I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

Chapter: 122.

‘He’s ridiculously strong.’

That was my impression after clashing with Tarif a few times.

It wasn't about Stetten's swordsmanship or the experience of a seasoned veteran.

Each and every blow he threw was simply powerful.

To the point where my arm tingled even after blocking with the defensive spell engraved on my staff.

“As expected of Count Valheit. Your skills are incredible.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

I scoffed in disbelief, but Tarif's expression was serious.

“I don’t even know how long it’s been since I’ve had a proper duel.”

“Are you bragging?”

“It’s embarrassing, but you’re not wrong. I am proud of my skills, after all.”

After joking around for a very brief moment, Tarif charged again.

I accelerated to barely dodge the blow and aimed for his side with a Mana Grasp.

As expected, it didn't work.

The old man, who lightly parried my attack, continued to press forward without slowing down at all.

If this kept up, it was obvious I would just be busy blocking again.

Crack!

An electric current spread out in all directions, making a loud noise.

Tarif gracefully stepped back, but thanks to that, I was able to create some distance.

“How about you cherish your body a little more. From the looks of it, you seem to have been injured before.”

I thought I had hidden it well, but it seemed he had already noticed.

I gave a bitter smile as I shook out my throbbing hand.

The wound I got from fighting the Ravens hadn't completely healed yet.

Normally, it wouldn't be a problem, but it became one when facing a monster like that.

“If I spared my body, I wouldn’t be able to get rid of a monster like you, now would I.”

Without denying being called a monster, Tarif got into his stance again.

Doesn't he get tired?

I smiled as best as I could and brought up the status window next to me.

I deliberately didn't stop the gesture of opening the status window, so Tarif didn't charge, thinking I was preparing some kind of spell.

‘I am preparing a special move.’

I switched to the skill tab and brought up Revealed Eye on the screen.

I originally had no intention of using this.

The restriction being lifted meant that Anat had finished her job, so there was no reason to hold back that monster any longer.

The purpose of purely testing my current skill level was greater.

On top of that, I also wanted to test this new thing called Revealed Eye.

[Activating Skill!]

A dry notification with nothing special about it popped up, and a timer started, similar to when I used the Weapon Demon.

“…Is it something you must hide to that extent?”

Tarif, who saw me open my eyes, lowered his voice considerably.

I answered with a light smile instead.

Just by opening my eyes, my body and mind felt light.

Tarif, shedding his relaxed demeanor, launched an even more fierce offensive than before.

It was threatening before, but now I could feel the intent to kill.

The will contained in his sword wasn't the only thing that had changed.

My response had also changed.

Unlike before, when I had focused on defense and retreated, I now actively pressed into Tarif.

‘The performance is certainly better than just opening one eye.’

The eye that opened along with using the Weapon Demon felt like it sharpened my senses.

It allowed me to see the mana the opponent moved and know what posture they were taking to perform their next action.

Opening both eyes naturally came with that effect, but there was another, more noticeable effect.

“!”

Tarif barely dodged the staff I swung and took a step back.

It was just one step, but this was the first time this seasoned veteran had reacted defensively.

“Where did your momentum from just now go?”

“……”

Tarif clamped his mouth shut at my triumphant taunt.

It seemed he hadn't predicted this situation.

I hadn't predicted it at all before turning it on either, so it wasn't a surprise that Tarif was shocked.

Tarif once again stabbed his sword toward my chest.

In my eyes, I saw a blue line along with the trajectory of the sword approaching me.

Following that line, I swung my staff and pushed away Tarif’s sword strike.

Tarif skillfully turned his sword to continue his attack, but I just moved along the blue line.

Pop!

A small explosion occurred next to the face of Tarif, whose body was completely lunged forward.

This too was just me following the visible instructions, but the effect was clear.

Tarif dodged the attack by a hair's breadth, but thanks to that, the initiative was passed to me.

“…Hmm.”

Tarif’s attacks became much more cautious, perhaps sensing that he was being pushed back, unlike before.

“You seem to have suddenly become a coward.”

“I can’t help it when facing a monster like you, Count.”

Displaying the most efficient way to deal with an opponent.

Though I was called an old snake, it was exactly the ability I needed, as I actually lacked combat experience.

“Will you continue? I think you can probably back down now.”

“Pardon my rudeness, but coming out like that makes it all the more impossible for me to back down. What in the world are you doing in the lands of Stetten?”

“Well now. If you’re curious, why don’t you win?”

After speaking in a mocking tone, I regretted it slightly, just slightly.

Tarif’s eyes, which had at least treated me as a count until now, overflowed with killing intent.

It was beyond simply being angry; he was clearly preparing a blow that would end my life.

All his mana was concentrating on his sword.

‘In other words, I just need to get past that one blow.’

Looking at the mana he was drawing, it was an amount that even a monster like him couldn't use twice. For more chapters visıt novel·fire·net

If this blow missed, it was doubtful if he could fight anymore.

If I could just overcome it, I would be able to win easily afterward.

That is, if I countered it properly.

My senses constantly sent danger signals, and the blue instruction line told me there was nowhere to dodge.

The only way was to face it head-on and win.

Normally, I wouldn't have taken such a risk.

But now, I too was feeling a strange desire for a fight.

“Then I shall win.”

“Go ahead.”

As soon as the words were finished, the ground couldn't withstand the pressure and began to crack.

Tarif’s all-out blow of mana and strength flew in a straight line toward my face without even giving me time to blink.

The moment I gathered my mana to meet it head-on, the instructions shown by my eyes suddenly changed.

‘An opening?’

It was an instruction to thrust an attack through a small opening.

There was no time to think.

I followed the instruction and thrust my staff into that opening.

A roar that was on a different level from the explosions I had heard while fighting until now echoed.

As the eardrum-splitting sound subsided, my cheek stung.

I didn't need to check; I could feel blood streaming down.

It felt like a whole patch of skin had been torn off.

The only comfort was that the opponent's condition was worse.

Clutching his shoulder where the staff had struck, Tarif gasped for breath and sank to his knees.

I opened my mouth to say something sarcastic as usual, but the words didn't come out properly because of the blood.

It was the same for my opponent.

“Cough, cough! Heo-eok….”

“My, my, ptooey, what a disgraceful, ptooey-ptooey, sight this has become.”

“Indeed, cough, there’s no way the Count would be honorable.”

I could see the knights of Stetten, who had been pushed far away by the pressure, running to support their knight commander.

‘Dammit, my body won’t move properly.’

The damage to my body was greater than I thought.

Even if they were shabby knights, I didn't think I could handle them leisurely right now.

If someone hadn't blocked the space between me and the charging knights, I would have had to fight ridiculously with this creaking body.

“…It has been a long time, Til Chartra. You know as little about honor now as you did back then.”

“If you don't want to die from your injuries, shut your mouth.”

Til, who had appeared on the battlefield at some point, sneered as she picked up the hand axe that had fallen next to Tarif.

Was that why an opening suddenly appeared?

“Anyway, you’re so crazy about one-on-one duels that you practice that weird stuff, isn’t that why you fell for such a simple little trick.”

“Cough, you sound just like your father.”

Passing by Tarif who was collapsing, Til approached me.

“Haha, even if you hadn't helped, I would have handled it fine….”

Poke.

Til’s finger touched my shoulder.

She didn't even poke, just pushed slightly, but I fell over just like that.

“Ack.”

“Half a corpse, putting on airs.”

Next to Til, who was frowning deeply, the status window flashed and displayed a flashy message.

[Limit Exceeded!!! The skill will be forcibly terminated!]

Limit exceeded?

As I was wondering what that meant, my eyes slowly closed.

Wait, wasn't the time limit 30 minutes?

Til, grabbing the collar of my tattered clothes, turned her gaze to the approaching knights.

“You guys take your commander and get lost.”

After a moment's hesitation, the knights of Stetten silently supported their knight commander.

Seeing Tarif, contorted in pain, I added a word.

“You can investigate to your heart's content starting tomorrow. So for today, think of your bodies and get plenty of res….”

“You should worry about resting, you bastard.”

At Til’s reprimand, I shut my mouth and was dragged away.

Only then did I read the instructions attached to the Revealed Eye skill.

[Revealed Eye Skill Precautions!]

It is accompanied by extreme overload on mana and the body, so use it appropriately!

It will be forcibly terminated when you are no longer in a state to maintain the skill!!

Upon forced termination, it will be treated as if the entire week's usage has been consumed!!

Use it appropriately!!

This is why you have to read the user manual carefully.

My mind was slowly starting to grow distant.

It seemed the backlash from using it to the very end was coming.

Well, I'll just rest first and think later.

The rest… the others will take care of it.

With that irresponsible thought, I lost consciousness.

***

“His condition?”

“It’s a miracle he’s alive. I don’t know what kind of body he has, but his recovery is fast enough to defy medicine, but he still needs to be in bed for a few days.”

Raphel spoke cautiously as he packed his house call bag.

He was suspicious whether Valheit, lying in bed, was even human, but he decided not to bring it up now.

Because Til’s mood seemed very, very, very unpleasant.

“Kaseph, anything to say for yourself?”

“Why should I.”

“Because the Acting Commander is laid up while you were breaking that damn curse.”

“That's his own fate.”

Kaseph shrugged, not even batting an eye at the growling Til.

Til looked ready to swing the axe in her hand at any moment.

And she actually did swing it.

Touching a very thin scratch on his mask, Kaseph grumbled.

“That person must have said that fighting amongst ourselves is forbidden.”

“Consider yourself lucky it ended with just this.”

“I’m fine.”

“You shut up and just lie down.”

“Yes, yes.”

As Valheit, with his cheek wrapped in bandages, grinned, Til could no longer contain her anger and stormed out, shattering the door.

Long after Raphel timidly followed her out, Valheit opened his mouth.

“What happened to the Commander?”

“He has set off on his training journey again.”

“So heartless. Shouldn’t he at least leave a greeting?”

“He must have his reasons. By the way.”

Kaseph, who had been answering nonchalantly, lowered his voice.

“The urgent treatment is done, but what are your plans for the future? The Duke won’t stop here, and the Dukes will suspect you even more.”

“When have they not?”

He had a point.

The Grand Duke of Leitche always had his own schemes, and the Dukes had never liked Valheit.

But the timing and degree were not good.

“If the Duke is truly targeting that person, this is an act of treason that cannot be overlooked.”

“Of course.”

“In such a situation, you’ve ended up turning your back on the Dukes with whom you somehow maintained relations until now.”

“You’re surprisingly knowledgeable about politics.”

“It won’t be easy from now on.”

Valheit smiled, his face still seeping blood, contorting.

It was not a pleasant laugh to hear.

After laughing for a long while, Valheit muttered a self-deprecating word.

“Wouldn't you say it's my fate.”