Chapter 170: Endless Self-Confidence

Chapter 170: Endless Self-Confidence

Early Morning - Late Spring : Central Sirathan Forest

- Njal Dolph ~

I wore a wide smile as I marched through the forest with over two thousand soldiers in tow. -To think she really tried to hide such a beautiful gem from me..-

My smile widened as I thought of all the possibilities. -Even if he doesnt want to become my soldier, I can just capture and torture him till he becomes an obedient slave..- My smile turned crazed as I thought about it. -Actually, I like the sound of that better... Maybe I can use him for.. other things..- Although I put my hand over my mouth, my crazed smile was still slightly visible.

"Commander, are you alright?" The voice of the 4th squadron leader, Trygve, quickly snapped me out of my daydream.

Quickly jumping back into character, my crazed smile returned to normal. "Ah, of course. I just got a bit excited thinking about the elixirs for when I return." My mouth water slightly as they suddenly came to mind.

"Are you talking about those made from the mystic beast? I heard a single one is going to be dozens of times stronger than even large wyvern elixirs and to make it even stronger, they're adding top grade wyvern powder to the mix.”

“Ah, yes. I heard it will be the ultimate culmination of this era of alchemy.” A sly smile crept onto my face as I was reminded of something I had nearly forgotten. -The scaleI bought all those years ago can finally be used..- It was a scale of unparalleled beauty and durability and could be used to make a nearly indestructible dagger, but I wanted to mix it with a high end elixir to guarantee its success in pushing me past the bottleneck known as the ‘Cleric Wall’.

-I wonder what riches I will be able to obtain as a priest... And if I can get my hands on this hunter, I'll be simply unstoppable outside of the capital!- A feeling of greed unlike any other filled me in an instant.

But before I could truly bathe in the anticipation, Trygve continued. “It's a shame the beast's body was so damaged, they'll likely only be able to make a couple of the elixirs."

-It's a shame they couldn't make more for me to sell on the dark market, but at least I will get mine..- "It is indeed a shame, I was looking forward to sharing them with everyone." I forced some sincerity into my voice to disguise the lie.

"Haha, don't worry about it Commander, it's just how fate turned out.”

The smile on my face turned dark for a short instant. -Yes. Sadly fate only blesses a few of us.-

After that, we idly chatted for a while until we finally found a good spot to camp for the night.

"Commander, the perimeter is secured. No monsters or unusual hazards were found." A young scout kneeled as she gave the report.

"Thank you for your hard work, young miss." Without noticing my grin had turned just slightly lustful. -You’ll be mine soon enough..- "I'll be sure to put in a good word for you when I talk to your captain later."

Her face quickly lit up. "Thank you Commander! I am eternally grateful!"

Seeing how well my intentions were hidden, I couldn't help but chuckle. "Haha, don't worry about it. Those who do their job well get rewarded!" Realizing I nearly broke character, I quickly corrected myself and sent her away. "Go on and rest up for tonight, tomorrow will be a big day."

"As you order, Commander!" Without batting an eyelash, she immediately darted away and climbed back up into the canopy.

Watching her dart off, I couldn't continue to hold back my lustful smile. -Ah.. I can't wait to corrupt that pure innocence..-

"To think there was really nothing nearby.." Snapping me out of my thoughts, the 3rd squadron leader, Toke, leaned back in his seat and sipped his light alcohol. "Didn't this place used to be a wyvern hot spot?"

"Yes, around three years ago now, we lost nearly all of squadron 8 to a large group of wyverns that stayed here." Trygve was also getting comfortable.

Once we finally made it to the bottom of the mountain, the squadrons each spread out and formed a large semicircle around the area that the squadron leaders and I would lure the 'monster' into.

-It's a shame that such a grand plan will be used on a lone hunter, but it must be done..- An endless greed filled me at that very moment.

I felt endlessly confident, like nothing could go wrong, but that was when things turned for the worst.

Quickly making our way up the side of the mountain, we made it to only a few meters away from where Captain Sigmond saw the hunter, but then a gigantic white wolf peeked its head over the edge and looked at us.

Its stare alone made me freeze in place. Its pupils black like the void stared into my very being.

For a short instant, it felt as if I had become a book, open for the beast to read, but that feeling left as fast as it came

Assuming it was just my imagination, I quickly tried calming my nerves but it was futile. -Did the hunter get killed?!-

Before I could do anything besides think though, Toke jumped up and drew his sword at the beast.

-Right! We can just proceed with the mock plan!- With my confidence quickly rebuilding itself, I watched the scene with deep intent.

*tink* Just like my hope in the situation, the blade of his sword shattered on impact.

Everyone immediately paled as we watched the beast glance at Toke.

Before he could even fall back to the ground, the beast's paw was lifted over him with a clear liquid accumulated around it.

-What is it..-

*spark*

*RUMBLE*

It felt and sounded like the air around us was being ripped apart as a blue flame, as bright as the sun, descended.

Reaching the ground in an instant, the flame immediately melted the stone it touched and turned Toke into something less than dust.

It was a scene that caused an instinctual fear within me, but somehow, deep down, a sense of reverence and worship appeared.

-To be able to meet a descended god..- "I REALLY MUST BE THE ONE FATE CHO-"

Cutting my words short, the beast darted up to me and threw its paw into my chest at a speed far beyond what I could react to.

I truly couldnt even get a thought to come to mind before my body was eviscerated.

*CrUnCh*