The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Rest Now, and Go Onto Paradise

Read chapter 49 of The Distinguished Mr. Rose by QuiteTheSlacker on NovelPedia.

Chapter 49: Rest Now, and Go Onto Paradise Lucius waited for Ogier to reply, but he seemed to be a bit preoccupied at the moment. The man twitched and shuddered, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he let out an odd, almost bestial, growl. “Are you alright, my good fellow?” Lucius asked, his hands neatly laid in his lap. “You seem to be a bit under the weather.” But the Peer didn’t reply. His breathing grew more ragged by the second, and soon, a carnal savagery began to emit from his shredded, gaping flesh. His muscles expanded. His veins bulged. Well, Lucius certainly never witnessed something like this before. “Dear, oh dear… you refuse to accept the truth.” Lucius tutted and whirled around his chair, dusted off his suit, before making for the door. This could get ugly. “And yet, you are beautiful nonetheless. You sought to embody a perfect leader that none would fault, but the burdens only accumulated with time—body after body, year after year, the chains grew tighter; but still you willingly clung to them. You chose not to acknowledge the weariness in your soul, and now it all comes crashing down. Truly, a tragedy… a beautiful, sorrowful tragedy.” Lucius tipped his hat, and then left. No sooner did he depart that a deafening howl rippled through the air, shaking the stone, the ground, the very foundation of the fortress with the guttural throes of a man broken to his core. The cabin exploded, wood flying in every direction, as a deranged Ogier barreled through and flailed his shortsword out in frenzy. Okay, this was definitely new. Lucius had seen the occasional psychotic breakdown here and there, but never to this extent. It was a unique experience for the gentleman—how exciting! He couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. >[EMERGENCY QUEST!]< Warning! An unprecedented situation has occurred! Ogier of the Twelve Peers has, somehow, gone mad! The fortress’s defender is no longer the man you knew. He is crazed, dangerous, and will stop at nothing until every person in the vicinity has fallen before his blade. Take up arms along with the other paladins, and put the poor soul out of his misery. Reward: 500 Cosmic Coins Failure: Destruction of Roncevaux Fortress, and greatly decreased reputation with the Holy Empire Ogier became so threatening that the system even devised a new quest solely to eliminate him. The man had fully succumbed: It appeared there was no bringing him back to reason now. Soon, swarms of paladins and players alike flocked to the outside, confused by the noise. Horror flashed through their eyes as they gazed upon their former leader, his maw unhinged in a frothy spit. But the most distraught of them all was the trembling Ruggiero. His face twisted in hurt, unwilling to acknowledge the reality before him. “Ogier…” he muttered. “What has happened to you? I—I should have never allowed you to part alone. I should have refused even if it meant enduring your ire.” Regret permeated his being, but this was no time for complacency. Ogier turned toward the growing masses, and he charged toward them with waving blade and rage. “Curse it all—Balisarda!” Ruggiero leapt forth and clashed with Ogier’s blade, sparks grinding from the impact. “Please, my friend, you must stop this! I know a remnant must still dwell within you. Do not force my hand!” But his pleas fell on deaf ears. The Ogier of now was different from yesterday’s battle. There was nothing left to hold him back, no reason to put on false airs. The man fought mindlessly and embraced the madness swelling within. He no longer shied away from death. Ruggiero was overpowered and sent crashing back. A part of him still hadn’t fully committed to slaying his comrade; his hesitation smothered his will and weakened his blade. The other paladins froze up in disbelief. They knew not what to do—join the battle? Flee? Here he was, the man they depended on for succor all this time, now turned against them. It was only when Ogier slaughtered his first soul, tore the