Vilous | "A Braveyard" - Bergt, the Shigu Soldier [+Creator Insights!]

Hello, dear Vilous fans~!

For today’s update, we've got a more clear depiction of “A Braveyard - Bergt, the Shigu Soldier” as well as a FULL release of an incredibly exciting novella piece tailored for the artwork in order for everyone to enjoy, written by Kiki CR!

You might have read a teaser of his story, or if you are Patreon supporters of Kiki, might already enjoy it in full as a pre-read. Now, we are providing the double feasts, the fully finished artwork and the full of the novel, for everyone, for lovely fans!

As we said before, the concept of this artwork is based off of Kiki’s initial idea and sketch. Thusly, this piece is a virtual collaborative effort between Kiki and Mick!

Please enjoy the read down below for the story!!

— "A Braveyard" - Story of Bergt, the Shigu Soldier —

Bergt, a soldier who belongs to the Shigu Army, was a very cowardly and young Sergal.

Feeling ashamed of his cowardice, he attempted to go up against a monster which was roaming around the village in order to put his courage to the test. However, his stride weakened, as he found himself not able to move even a step towards the monster. He was stunned, unable to do a single thing outside of watching his fellow village mates get mauled to death by the monster, even when they tried to assist him.

During this ordeal, fortunately, a young Rain Silves who was passing through the nearby area, came to their aid and went on to defeat the monster. Bergt's life was saved by Rain and as a result, he swore allegiance to her. In a small gesture of hospitality, Rain had offered him a cup of Imagoi drink. After that, he aspired to fight bravely as a Shigu soldier under Rain with his utmost respect and loyalty towards her.

When the invasion towards Reono was taking up a full swing, downwards the conquest path, he and his mates who were lead by Rain managed to capture a lot of hunter folk in the Reono region and executed them. He had never doubted this act, believing that all of them were taking the right course of action. Other youths were of the same mindset. As he hurt a lot of people, he also received many wounds. However, he was already beyond any notion of fear. His heart was always with the General. As such, he shivered with a great sense of satisfaction. Bergt had won over himself, conquering his inner fear and cowardice by virtue of brave combat, and as he let loose a loud shout, it sounded akin to a victorious cry.

One night, Rain was sitting on the grassy plain which had served earlier today as the battlefield, where the fire of war was still smoldering. All-around here, there was a distinct smell of Eltus blood — a unique odor similar to metal — splayed across all over the area. Underneath her body, there lay a corpse of a young soldier with an innocent, youthful face, one could say it was also similar to herself in the past.

The soldier’s throat had been torn off, as they were laying on their backs while their heart had ceased to beat. Rain was letting loose repeated breaths, filled with vulgar sounds akin to beastly snorts, it seemed as if she was toying the corpse of the young soldier. 

Before long, she reached out her hand to the corpse of a female soldier, her belly slashed diagonally. Amongst a slew of other soldier corpses, her body was laying around Rain’s feet. It seemed that this one was near around the last month of pregnancy, a baby lay at the bottom of her opened belly. The infant did not utter any sort of birth cry, however, they were still breathing and trembling slightly. Rain let out a gulp as she hoisted the baby up from the open womb and swallowed it whole in one breath.

It was due to fortune or perhaps misfortune, that Bergt happened to witness all the details of this act. Due to this, terror finally set in with regards to Rain, his most adored person. He ran out of the camp while leaving his mates who were sleeping like logs, well past the corpses of Reono soldiers. He ran a lot, just like his past self which was being chased by the monster, even with complete disregard for his wounds, he ran, ran, and ran. Eventually he was entering into the off limits forest, Magoe. His body was wracked with pain and incredibly thirsty. As the situation unfolded, and he felt his consciousness let slip, he finally put his maw to the swampy waters of the Magoe which were forbidden from drinking. Because, somewhere, in his heart, he was placing belief in an unrealistic hope. If such a thing were to happen, someone — perhaps his former mates, or hopefully Rain, as he chose to remember her in memory — will come to help him.

In the year 32 of the Rain Calendar.

— Bonus Section for Kiki's Patreons —

Bergt's character origin

The origin of Bergt's character and concept is based off of Mick and her own past self, going off of her spiritual sense when she was young and experiences.

It is a self recognition of her former, negative and mentally unstable self, blindly desiring to become stronger when she was young. Later on, she had realized that her viewpoint was narrow and was losing sight of really important points at the time.

Kiki and Mick have taken a fresh look at this period in time, and they have drawn inspiration from it in order to sublimate the essence into a creative result. Thus, the Sergal called Bergt was born.

The background story surrounding Bergt can be said to be the epitome of Mick's past life, in a sense, a metaphor on how she had spent ler life in the early days.

Now, Mick has greatly overcome the previously described situation. With her past form having been shed, it was left within the realm of creation, taking up the form of a fictional character.