carriage arriving at the destination crossed the drawbridge and entered deep into the castle.

“We have arrived.”

Sam, looking like a drenched rat, opened the door of the carriage. And he handed over a hood oiled from his bosom.

Sam smiled good-naturedly.

“We cannot let precious people get wet.”

Veloc and Adel accepted it with disgruntled faces. It was an enormous effort.

To the extent that if they did not know the Serpent Lord’s identity and Sam’s identity, they would have been immediately moved and deceived.

If he had been born in the 21st century, he would have made a great actor. Veloc wore the hood while thinking such thoughts.

“I will guide you.”

Sam moved while holding one of the torches hung on the wall.

They climbed stone stairs and crossed passages. Here and there, they also encountered the Serpent Lord’s subordinates.

Though they were rough, bandit-like fellows, they all trembled upon seeing Sam.

“Gasp. Lord Sam. Why…?”

“I have brought the Lord’s guests.”

“Ah. I see… then, please take care.”

The subordinate rolled his eyes as if the very fact of talking with Sam made him uncomfortable, and quickly left.

“There must be some urgent business. Anyway, let’s go again. The Lord is on the top floor.”

Sam chuckled as if he knew nothing and guided the way again. Had they walked for a while?

Finally, arriving at the top floor of the castle, Sam knocked on the giant door.

“Lord. I am Sam. I have brought the two Sir Knights.”

“Bring them in.”

It was a gender-neutral voice. Like a woman’s, it was melodious, yet slightly rough.

As the door opened, the figure of a man with his back turned, looking out the window, was visible.

Perhaps because burning torch stands and silver candlesticks were placed everywhere, it was bright.

The man turned around.

“Welcome, Sir. I am Bern Oker, who rules this land, though in a minor capacity.”

The Serpent Lord. The ruler of Oker village, who enjoyed cannibalism and sold his soul to a demon.

On the surface, he was a perfectly fine middle-aged man.

A man with brown hair combed back neatly and impressive long limbs.

But Veloc could tell. The same energy was felt from that guy called the Lord as well.

The same uneasy energy as that guy named Sam who was grinning next to him.

The smell of a demon or monster. Veloc’s eyes sank deeply.

‘There were indeed two demons. Then, is the experience points also double?’

If I beat just these guys, it’ll be a level up again.

Veloc, who thought such things, sat at the dining table with Adel under Sam’s guidance.

Opposite him sat the Serpent Lord. Several candlesticks crossed between the three.

The Serpent Lord’s face, on which shadows were cast, looked blue beyond pale.

Veloc belatedly received the monster’s greeting.

“I am Veloc. This is my squire Adel.”

“I see. Sir Veloc. What a delicious… no, wonderful name.”

The Serpent Lord tapped his fingers as if in a good mood.

The four—no, the two humans and the demons—chatted pleasantly for a while.

The demons waiting for the upcoming feast, and the humans hoping there might be some useful information in their conversation with these demons.

While the harmonious conversation continued like that, the Serpent Lord clapped his hands.

He could not stand it anymore because he was hungry. He wanted to eat at least an appetizer for now.

“It is late. If you don’t mind, shall we have a meal together? A good piece of meat just came in.”

Sam also smiled and chimed in,

“It was caught fresh today. It is extremely fresh. What do you think, Sir?”

Adel, who understood this, gagged. Veloc asked sarcastically,

“Is that meat, by any chance, human flesh?”