I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 550

And now this bastard’s starting, too. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Ian let out a silent snort. In truth, Thesaya had also started showing interest in Yog ever since she learned that it wasn't the Swamp's Resentment she had known, but a fragment of an unknown ancient god. The one who had told her that was, of course, Lucia, a few days ago.

At last, Jamal said, "I cannot deny your words."

His eyes had grown keen, filled with the workings of reason, calculation upon calculation. "Perhaps it would be a better choice to turn around right now and head straight for Tahena."

Stroking his chin, which was as smooth as his head, he continued as if to himself, "Even if we were to return to the mainland, it would likely take a long time to come back down to the South. But... hmm."

Though he wasn't particularly curious, Ian immediately understood the reason for his hesitation. There were other merchants traveling with him. The deal with Erenos was solely for the Lighthouse Trading Company; if he were to turn around and leave his companions behind, his reputation would plummet. It was also clear that he would lose the most important virtue of a merchant: trust.

Of course, that wasn’t Ian’s problem to solve.

"May I tell the other merchants outside about the situation of the inner sea that I have heard in this place?" Jamal asked cautiously after a moment.

As Ian glanced at him, he quickly added, "Of course, I plan to tell them that the Elder of Erenos has received a message from His Excellency the Duke. I will take special care to ensure that your identity is not revealed."

"Well, if that’s the case..." Reluctantly nodding, Ian looked back at Thesaya. As long as she agreed, it didn't matter to him. In fact, it was more convenient for him to part ways with the merchants here.

"You may convey my proposal as well," Thesaya said suggestively then. "The condition is that I purchase them at cost, and the Lighthouse Trading Company must broker the deal. And you will be the only one who can cross the family gates."

Her tone was as if she were doing him a great favor. She likely thought so herself. In any case, she had just given Jamal a choice.

"In that case... I’m deeply grateful."

Sure enough, relief spread instantly across Jamal’s face. The fact that he would have to deliver the goods at cost no longer seemed to matter in the slightest.

"Would you be willing to sign a contract?" said Jamal.

"Of course. Without my signature, the family gates won’t even open. So, please prepare it well so that I only need to sign," Thesaya replied readily, tilting her pewter goblet.

"Of course, I must."

So, this is really happening.

Ian swallowed a dry laugh along with his meat. Jamal even had a relieved smile on his face.

Then again, he had just secured a way to wait the problem out safely. Of course, it would be a loss for now, but in any case, since he had opened a trade route with Erenos, he had also gained an opportunity to make up for it little by little.

"Fael’s gonna be pretty sore if he finds out."

At Ian’s low murmur, Jamal, who had been rummaging through his coat, looked at him. "Could you say that again, Agent of the Saint?"

"It was nothing. More importantly, I’d like to take a look at your goods myself—separately from this contract." Ian said, shaking his head.

Blinking in confusion, Jamal nodded. "Of course, I will do so, but I don’t think I have any items that would interest you, Agent of the Saint."

"You do now. We’ll be on a boat for quite some time soon, won’t we?"

Though Ian had brought preserved food from Erenos, it wasn’t enough to last for the entire journey across the inner sea. He had originally planned to buy more in Rune Catis, but if there was an alternative, there was no reason not to take it. Based on his experience so far, the food he could get there would taste terrible.

"Very well. If it’s for provisions, dried fruit such as raisins and, of course, honey will be best," Jamal said with a smile, seeming to have guessed the reason. "I will give them all to you for free, so please take plenty."

"I didn’t mean for you to give them for free, but I won’t refuse." Ian smiled.

Seeing his expression, Jamal quickly added, "I say this in case you misunderstand, but I do not intend for this to be a substitute for the reward for saving us. I have been thinking a lot about how to express my gratitude..."

He moistened his lips with wine and added, "But no matter how much I think about it, the only thing that comes to mind right now is this carriage."

Ian’s eyebrows shot up automatically. Of course, the same was true for Thesaya and Lucia.

"You’ll give me this carriage?" asked Ian.

"It seemed you were traveling without a carriage." Jamal nodded and met his eyes. "I won’t be riding it much for the time being anyway. My people are unsettled enough as it is. At times like this, the master must show his face."

Jamal’s gaze naturally shifted to Thesaya. The brightest smile yet was spreading across the face of his potential client.

With a much more relaxed smile, Jamal added, "But I’m afraid I can’t part with the horses. I’ll still need mounts to ride, after all."

"Don’t worry about that. We can handle it ourselves," Thesaya blurted out before Ian could say anything, then tilted her head to the side and added, "We’ll gladly accept the gift."

She even sent a pointed look at Ian. It was clearly a signal not to refuse. Of course, Ian had no intention of doing so either.

This reward is far too generous for the effort spent...

Thinking, he glanced around the carriage that was now his. It was unmistakably a luxury piece from the Empire. Even at a glance, he could tell the ceiling and walls had been built to absorb sound, solid yet spacious. The Magic Stone Lamps set into the ceiling were the perfect finishing touch.

Then his gaze shifted to the opposite side. Frowning slightly, he stared at the wall between Thesaya and Lucia.

"You should be able to load them onto the smuggling ship without issue, so the journey back to the mainland should also be a bit more comfortable," Jamal added gently.

Thesaya nodded with a smile. "So it seems. Such a timely gesture of gratitude. It makes me think this will be the start of a good relationship with the Hexagonal Alliance."

"I am only embarrassed by how meager it is, but I am a little relieved that you are pleased."

It was then that Thesaya’s ears, visible through her silver hair, twitched. As she naturally looked at Ian, he, who had torn his gaze away from the wall, said, "You’ve become quite the merchant in the time I haven’t seen you. It seems your business sense has only sharpened."

"You flatter me, Agent of the Saint."

"I see why Regin made a contract with you."

Jamal, who had paused for a moment at Ian’s addition, finally scratched his nose."It’s true I had my eye on him, but it was Regin who came to me of his own accord. Joyce, you know, is the sort who’s never satisfied with anything. I suppose he’d simply had enough."

"Or perhaps you paved the way for him to come to you?"

"...I won’t deny that much."

He’s certainly an ambitious type.

Ian gave a low chuckle. Maybe it was the same ambition that made Jamal lavish them with such excessive rewards, hoping to win Ian’s favor over Fael’s.

"Just be careful your ambition doesn’t curdle into greed. You haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you?"

At Ian’s quiet reminder, Jamal’s expression grew instantly solemn.

"Of course not. None of us would dare disgrace the great Platinum Dragon. It is an oath all merchants of the Hexagonal Alliance are bound to uphold."

"Excellent. I didn’t say it out of suspicion, so don’t misunderstand."

"It is your right as the Agent of the Saint, so please do not mind," Jamal said with a gentle smile. "If you have no further orders, I will take my leave now. You will leave early in the morning, so I believe I must discuss matters with the other merchants and prepare the contract before then."

"I have no further orders, but..." Ian added, glancing at Thesaya’s eyes. "Before that, it seems you must greet other guests first."

"Other guests?" Jamal asked, bewildered.

Thanks to the excellent soundproofing, the sounds from outside were almost inaudible inside the carriage. However, it wasn't enough to deafen Ian and Thesaya's ears.

"There are people approaching." Ian nodded. His voice was calm, his intuition having given him no warning. He already had a good idea who was approaching.

Jamal, who had blinked, placed his pewter goblet on the floor and said, "I’ll see to it. Please, rest at ease, honored guests. No one will trouble you."

"Thank you for your consideration," Lucia said politely, while Ian and Thesaya just nodded.

As Jamal opened the carriage door, the sounds from outside became clear. Lucia blinked, as if she had just heard the approaching hoofbeats and footsteps.

"Then I’ll see you again once you’ve finished dining. I’ll also show you the goods you were interested in, Agent of the Saint."

As Jamal bowed and closed the door, Thesaya immediately asked, "Is it those guys from during the day?"

"Probably," Ian shrugged.

Lucia, reaching out her hand, opened the small window on the door facing the campsite.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The sound of hooves grew louder, and the broad back of Mukapa came into view, standing guard at the rear of the carriage. He was chewing a hunk of meat, bone and all, while glancing back.

"Is it the ones we passed during the day?"

"Yes, it is the two groups we passed just before," answering Ian’s question, Mukapa stepped aside.

The view opened onto the campsite, where bonfires flickered and Jamal’s back came into sight as he circled the carriage. He, too, had turned to the right, no doubt watching the rider approaching the camp.

Ian slipped another bite of meat into his mouth, a faint laugh tugging at his lips.

I thought I’d never see them again.

He was a middle-aged knight dressed in gear that favored appearance over function, from a leather helmet that looked more like a hat to armor that resembled a formal uniform rather than true protection.

His face, with a stylishly trimmed Imperial-style beard, showed an undisguisable relief. There was no need to think deeply about why he had such an expression.

"Greetings! It seems you are the heroes who subjugated those terrible monsters!"

He must have passed through the battlefield, which was full of dismembered and burned corpses. If he hadn't run into this merchant group, he would have had to continue on without a wink of sleep all night.

The knight, who had stopped his horse at the edge of the campsite, shouted, looking around the now quiet area, "I am a knight who serves His Excellency Viscount Chambers, a man named Brennen Turner. I’m on my way to Rune Catis, escorting the second son of the family. The group behind us is the Wax Trading Company, and our destination is the same—"

As Ian continued his meal, letting the ensuing shouts flow in one ear and out the other, Lucia said softly, "It seems we might have more night guests."

"So it seems. We might actually have more companions by tomorrow. Well, it doesn’t really matter now that we have a carriage," Thesaya said with a click of her tongue, bringing her pewter goblet to her lips.

Ian looked at Mukapa, who was standing by the window. "Could you separate the draft horses from the carriage and connect our white horses instead? I don’t know if you heard, but this carriage is now my property."

"Yes," Mukapa replied immediately and turned around.

Ian’s gaze returned to Thesaya and Lucia. "Let’s leave at the crack of dawn. When everyone passes out."

"A simple solution," Thesaya replied with a smile.

It was then that a small black snake crawled out from between Ian’s gauntlets.

—Then, will you not convey my proposal to this elder pointy-ear now, my friend?

Yog, flicking its purple tongue, whispered, lifting its head toward Thesaya. Ian just frowned slightly and didn’t even reply.

"This thing has some business with me right now, doesn’t it?" Thesaya asked, her eyes sparkling as she looked down at Yog.

"Well, you see..." Lucia scratched her cheek, looking awkward.

Clicking his tongue, Ian said, "It’s asking you to let it engrave a spell on you."

"Really? Excellent. Do it."

"Think carefully. It’s nothing much, but it’s still dark magic."

"It reminds me of the old days. I like it. Let’s do it now. Come, little serpent."