Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss Chapter 173 173: You're Lucky, Chosen

Click!

Clack!

Click!

Clack!

The sound of slow footsteps moving their way echoed down to the cellar and in an instant, the group was ard.

The air vibrated, sending faint notes of music spiralling around the room.

Ren held up a fist, telling the group to hold their position. This was definitely a Chosen, but there was no reason to attack yet. The resonant loop wasn't dense enough to be a threat. Not yet.

They stood there, weapons drawn as the door to the cellar creaked open. Light spilled through the opening, but the Chosen stood there for a few seconds.

"You know," the Chosen sighed dramatically, "maybe the church is actually right."

Ren's eyes narrowed. What was the man trying to say?

"Maybe the Creator does send help in our tis of need." The man chuckled as he took one step down the stairs into the cellar. "Maybe there really is a pervert sitting at the base of the world tree, staring at all we do."

"I had a pretty nice deal with the smuggler if I do say so myself." He took another step down, the air vibrating more and more, but still within acceptable levels. "I turn a blind eye to his operations for a… hefty fee. Being a Chosen wasn't as well paying as they led us to believe."

"But you see… business isn't going well." He took another step, the lower half of his robe coming into view. "No one wants to use the tunnels anymore. After all, where do they have to sneak to when the infected are everywhere?"

"So, I struck a new deal." Another step, his waist appearing in view. "If anybody troubleso cos along, they should be sent to . A promotion is still another way to earn a higher wage."

"And what do you know," he took the remaining steps, walking into view, "the lord really does work in mysterious— How the hell did you get horses in here?!"

The Chosen blinked, unable to believe his eyes. His jaw opened and closed, no words coming out.

Lilith moved before anyone else could blink.

Her hand blurred, and there was a muted flash of light. The throwing knife she launched spun silently through the air, aid directly for the Chosen's throat.

It never reached him.

An invisible shimr flared around the man's neck. The knife froze mid-flight with a tallic ping, as if it had struck glass, then dropped uselessly to the stone floor with a clatter.

The Chosen didn't flinch. Instead, he laughed.

"The smuggler really brought in a unique group of people." He said in amusent. "Travelers, by the looks of it, who sohow managed to sneak horses through that tiny hole and into a cellar, a woman who throws first and asks questions later," his eyes flicked to Ren, "and a man who just slls like gold. taphorically of course."

Lilith narrowed her eyes, and Ren stepped forward, placing a calming hand on her arm.

"Apologies, travellers. This isn't personal." The man raised his hands, and the air seed to pulse in ti with his movents. A chill crept over the room. The torches dimd as if suffocated, mist curling at their feet.

The Chosen's eyes glowed faintly, and the air began to hum loudly. His Resonance kept building until—

Boom!

The air around them thickened, freezing solid without turning to ice. Pressure coiled inward like invisible hands tightening around their chests and limbs.

Ren gritted his teeth, unable to move.

"Hold." He commanded as he saw Lilith shifting at the corner of his eyes. The resonance wasn't enough to hold her.

A shockwave suddenly blasted from Ren's bracers, slamming into the ground beneath them. The force surged outward, kicking up dust and grit.

Everyone stumbled, even the Chosen. There was a soft crack as his resonant loop fractured as his concentration broke.

His eyes widened, breath catching. He stared at Ren, a thread of fear entering his eyes. "Knight!" He whispered.

"The horses should've been the first clue." Ren chuckled. He turned to Thorn whose brows were raised, a flat expression on his face. "Nope. The average Chosen isn't this weak. We just got lucky."

Ren turned back to the Chosen. "There's no need for us to go too far, my good man." He pasted a reassuring smile on his face. "I don't want to fight, and from what you already saw, you definitely don't want to fight . Instead, I have a deal for you."

The Chosen's took a step back, a frown appearing on his face. At Ren's words, the fear that was in him disappeared. "You co ard, break my loop, and now you want to negotiate?"

"We're all playing a role here." Ren said, spreading his hands. "Yours is to protect this city. Mine is to get inside it. I'm willing to make it worth your while."

The Chosen crossed his arms. "You think I'll take a bribe?"

"Co on. Don't play coy. We both know you will." Ren smiled. "If it hurts your pride to take bribes from a Knight, think of it as taking a generous donation to support your holy cause."

The Chosen raised an eyebrow, considering.

Ren pulled out a single gold coin, holding it up between two fingers. "Let's say... ten of these. For the inconvenience and the silence."

The Chosen didn't speak.

"Fifteen." Ren said. "And we walk out of here, no questions asked."

"I'm worth more than that." the Chosen replied slowly. "The Church will not be pleased if I'm seen letting Albion Knights into Rainhold."

"Then twenty." Ren said. "We both know no one will know of this. And if anyone questions you, tell them we were smugglers who decided to seek business elsewhere. The Church won't follow up. They're stretched thin."

The Chosen was quiet for a few seconds. Then he sighed. "Twenty-five. You give that, and I forget I saw you."

Ren nodded and reached into his pouch. Gold coins clinked as they hit the Chosen's outstretched hand.

"Pleasure doing business with you." The man said, his smile returning. "You're lucky I prefer gold to dogma."

"And you're lucky I prefer bribes to bloodshed." Ren replied.

The Chosen laughed again. "This cellar leads upward to a shop in Rainhold's lower market. Head straight up and don't cause trouble. The city's tense."

With that, he stepped aside.

Ren gestured forward. "Let's go."

Lilith retrieved her knife, eyes still on the Chosen as they passed. He didn't look back. Ren made a few trips, bringing their horses up with them.

"Why didn't we just kill him?" Thorn asked as they erged in the shop, which was apparently selling clothes.

"Killing a Chosen would only result in a heated search for us." Ren said as they crossed the shop, heading straight for the door. "We don't want that kind of attention. Killing him would just be stupid. Besides, we won't be staying here for too long."

"We only need to infiltrate the Church."