The Heroic Villain 2

by Charles Dean

  “Why would he need a hiding spot?” Bonnie asked. “I mean, people are going to try to kill Lucas no matter where we go. It’s been that way for almost as long as I’ve known him. What’s the point of hiding until the sun sets?”

  “You don’t know?” He started cackling again, a character trait that was starting to get on Lucas’s nerves. “I don’t know what he did, but your boss managed to generate a big quest against him. I saw the notification myself. All someone has to do is kill this bastard, and they’ll get 25 gold plus a few thousand Reputation Points with every faction in the game. There’s even something about an exclusive new title. I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “Wait, 25 gold? And you weren’t paying attention?” Bonnie looked at him skeptically.

  “No reason to. I mean, 25 is less than 100. And Reputation? Who cares? This is like my seventh life. I’ve been around for years and already got all the Rep I need. I’ve got my Reputation as a bastard, a whoremonger, a pyromaniac, and a good for nothing layabout all maxed out. Don’t need to be earning points toward one of those Reps with the fancy factions. And as for titles? Those I can definitely do without. Every one of them I’ve gotten has been nothing but a rip-off, so I’ll just take my money and enjoy the fact that I got to watch that little brat die and stick around for the party,” the Fire Mage explained. “If everyone else got the same quest notification I did, this is going to be some totally BA mayhem. Delicious and easy experience from saps that think they can stop the Fire. It’s definitely going to be more profitable in so many ways, babe.”

  Something about the man’s words felt off to Lucas. It was almost like the guy was somehow trying to con Lucas into letting his guard down by convincing him that he was on his side simply and solidly for the slaughter. Every part of the explanation made sense, but most of it sounded like the caster was much more concerned with the actual battle and would likely get around to disposing of Lucas for the rewards after the fight. Lucas surreptitiously cast a sidelong glance over at Bonnie at that thought. He couldn’t get what Lilith had said earlier out of his head. Would Bonnie backstab me if the money were better somewhere else? He pondered the idea for a moment and then just shook his head to clear it of those lingering doubts and to bring his focus back to the situation at hand. He didn’t have the luxury of doubt. He was already taking a gamble as it was, and adding in uncertainty wasn’t the recipe for a winning roll. So, without giving it any more thought, he made up his mind and walked to the entrance of his newly minted hotel-turned-dungeon with his crew all trailing behind.

  Before stepping outside, he opened up his Dungeon Menu and saw that his area of control actual ended just outside the entrance. In a way, it made sense. Back in Hesse, he had been able to control the grounds of his dungeons there, but those had been manors and estates. Here in Dover, the street and market were part of the city, not his property. He hadn’t actually expected the system to allow him to set up guards or traps there.

  Lucas glanced at the eleven remaining dots that represented the tired and worn-out soldiers inside. I guess it’s for the best. I can’t easily replace the guards, and I already have quite a bit invested in them, so keeping them inside the dungeon is probably for the best. The Blood Guard and the mage are the only ones I’m comfortable with losing, and I still need Lilith and Bonnie. Lucas grabbed the Blood Guard and dragged the dot until it was right on top of him. He had only intended to station the Blood Guard next to him for dramatic effect, but when he let go of the small icon, a new set of options appeared that he hadn’t seen before.

  Would you like to assign Unnamed Blood Guard to follow you, guard you, assist you in killing individuals you are attacking, or attack you?

  What? Why would I want the Blood Guard to attack me? No, wait . . . that’s actually not a bad idea in the future. I can use them for training if I ever have a ton of points just lying around. With that in mind, Lucas selected the option to have the Blood Guard assist him in killing individuals he was attacking. While he was sure he could use some help defending, he had a lot more health than he had ability to deal damage, so he didn’t want to chance the little damage he could dish out being spread over too many targets.

  “You just heading out there?” Bonnie asked. “You know a bunch of people wanna kill you, right, boss? We could set up some traps.”

  “Girls looking cute while talking about traps--now that’s a subject you don’t want,” the pyro said, chuckling obnoxiously at his own bad joke.

  Not feeling the need to explain himself and not wanting to stall his plan any further, Lucas ignored them as he opened the door and strode outside with the Blood Guard and Lilith following closely behind, almost as if the two of them were competing to be his shadow.

  As he exited the building, Lucas noticed that the once-bustling street was completely empty right in front of his new building, as if a small invisible semicircle that no one wanted to cross had been drawn across the ground. It only took one look up for him to realize why. Linnaeus had grabbed one of the players, likely the last person who tried to enter the building, and was currently eating the hapless victim in the air more than seventy feet above the ground, crunching and munching as he glided back and forth on patrol.

  When he turned his attention back to the group of people too afraid to push forward, he realized that none of them seemed to really be fazed by the spectacle. They were gathered in groups, some with a dozen-plus people, others with only four or five, and still more were just sitting by themselves as they eyed the door, but they were all as casual and unconcerned as could be. They were all in their own little worlds, chatting amongst themselves as if nothing were wrong in the world, and body parts from Linnaeus’s previous victims weren’t scattered across the ground.

  Then, one by one, their attention was drawn to Lucas as they realized that someone had left the building. Their heads turned, and their mouths stopped moving. They studied him with curiosity as if he were a movie that had just started to play, and they were waiting for the opening credits to finish rolling.

  Are they all players? Lucas wondered, noticing a lot more Humans than other races. That didn’t make sense, though. Based on the original story he had been prompted with, and all the races offered to different players, Lucas was confident that some Human players in the level range of the zone they were in would be present. However, he was even more confident that Humans wouldn't naturally gravitate toward this area since their own quests directed them to help different races in different areas, and the Beast people had many zones around the Imperium, but non-Imperium Humans didn’t. Lucas hadn’t noticed a single non-Imperium city when he first ventured to Kent.

  “Lowbies . . . Beautiful, toast-worthy lowbies. Look at that gear: not a single one is in decent stuff. They’re going to burn really well!” the pyro cackled from behind Lucas. “Should we start the show? I’ll burn my value into your brain . . . with their flesh!”

  “Shh . . . It’s the boss’s speech time,” Bonnie cautioned. “He always does this.”

  “We finally get to hear a beautiful monologue written by a beautiful man,” Lilith added. She was clearly supporting Bonnie’s assessment, but the way she said it made Lucas’s face tighten up in a slight cringe.

  Beautiful monologue by a beautiful man? What’s this speech time? Do I really always give a speech? What the hell? Lucas almost grumbled out loud at his frustration. He had indeed planned on giving a speech, but he didn’t like the fact his supporting cast thought it was that predictable. Fine. Forget this. Lucas closed his eyes a second, took in a deep breath, and prepared for his apparently typical and hyper-predictable speech. “I see that you’ve all come for my head,” Lucas began, looking around at the crowd. “It doesn’t surprise me to see those with fur, ears, scales, and slimy skin in the throng, those riding beasts meant for the sea, looking like fish caught in nets coming to gather outside my home to kill me, but what of the rest of you? What of you Humans?” Lucas asked, staring at a few of those he was s
ure were NPCs.

  You know, tribalism and racism have always worked for demagogues historically, Lucas thought. He had hoped to focus on classism, but given that none of the players in this area looked to be particularly wealthy, and he needed to separate them, he decided to go with the obvious differences, one of the most easily visible being race.

  “I came to your town to save you, to help you, to expand your territories and teach you the old ways,” Lucas continued, “yet here you are, gathered with these stupid beasts and fishmongers to fight me? Is this your pride as Humans? Have you sunk so low?

  He waited for a response, but much like in the town square when he had killed the brat trying to attack the old man, everyone just stayed silent and watched. It was a testament to how realistic this game was: the people were more comfortable being mere observers than participants. Lucas smiled to himself when he realized that he had them exactly where he wanted them--the players were waiting for the boss encounter to properly begin, and the NPCs were too cowardly to interrupt--so he just continued ranting. He had hours to kill, after all, so it didn’t matter if his rant lasted five minutes or twenty. A lengthy monologue only meant that he had to fight for that much less before the sun set. “I conquered the beastkin, fish walkers, and underdweller tribes on Hesse, and I restored order to Human lands. But this is my thank you? I made sure trade flowed freely from our farms to your merchants so that they would have the materials needed to clothe you and the food needed to feed you, and yet now you stand here ready to kill me? Is your gratitude even lower than your pride?” He shook his head and laughed snidely in utter disbelief, making it obvious that he was mocking everyone present, but especially the Humans for their desire to participate in this assault against him.

  “This is so amusing. Pathetic, but amusing. I never expected the people of Hesse to be so civilized compared to those of Kent. I thought they were barbarians. But when I came to them, like I come to you now with offers to subjugate their enemies, to restore their farmlands, and to protect their cities from the savage races that wish to destroy us, they didn’t rally together and try to kill me. They welcomed me with open arms. Even the Alfar and the Mere knew that it was an honor to be under my rule, yet you remain so woefully ignorant and without honor.”

  “But . . . you kidnapped our women!” one of them shouted angrily at Lucas.

  “Kidnapped? I did no such thing!” Lucas protested. He turned to Bonnie and casually gestured to her. “She doesn’t wear that collar because she’s been kidnapped; she wears it because she’s not even Human. She’s half beast. Should I treat her just as you treat your fellow Humans? Should I spit on her and sell her off to were-kin?” Lucas snorted derisively as if the very idea were offensive. He didn’t actually find the subject funny. Truthfully, it hit too close to home for him. He had seen these fears displayed very clearly by his neighbors in the real world, which was why he knew picking at them would work. “Would you be happier if I made her fetch for some dog-eared master like you’ve done with your children? Is that the disgrace I should subject her to so she feels more Human to you? Maybe when she dies by their blades, I’ll tell them I’m sorry for accusing them of a crime.”

  “We . . . We . . .” The man’s face turned red with anger, but his objections fell silent. Lucas watched as he saw the rage flashing across not only his face, but a few others’ faces as well. He could see how his words affected many of the female Humans too.

  “No, I’m not that cruel. My women, the Human ones like her”--Lucas nodded his head back to indicate Lilith--“they live like the queens and goddesses they are. They are treated equally and fairly, as all Humans should be. They are given pleasures in my service that none of you could give them and riches that none of you could show them, so they willingly rush to my embrace. After all, I’m a Human who still has his dignity and pride intact. I can show them the gratitude and appreciation they deserve. I’m not like you, fighting under the leash and collar of mutts.”

  Lilith glanced over at Lucas, tilted her head, and then turned to the crowd and smiled. “It really is pleasurable to be with him,” she said in the most seductive way.

  “See, it just keeps going,” Bonnie whispered to the pyro. “This is the boss at work.”

  Lucas assumed Bonnie thought he couldn’t hear her, but when the words caught his ears, he had to stop his eyes from twitching in anger. I have to be like this. This is my job as the evil, monologuing villain, dangit! Lucas’s brow furrowed into a scowl as he tried to ignore what could have been either mockery or praise.

  “This is like every big fight,” she continued. “The boss always does this to turn one of the party’s members against the others.”

  Fine, I’ll end it. Lucas clenched his jaw angrily. I was trying to stall longer so the sun could get closer to setting, but whatever. “You know what? I’m done. This is pointless. I’m just wasting words on deaf mutes. Words only have meaning when they’re spoken to Humans, not beasts. There is no purpose wasting them on the pets of pets. So, go on! If you’re going to let one of these flea-ridden creatures leash you like a dog, you may as well get on with it. Show me what little pride you have left as Humans. Show me that they were right. Show me that you are no better than their pets, servile and willing to obey lest they beat you or take away your scraps.”

  He expected the fight to break out right away at that last line, but silence persisted as they all stared at him with a dozen emotions ranging from anger, confusion, doubt, and humiliation written across their faces. The non-Humans were generally furious, but it seemed like the players had decided to treat this as nothing more than a cutscene in an old school JRPG.

  “Brother!” Linnaeus called from above as he swooped down next to him. “Your speech has moved me. I feel great pity for you that your own kin and kind have done you such a dishonor as to try to kill you in service to these inferior creatures!” Linnaeus covered each of his eyes with a hand while using his remaining four to retain his grasp on what looked like the remaining few pieces of the large Were-Bear he had snatched earlier. “It’s JUST SOOO HEARTBREAKING! How can a gentleman be treated so badly, like some sort of base, roguish villain, when he’s clearly such a noble hero?!”

  “The hero indeed,” Lilith snickered. “His murders are no different than a doctor excising an infection with a knife.”

  “Right. But as you are the hero, these can’t be all villains. Come, brother. Don’t be so harsh.” Linnaeus floated down until he could rest an arm around Lucas’s shoulder. “Surely, a few of these are good people. Let us give them the opportunity to show themselves for the noble individuals they are. I have no doubt that there at those amongst the gathered who are only here looking like curs because they were pressured by such. After all, we were only just forced to rescue these women behind us. Who is to say these women don’t need rescuing too?” Linnaeus, unaware of his blatant sexism, then spoke to the crowd. “Helpless women, easily tricked or forced to come here, why don’t you change sides? Why not come work for my great, noble, wondrous, and amazing brother, for my man among men, the undoubted hero of the ages, Lucas? I know you must be concerned that his bed isn’t big enough for you all, but trust me, it is. He has the stamina of a legend and regularly goes off with half a dozen women. I’ve seen it!” Linnaeus nodded assuringly to the crowd, causing some of the men to get even angrier. “Fear not! Throw off those shackles and step forward! We’re here to free you from those pitiful, disgusting, ugly excuses for honorless men.”

  That’s . . . There is no way anyone will step forward after that. Lucas almost wanted to curse at Linnaeus for making sure that all the work he had done to create at least a little division within the mob was undone in less than twenty seconds, but before he could speak, one of the beast girls, a Were-Wolf with silver fur and silver hair, stepped forward.

  “Do . . . Do we get riches too?” she asked timidly. “I’m not Human, but will I be treated well too?” Even though her voice was fearful and her posture humble, her armor and
gear were that of a knight in full plate ready to do battle with the world.

  “Of course!” Linnaeus continued, once again speaking yet again for Lucas. Even as his loud voice boomed out over the crowd, Linnaeus propelled himself forward with a small flap of his wings. He glided across the pavers until he was just in front of her, and once there, he spoke in a comforting voice as if he could sympathize with her. “Look over there, dear. Look at the happy face of that other girl, the sub-Human fox girl. Can’t you tell that she’s treated well and paid well? How else could she afford all the baubles on her clothes? Our master takes care of all his people so long as they know the pecking order: him on top with his family like me, his most illustrious and proud brother, next to him.”

  “What sort of mother or father spawned two different look--” a Human peasant began, starting to question Lucas’s familial ties with Linnaeus, but the moment after he opened his mouth, Linnaeus clawed him down.

  Lucas had thought that Linnaeus wouldn’t hold up well in this area because he was meant for Hesse, but when he saw how quick and powerful the flying monkey man was, he began to see a little hope in his situation. Looks like my proclaimed brother has gotten stronger since we first met, Lucas thought, remembering how they had struggled with such difficulty against a single party of six or so people upon their first meeting. Then again, I have sunk hundreds of Evolution Points into him.

  “Just . . . Just curious who--” the man next to the fresh corpse stammered. “The . . . uhh . . . the great parent of y’alls is.”

  “Ah! We share no parent. Our brotherhood was sealed with pact and blood! He sought me out himself.” Linnaeus puffed up his chest as he shook off the dead man’s blood that had splattered across his forearm. “And now our great Lucas trusts me above all others because he is a gentleman who can clearly and immediately tell a person’s worth. That is why I urge you women to throw out your riff-raff men, your terrible husbands, your worthless boys, and come join Lucas’s service. He’ll welcome you all with open arms. His magnanimity is that great!”