Reincarnated as the Hated Villainous Prince, I Thought I Could Live Freely in This Life, but Unconsciously Acted Like a Saint ~Trying to Create an Evil Kingdom, but for Some Reason I'm Highly Respected by Everyone~ - Chapter 37

The Bloodstained Berserker, Zarex.

According to the game lore, he was a former executive of the strongest mercenary group—the “Bloodstained Mercenaries.”

Wielding a greatsword that seemed at least twice his size with ease, he would scatter his enemies without question. Even if confronted with a tank, he cared not and would cut it with his sword.

As a mercenary with such monstrous anecdotes, he was a rather famous character within the game.

Additionally, he harbored intense political ideologies and, after leaving the mercenaries, joined the aforementioned Holy Empire Party. Because former subordinates who respected Zarex followed him, it is said that the military strength of the Holy Empire Party increased dramatically.

So, we were surrounded by the strongest former mercenaries and their subordinates.

A slightly trained adventurer wouldn’t stand a chance.

That’s why I was now facing off against the former mercenaries alone.

One against six.

It was a clear disadvantage in numbers, but I had the knowledge from clearing the game three hundred times in my previous life. I knew which pre-attack movements led to which attacks, what attack patterns they had, and what their weaknesses were…

Having mastered all that, their attacks would never hit me.

“Haaa haaa haaa haaa…!”

“Why won’t it hit…!”

The former mercenaries kept swinging their greatswords incessantly, but I dodged everything with just a light step.

There was no need for excessive movements since their moves were all too predictable.

Of course, they were well-trained, so it wasn’t just a defensive battle for me…

DOODOODOODOODOODOO!

Unbeknownst to me, other mercenaries had moved into my blind spot, shooting at me from behind with magic guns – similar to rifles from my previous life, but enhanced with magical power for added force.

“Ha, useless, don’t you get it?!”

Xerneas style, “Instant Penetrating Strike.”

The moment I activated this technique, I instantly circled behind the former mercenaries shooting the magic guns.

“What…!”

“Impossible!”

Caught by surprise, the former mercenaries cried out in pain but it was too late. For gunners, it’s game over once an enemy closes the gap.

“Die!”

BOOM!

As I swung my sword with all my might, the impact sent the former mercenaries flying backward.

On the other side, adventurers seemed to have been struggling, but…

“Guo…!”

“Gah…!”

The former mercenaries collided with each other, allowing me to somehow save them.

“Prince Esmeralda, thank you…!”

“We owe you our lives…!”

They said, bowing their heads.

“No need to thank me. More importantly, are you all right?”

“Oh, yes…! Somehow…!”

Though he said so, the adventurer’s breathing was erratic.

Upon closer inspection, there was a relatively deep cut on his right arm.

“Take this. You should recover soon.”

I pulled out a Last Elixir from my pocket and handed it to the injured adventurer.

“Eh? Eh!?”

He seemed genuinely surprised, his face expressing disbelief.

“This… this is a Last Elixir! I can’t accept this!!”

“Don’t worry. If this potion helps us all to emerge unscathed… it’s a small price to pay.”

My aim was simply to navigate through this terrible event without casualties.

That would not only boost my reputation but also greatly enhance my standing in the international community.

But then,

“Uuuuu… Prince Esmeralda…!”

“We’ve misunderstood you…”

They started crying.

Oi oi, is the battlefield that scary? Such hopeless guys.

Nonetheless, with that, the surrounding former mercenaries were annihilated.

All that remained was―

“I see. Prince Esmeralda Dia Vefeld. Even in a tainted kingdom, there are individuals like yourself.”

Zarex Effort—alias, the Bloodstained Berserker—adopted his battle stance, raising his greatsword.

“What’s wrong. Getting cold feet?”

“Heh, hardly. Seeing a true warrior like yourself… it just makes my blood boil.”

“Kukkukku, that’s why you’re called a berserker. ―Me too.”

Having cleared the game three hundred times, the ordinary gameplay wasn’t enough for me.

Increasing the damage taken threefold with the demonic sword Levandest, and making it through unscathed, there are certain romances you can’t experience with normal gameplay.

“Fuahahahaha…”

“Kukkukku…”

Zarex and I laughed at each other, then simultaneously leaped forward, clashing our swords together.

Just that alone made the royal castle tremble violently.

Nearby decorations fell over senselessly.

A massive roar echoed throughout.

“Hi, hieeeeeeeee…!”

One of the adventurers watching the battle appeared visibly shocked at the edge of my vision.