I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 378

The demonic realm stretched endlessly. The sparse, charcoal-blackened tree of the outer border grew denser as they ventured further. Once dry and crumbly soil became damp and sticky, and with it, the trees appeared to regain vitality, their trunks thickening as their vein-like, gnarled branches twisted intricately through the air. A haze of dim light and dust-like fog loomed in every direction.

Without any way to measure time, Ian and Lucia had agreed to count each period of rest as a single passing day.

"Screech!"

By now, they had marked ten such days.

From the thorny thicket, a grayish monster, about the size of an arm, sprang into the air. Its sharp, glowing red eyes streaked toward Lucia's side.

Crash!

Reacting instinctively, Lucia swung her flail with all her strength. The creature slammed into the ground, and she followed up with repeated blows. Her assault didn't stop until the monster stopped twitching altogether.

"Phew" She exhaled the breath she had been holding and stared at the monster’s now-mangled remains.

Its jagged fangs jutted out at random angles. Revolting, bumpy growths covered its long ears. Sharp claws tipped its short forelegs, while grotesquely elongated and muscular hind legs supported its body.

It's definitely a rabbit.

Lucia’s gaze shifted uphill. Several more of the rabbit monsters lay scattered in pieces.

They had burst out from the thorny undergrowth in droves. Of course, when Ian had dashed ahead and sliced through a few of them, the rest had scattered and fled. Ian, unwilling to let them escape, had chased them further uphill.

She hadn't expected one to remain hidden in the thicket.

A sense of movement above made Lucia instinctively look up. The twisting, vein-like branches of the trees writhed as if swayed by an unseen wind, though there was no wind.

They were likely feeding on the fluids of the slain rabbit monsters. At first, the thought of it had been unsettling—like they were walking inside a massive creature’s stomach. However, now, However, now, it no longer fazed her. There were too many other dangers demanding her attention.

"Are you done?" Lowering her gaze at the sound of approaching footsteps, Lucia asked.

A silhouette carrying a sword slung over their shoulder came into view.

Yog's whisper echoed in her mind.

—Yes. They were nothing special. Even weaker than the ones from two days ago.

"That sounds like something I should say," Ian muttered with a dry chuckle, gesturing over his shoulder. "Another one down, huh? Nice work."

"You got one too, Sir Ian. As always," Lucia replied, looking at the tip of Ian's sword.

Impaled on the blade was one of the rabbit monsters, its limp body oozing sticky black fluid. The liquid ran along the sword but never dripped—the blade absorbed it. The cursed blade feasted on the blood of monsters and demonic creatures.

Ian shrugged. "Well, let's hope it doesn't upset my stomach this time."

"And let's hope you don't get poisoned or start coughing up blood," Lucia added.

Ian smirked faintly. The two of them had, by now, grown quite accustomed to life in the demonic realm.

"Let's stop climbing and find a campsite," said Ian.

"Already? I can keep going."

"I've got a bad feeling. Let's eat, rest, and move again afterward."

Lucia nodded without argument. Ian's instincts were usually spot on—sometimes even sharper than Yog's warnings.

Rather than continue uphill, Ian began walking along the ridgeline. Unless a suitable spot presented itself, they'd have to keep searching for a decent space while on the move. And, as always, there was the risk of encountering unexpected dangers along the way.

—Look down there. The fog is thickening.

Today was no different. The mist below the ridgeline was turning a dense gray, spreading outward. It was unmistakably a gray zone, as Yog had named it.

Just like the skies near the border, rocks, soil, and desiccated thorny undergrowth floated eerily in midair within the fog. Starting too long into the shifting fog induced mild dizziness, as if the edges of one's vision were warping.

"Is this what was giving you the bad feeling?" Lucia asked.

"Not quite," Ian replied, shrugging as he glanced at the fog. They were still safely outside the zone's boundary.

Yog's voice came again, slow and amused.

—Don't you ever wonder what happens to those who step into it?

"Go find out yourself. I'd be happy to toss you in."

—Your sense of humor's improving by the day.

"It's not a joke." Despite Ian's curt retort, Yog merely chuckled lowly.

"At least we'll sleep well tonight," Lucia added.

From experience, they both knew that monsters never ventured near the gray zones, which seemed to confirm just how dangerous the areas truly were.

"There's a suitable spot there," Ian added.

Lucia followed his gaze and quickly understood what he meant.

A large boulder jutted out at an angle along the slope, surrounded by twisted tree roots and thorny underbrush. Beneath it was a hollowed-out space that would serve as a decent shelter.

—It seems like a place where a monster used to live. The scent still lingers.

At Yog's comment, Lucia glanced back at the thickening fog below. The gray zone might have been expanding.

Ian, however, seemed unconcerned. He leaned his black sword against the exposed tree-rooted wall and pulled out a metal storage container.

"Set things up. I'll go gather firewood."

"Yes. Be careful."

As Ian grabbed his steel longsword and walked off, Lucia neatly folded a blanket and laid it on the ground.

They'd likely have to sleep sitting, but it was still a reasonably secure hiding spot. Besides, starting a fire wouldn't be an issue—The faint fog around them did an excellent job of muffling sound and light.

"Getting pretty good at this, aren't we?" Ian crawled back into the campsite, carrying an armful of chopped branches.

Soon, a small fire crackled to life.

Although the mutated trees were hard to ignite, once they caught fire, they burned no differently than ordinary wood.

"Eat. Don't worry about me." Ian picked up the black sword and added.

The blade still skewered the rabbit monster, though its corpse leaked no more fluid. Ian deftly began skinning it with the sword, which had grown darker and more ominous, its surface exuding a sinister sheen—likely the result of its continued consumption of monster fluids.

"Does the water taste okay?" Ian glanced at Lucia as she raised the water pouch to her lips.

Lucia nodded. Two days earlier, they had found a shallow stream that barely reached their ankles. Ian had tested it first, filling an empty water pouch but leaving a half-filled one untouched, in case the water proved unsafe.

Fortunately, Lucia hadn't suffered any ill effects from drinking it. Bitter as it was, she never complained.

"Good," Ian said with a nod, slicing off the skinned rabbit's hind leg.

The grotesquely twisted black muscle lay fully exposed. It wasn’t appetizing even as a joke, yet Ian casually skewered it on the black sword and held it over the fire.

"This one looks a little better than the last."

He made a habit of keeping one monster intact from each fight, preparing and cooking it over the fire. This was also when Lucia realized why Ian never touched the jerky.

So far, his results hadn't been promising—most attempts left him with various kinds of stomach trouble.

Chewing on a piece of jerky, Lucia silently watched Ian cook the monster meat.

Truthfully, their situation was bleak. They hadn't encountered a single person since arriving in this place. The closest they'd come was passing through the ruins of desolate villages, strewn with skeletal remains that seemed decades old.

Yet Ian's expression never wavered. He didn't despair—he simply made the best choice he could at every moment.

It was thanks to this unwavering demeanor that Lucia hadn't crumbled. In truth, she believed she was destined to die here.

He said there's definitely a way out somewhere;we just haven't found it yet.

She recalled Ian's words when she'd once asked how he could remain so resolute. He genuinely seemed to believe it. What he based that belief on was beyond Lucia's understanding.

—It looks about done, my friend.

Yog's whisper broke through her thoughts. The meat's edges had charred black, and Ian began trimming off the burned portions with a knife.

In the meantime, Lucia retrieved a few small spice jars from the storage box and handed them to Ian. These had been a gift from his godchild, he'd once said.

Ian crushed a peppercorn and sprinkled it over the thinly sliced meat before popping a piece into his mouth.

He chewed for a moment, then paused. "Surprisingly, it's not bad."

His gaze shifted to the skewered meat still on the sword, and Lucia's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"It's tough and gamey, but not inedible." Ian continued to carve off pieces, chewing them with deliberate care. He even retrieved the last remaining bottle of liquor, sipping it alongside the meat.

—Seems like I've lost one of the small joys of the day.

Even after over ten minutes had passed, there was no change in his expression. He didn't seem to be in any discomfort.

Finally, Lucia broke the silence. "It seems like it's my turn to try."

Ian hesitated briefly, then sliced off a small piece and handed it to her. "If it feels off, spit it out immediately. Don't force yourself to eat it."

"Okay." Lucia brought the meat to her mouth without hesitation.

The smell was unpleasant. The meat, devoid of any fat, was tough, dry, and carried a distinct bitterness. Even so, she chewed it thoroughly and swallowed. Ian had already gone through this process countless times—now it was her turn.

"It's actually decent."

"Don't lie," Ian retorted with a faint smirk, picking up his dagger again.

Lucia shrugged and popped a few more pieces into her mouth. Whether her taste buds were dulling or she was simply adapting, the more she ate, the more tolerable it became.

They ate until the carcass was stripped nearly to the bone. It hadn't been a satisfying meal in terms of flavor, but it had at least filled their stomachs.

Lucia carefully wrapped one of the remaining legs in the skinned hide and handed it to Ian. "Finally, we have something to eat."

"Yeah. Let's hope we keep running into more rabbits from now on." Ian smiled faintly and tossed the wrapped leg into his pocket dimension.

Lucia nodded, already feeling like she'd have no problem eating it again next time.

Ian then began cleaning his sword. Just a few minutes later, his gaze shifted toward Lucia. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Lucia had fallen asleep, her head resting against a protruding tree root.

It must have been the rare feeling of fullness that lulled her to sleep so quickly. Setting his black sword beside him, Ian closed his eyes and slipped into a deep meditative state.

Ian's eyes snapped open when the campfire had burned down to embers. Yet, the surroundings weren't entirely dark.

Moving silently, he stepped outside and looked down the slope.

What is that?

His brow furrowed.

Far in the distance, along the ridgeline, a procession of teal lights stretched in a wavering line. Though it was quite far away, the lights were bright enough to be clearly visible from where he was.

Ian activated Magic Detection, and the world shifted as if seen through a translucent filter. Teal magic rippled in waves, twisting and spiraling into intricate patterns.

Among the waves, countless specters swirled, their forms flickering as they moved in a slow, spiraling dance. It was as if they were trapped within the magic itself, drawn along with the procession.

—Hmm.

Yog's low hum came from Ian's shoulder. The creature must have climbed onto him at some point. Perhaps the view through its eyes was not so different from Ian's.

The cluster of light swiftly receded along the ridge. The teal glow clinging to the mist gradually faded into the dim twilight and disappeared completely.

"Oh my," came a quiet murmur from behind him.

Ian turned slightly to see Lucia, now awake and peering out from the shelter with just her head visible.

"Could that have been the source of the unease you felt, Sir Ian?"

"Probably."

"What do you think it is? A demonic legion?"

Ian simply shrugged.

Yog's voice slithered into the conversation.

—Whatever it was, it doesn't seem important now.

Lucia's eyes landed on Yog, who flicked its long, thin tongue.

—It's gone, isn't it? Off to who-knows-where, looking pretty excited to be going.

"Excited… you say?"

—To me, it looked like they were having the time of their lives.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

As Lucia blinked, clearly unable to comprehend, Ian added, "Either way… we'll need to check out what's up there."

His gaze remained fixed on the slope shrouded in darkness and mist. Lucia's face betrayed a hint of tension as she followed his gaze.

"You're planning to check? What if that wasn't everything? This place could be a demon lord's lair."

"Well, I doubt it," Ian replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "Let's just scout for now. If it's more than we can handle, we'll retreat. Simple as that."

He stepped back into the campsite, leaving Lucia to pack up her belongings without further protest. Soon, Ian gripped his black sword and began ascending the slope.

—Something's there… it feels trivial, though.

Ian's calm demeanor wasn't solely due to Yog's whisper. The ominous feeling that had been gnawing at him earlier had completely vanished. If they'd climbed this path the day before, they would likely have encountered the specters they had just seen. Of course, his heightened Intuition would have sounded a clearer warning first.

—Something trivial is approaching.

Not long after, Yog murmured again.

Ian's gaze locked onto a tree trunk up ahead, faintly glowing with magical energy.

"That's—" Lucia frowned.

It was a crude wooden pillar, just a little taller than she was, and covered with grotesque decorations. Skulls of unidentifiable monsters, partially cleaned of flesh, dangled from it like ornaments.

"Well, this is unexpected," Ian muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Lucia didn't take her eyes off the ominous pillar as she added, "Do you know what it might be?"

"I've seen similar things before. Goblins or kobolds use them to mark their territory."

Ian had encountered goblins, kobolds, and gremlins before—monstrous creatures that lived in groups, which mutated quickly and reproduced rapidly. If there were inhabitants most suited to the demonic realm, it would be creatures like them.

"Though the ones I've seen before were much smaller and far less elaborate than this," Ian said, casually passing by the pillar.

"Still, this thing isn't much better than what we saw earlier."

That was why he found it surprising. Even in the demonic realm, the display felt out of place and mismatched with the other dangers.

—The stench is vile.

Yog's whisper came again, perhaps an hour later.

It wasn't long before Ian caught the scent too. Soon, they saw the scattered remains of monsters littering the area.

Their bodies were slashed and dismembered, a grotesque sight. The only thing that kept the stench from being overwhelming was the mist.

"These really look like goblins." Lucia nudged the torso of a fallen monster with her foot, flipping it over as she muttered to herself.

Its hide was a dull gray, its body much larger than an ordinary goblin's, but the grotesque face unmistakably resembled one.

Ian, however, didn't spare the corpses a single glance. "Now it all makes sense." A faint smirk tugged at one corner of his lips as his gaze lifted to the slope ahead.

A makeshift fortress, surrounded by crude wooden palisades, came into view. It was large enough to resemble a small village.

"They weren't heading out to fight—they were returning from one."

The scattered corpses around them told the story, as did the fortress itself. Splintered and partially collapsed in multiple places, the ramshackle walls and watchtowers showed signs of a recent battle.

"What we saw earlier was a victory procession."