I Was Mistaken for the Reincarnated Evil Overlord-Chapter 21: A Battle of Poor Life Choices

The leader's men surged forward, weapons glinting in the dim evening light. Their movements were sharp, efficient—no wasted steps, no hesitation. These weren't amateurs.

Darin immediately turned to Vincent. "Okay, new plan. You fight them, and I run."

Vincent didn't even look at him. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because we are surrounded."

Darin chanced a glance over his shoulder.

Oh.

Right.

There were three more of them cutting off their escape.

Fantastic.

The sorceress didn't waste time. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a pulse of magic rippling outward. The ground cracked, energy bursting from beneath her feet like invisible shockwaves. One of the approaching men stumbled, losing his footing, and Vincent lunged, closing the gap before he could recover.

Darin, meanwhile, grabbed Steve.

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The dragon was growling low in his throat, frills twitching, claws digging into the dirt in anticipation. Darin did not want to find out what a battle-ready Steve was capable of.

"Hey, hey, buddy, no setting people on fire," Darin whispered, tightening his grip on the dragon's harness. "We don't need more crimes on our list."

Steve chuffed, smoke curling from his nostrils, but to Darin's relief, he stayed put.

For now.

The leader of the mercenaries let out a low chuckle. "Not much of an overlord, are you?"

Darin huffed. "Wow, you figured that out so fast. You must be the smart one."

The leader smirked. "Smart enough to know you're worth something."

Darin didn't like the way he said that.

"Who sent you?" the sorceress demanded, magic still crackling around her fingertips.

The leader tilted his head. "That's not important."

"I think it's important."

He shrugged. "You won't be alive long enough for it to matter."

Darin groaned. "Oh, come on. Can one person in this world just have a normal conversation with me?!"

The leader didn't answer.

Instead, he lunged.

Vincent met him halfway.

The clash of steel rang through the clearing as their swords met, sending sparks flying. Vincent moved with sharp, precise grace, effortlessly shifting between offense and defense.

Darin, who had never won a fistfight in his life, decided now was a great time to stay out of the way.

Unfortunately, one of the other mercenaries had different ideas.

A man with a jagged scar across his cheek turned his attention to Darin, lips curling into a grin.

"You're the reason we're here," he mused, lifting his blade.

Darin swallowed hard. "Haha, yeah, funny thing about that—"

The man swung.

Darin dodged.

Barely.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Darin stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Let's talk about this like civilized people!"

The mercenary did not look interested in talking.

Darin cursed, bracing for the next attack—

And then Grumble materialized out of the shadows.

The cat-shaped demon pounced, claws extended, eyes glowing bright. The mercenary barely had time to react before Grumble was on him, a flurry of sharp claws and deeply offended hissing.

Darin had never been more grateful for his pet nightmare in his life.

The man shouted, stumbling backward, trying to shake the demon off—

Darin ran.

"Vincent!" he shouted. "I hate this!"

Vincent, still locked in combat with the leader, didn't even glance his way. "Then fight back."

Darin scowled. "Horrible advice!"

The sorceress, on the other hand, was faring just fine. Another mercenary rushed her, and with a casual flick of her wrist, she sent a bolt of dark energy straight into his chest.

He crumpled.

Darin let out a strangled noise. "Okay, that was terrifying."

The sorceress arched a brow. "I could let you handle it instead?"

"Nope! You're doing great! Keep it up!"

A heavy whoosh of air nearly knocked Darin off his feet. He barely had time to react before realizing what had caused it—

Steve had spread his wings.

The dragon's tail flicked, eyes locked onto the remaining mercenaries.

The leader, still clashing blades with Vincent, took one look at the dragon and—

For the first time—

Hesitated.

"That's..." His grip on his sword tightened. "That's not normal."

Darin forced a smile. "Nope. Rare breed. Weird dog. We've been over this."

Steve growled.

The leader took a cautious step back. "This... isn't worth it."

Vincent pressed forward. "Running so soon?"

The leader scowled, blocking Vincent's strike. "I have what I need."

Vincent's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

The leader didn't answer.

Instead—

He threw something.

Darin barely had time to process it before a thick cloud of smoke exploded outward.

The mercenaries vanished into the fog.

Coughing, Darin stumbled backward, waving a hand in front of his face. "Oh, great, smoke bombs! Love that! Very dramatic!"

By the time the smoke cleared—

The mercenaries were gone.

The only evidence they'd ever been there were the faint footprints leading back into the forest.

Silence stretched.

Vincent's grip tightened on his sword. "They retreated too easily."

The sorceress frowned. "They weren't trying to win."

Darin let out a sharp breath. "Okay. Let's just acknowledge how incredibly not comforting that statement is."

The sorceress ignored him.

Steve, still bristling, let out a low huff before pressing himself against Darin's side, his warmth reassuring.

Darin ran a hand down his snout. "You did good, buddy."

Steve rumbled, pleased.

Vincent sheathed his sword. "We need to move."

Darin scoffed. "Oh? No resting after nearly being murdered?"

The noble gave him a pointed look. "No. Because whoever sent them isn't done yet."

The sorceress mounted her horse, eyes still scanning the treeline. "We need to get to the capital. Fast."

Darin hesitated.

He wanted to argue. Wanted to say that walking into a city with mercenaries hunting him was a terrible idea.

But—

The alternative was worse.

So, with a sigh, he climbed onto his horse, Steve hopping up beside him.

Vincent smirked. "Getting used to the whole 'being hunted' thing yet?"

Darin glared at him. "I will feed you to Steve."

Steve let out a happy chirp.

Vincent chuckled. "Sure you will, Overlord."

Darin groaned.

And with that—

The group rode in tense silence, the distant rustle of leaves the only sound breaking through the cool night air.

This was bad.

Whoever those mercenaries worked for hadn't just sent them to kill him—they had been testing something.

Confirming something.

And Darin had a horrible suspicion that whatever they thought they had confirmed would make his life even worse than it already was.

Vincent, as usual, was the first to speak. "They're professionals," he murmured. "Too skilled to be common thugs. Too well-equipped to be freelancers."

Darin let out a slow breath. "So... what? We've got a whole new faction trying to kill me now?"

"Or capture you," the sorceress muttered, her gaze locked on the darkened road ahead. "If they wanted you dead, they would've tried harder."

Darin groaned. "Oh, great. Love that. Love the idea of being kidnapped just as much as being assassinated."

Steve, still trotting beside him, huffed as if to say, I won't let that happen.

Darin gave his dragon a quick pat. "Appreciate the enthusiasm, buddy, but we're outnumbered."

The sorceress exhaled sharply. "Not if we get to the capital first."

Vincent arched a brow. "And then what? Hide in a crowded city? Hope they don't have spies there, too?"

She didn't answer right away.

Because, deep down, they all knew the truth.

Whoever they were... they were already waiting.

The capital wasn't safety. It was just another battlefield.

Darin let out a slow, exhausted sigh. "I miss my forge."

Vincent smirked. "Oh? You mean the one currently overrun by cultists who worship you?"

Darin shot him a glare. "I hate you."

Vincent chuckled.

The road stretched on.

Grumble, still in his usual shadowy form, materialized onto Darin's saddle like a lazy, sentient puddle of darkness. His glowing eyes flicked up toward Darin, unblinking.

Darin frowned. "What?"

Grumble let out a slow, exaggerated yawn.

The sorceress glanced over. "He knows something."

Darin groaned. "Of course he does. Care to share, buddy?"

Grumble flicked his tail.

Then, as if utterly unconcerned about their current situation, he stretched out across Darin's lap and started grooming his paw.

Darin scowled. "Oh, sure, now you act like a normal cat."

Grumble ignored him.

Vincent shook his head. "So. What's the plan?"

The sorceress hesitated.

Then, finally: "We don't go in through the main gates."

Vincent arched a brow. "Smuggling ourselves into the city like criminals? Bold."

Darin exhaled. "Well, seeing as I'm technically a criminal in half the kingdom, might as well go all in."

Vincent chuckled. "Overlord logic at its finest."