Rogue Villain-Chapter 211: Myrrhia

Having completed his business in Matar, Ackster had no reason to linger beyond saying goodbye to Dala. He was a little worried about leaving any loose ends, considering she would become a member of The Hero’s future party. But she didn’t know his true identity and wouldn’t have any reason to mention him to The Hero or do so in any way that would raise suspicion beyond the fact that he is skilled, talented, and unknown.

Besides, with how things are already diverging from the original story, Ackster could no longer be certain whether Dala would end up joining The Hero’s party. He had nothing to worry about as long as he stayed away from The Hero until their destined meeting in less than nine years and Dala until after the dust had settled.

Unfortunately, Ackster’s mind and feelings weren’t that easily convinced, and he set off toward Myrrhia with a heart marginally lighter than when he had arrived despite succeeding in both his planned endeavors.

Ackster admired Stormcaller while propelling the boat forward. The storm he had created had sparked a fuss on Diaga island, and there were probably one or two who could guess it was related to Stormcaller. But other than Dala and her family, who shouldn’t have a reason to spread it, no one should be aware of the trident being in his possession.

The weapon’s design was also very simple, without any discerning features or identifying marks. So, Ackster wasn’t overly worried about someone tracing his identity through the trident. But for now, he was keeping the Lex identity even on Myrrhia.

Since he would likely cause a spectacle, it would be good if he had some kind of background when people started looking into his identity. And after getting the fighting experience he needed in Myrrhia and the Sun God’s Token, he could find a way to mask his appearance and do stuff under the radar.

If he didn’t acquire the necessary experience in Myrrhia, Ackster would have to look someplace else. But the places he could think of weren’t as crowded as Matar or Myrrhia. He would also need a higher level of fighting now that he had almost reached Dala’s degree of combat ability.

Those kinds of fights weren’t exposed to the public.

As he looked out at the ocean, Ackster realized he could also free his life force and commit to an oceanic genocide. Even if only weaker beasts and monsters popped up at first, sooner or later, creatures A-rank and above would sooner or later pop up. It came with its risks, especially now that he didn’t have his chain of eternity machine skills.

But it would be a different kind of experience he couldn’t get by fighting other people, including fighting at sea, which he actually didn’t have much experience doing. He had the Sea God Manual, an affinity for water, and a trident. Something didn’t add up there.

’After.’

But Ackster decided to do it after stopping by Myrrhia and picking up the Sun God Token since it would be useful in the battle against The Hero, even if it had the opposite of his affinity. In order to make the greatest possible use of the Sun God Token, Ackster also needed to pick up a fire mage. He even had one in mind. He just had to locate him.

’The Token first, and I can start charging it. I’ll start looking for Makkel after the Alchemaze. Or maybe I should gather a group before entering the Alchemaze? It would make the exploration process smoother.’

Since he had some time to think while captaining the boat to Myrrhia, Ackster started hammering out the finer details of his plan, including who to bring along with him when dealing with The Hero. Strength and ability were important, but he also needed cooperation and synergy.

Depending on how Karandiel developed, she might not accept working with Makkel. But Ackster could only know how that would go when and if they met.

Ackster set aside his thoughts and plans. Now, it was time to deal with the brutal land of Myrrhia and the bountiful combat experience it had to offer him.

Ackster found it difficult not to compare the Central Isles of Matar and Myrrhia Continent since they had similar aspects, and he had just been in Matar.

Myrrhia Continent wasn’t quite a land of lawlessness. But it more openly adhered to the law of might making right than Tenger and Matar. However, people were people, regardless of where they were or what their surroundings looked like.

So, even if Ackster could enter a harbor city without showing ID, there were still markets and stalls filling the streets. There were still children running around, kicking balls, and making up games while people shouted at them to stay out of the way.

Ackster could also haggle with the wharf when he sold his boat. But when they tried to lowball it, all he had to do was crush a table to get them to give him a more than generous offer.

On his way to the unofficial capital of the continent, Tarragia, there were also more robbers and highwaymen than Ackster had even smelled on Tenger. If he hadn’t been as strong as he was, Ackster might have been in trouble.

Each time he came across a group of vagrants aiming to satisfy their greed with his purse, Ackster hesitated. Myrrhia wasn’t exactly a flourishing economy, and people lived by feeding on each other. His would-be robbers could have been driven to such acts by hunger or to support their families.

But with the Crimson Edge group and the pirates who tossed Mio into the ocean as precedents, Ackster hesitated a little less with each successive band of thieves.

Sparing someone wasn’t a luxury Ackster could afford, not when it could cause him and countless others endless troubles. And the world wouldn’t suffer from the loss of a few rotten apples.

If it did, it sure as hell didn’t tell Ackster about it.