I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 614

Archeas approached, slowly taking in Ian’s appearance. "You look like a mercenary. Very impressive."

"So, in other words, you still don’t like it."

Archeas gave a small shrug. "It’s a relief you at least covered your head. You should have picked one that covers your entire face."

"This is stifling enough as it is. And its performance is more than sufficient."

"I suppose it does. I trust you’ve prepared well, as always. Here, take this." From within his sleeve, Archeas extended his left hand.

Ian’s pace quickened when he saw the long glass bottle in its grasp. It was clearly the Elixir of Life.

"Did you make a new one?"

"Yes. I prepared it just in case. When the moment comes, drink it without hesitation."

"I’ll put it to good use." Ian smiled and took the bottle.

Without letting go, Archeas added, "Even if you don’t end up using it, don’t give it away this time. Understood?"

"I don’t plan on doing that twice."

When Ian replied, Archeas finally handed over the bottle.

Didn’t think I’d be getting it again.

Ian held up the bottle, gazing at the brilliantly shimmering elixir before pushing it into his pocket dimension. Luckily, there was just enough room left for it.

"Well. Let’s be on our way."

Archeas brushed past him, and Ian tilted his head before following.

"You’re not casting the teleportation spell from here?"

"There is a separate entrance that leads to the tomb. It is more convenient, and it consumes less magic," Archeas replied.

Beneath the helm that covered the bridge of his nose, Ian’s eyes narrowed.

"You built a passage in your home that connects to the tomb?"

"It’s something of a tradition. A reminder that death is always near, even for us. Though, truth be told..." Archeas glanced at him. "...it’s mostly a dignified excuse to maintain our lineage’s sense of propriety."

"So there’s another reason."

"Of course. As you know, a dragon’s corpse is very useful, isn't it?"

At that, Ian’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "I see. A noble way to protect the dignity of the dead, then."

"Correct. That is why, when death is imminent, we enter the tomb of our own accord."

It shrugged and added, "If one cannot do so, another dragon must retrieve the body and lay it to rest in the tomb. It is one of the duties of our kind."

"Like what you did for Tahumrit?"

"Yes, he was finally able to enter eternal rest. I thank you once again."

"There’s no need to thank me," Ian murmured awkwardly.

Archeas’s smile deepened. "The exact location of each tomb and its entrance is known only to the Tomb Keeper and their successor. That’s why it surprised me when you mentioned knowing where it was."

"I see," Ian replied quietly, meeting Archeas’s gaze.

Archeas’s eyes curved slightly. "Rest assured. I have no intention of prying. By the way, this creature must be that fragment of an ancient god you mentioned."

Its gaze slowly drifted downward.

Only then did Ian glance at his shoulder. Yog was coiled atop his pauldron, violet eyes glimmering as it stared fixedly at Archeas.

"That’s right. It just woke up."

"I’m glad to hear that." Archeas’s smile deepened at Ian’s reply.

—The way it’s looking at me seems unusual. It’s just my imagination... right?

I don’t think so.

Ian smiled silently. Even to him, Archeas’s gaze held an ominous glint.

"Would you hand that creature over to me?" Archeas held out its hand. "I wish to examine it for a moment. There is also something I wish to do."

—Can you please refuse? I have a terrible feeling about this.

Yog’s coils loosened as it whispered, but Ian ignored it completely.

"I don’t mind, but I should know what you plan to do first."

"It is nothing significant. I am going to engrave a binding curse. One that will shatter its soul if it tries to betray you," said Archeas without erasing its ominous smile.

—I knew it.

Yog whispered, darting into a gap in Ian’s armor.

Ian paid it no mind and said, "That is a very tempting offer. But the activation trigger seems important."

If he ordered it, the creature would have no choice but to crawl back out.

Ian glanced down at his forearm and added, "Is it the moment it decides to betray me? Or when it actually acts on it?"

"It will be engraved on its soul, so it will read its will. It will activate the moment it genuinely decides to betray you."

"In that case, I’ll have to decline. This creature seems to think about betraying me often." Ian smacked his lips briefly and shrugged.

A whisper immediately entered Ian’s mind.

—That’s harsh. I don’t think about it that often. Most of the time, I just hope you don’t die.

So you’re admitting you do sometimes. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Archeas nodded. "If that is your wish, I will refrain. But as I’ve said before—"

"I won’t trust it too much, and I’ll always be careful. Don’t worry."

"Listening to you talk like that makes me feel like an old man nagging a child," Archeas sighed.

"What, did you think you weren’t?"

When Ian asked back with a smile, Archeas blinked and then burst into laughter. "I cannot deny it. Please understand. As I’ve said, fear and worry grow with age. Ah, we are almost there."

Archeas turned its gaze forward.

Ian also turned his head. "They all look the same to me."

They continued down the passage that curved in a wide circle. Unlike the left wall, which was lined only with carved pillars, the right wall occasionally opened into side passages. Of course, there were no signs indicating where they led.

"You must have a way to tell them apart."

"You learn to feel it," Archeas said lightly. "More importantly, let’s finish that conversation from before. You said you had something to ask."

Ian’s eyebrows arched slightly. "Really? At a time like this?"

"There’s no reason not to. It will help ease the tension. Besides, who knows, I might end up dying in this fight."

"Fair point."

Ian stared at Archeas’s shimmering eyes for a moment, then finally said with a deadpan expression. "If it looks like that’s going to happen, at least send me outside first."

"Hm?" Archeas blinked blankly, then burst into laughter. "I tried to tease you, but you got me instead! Alright. I’ll remember that."

As Ian’s lips finally curled into a smirk, Archeas cackled, walked past him, and headed into the passage on the right. Beyond it, a staircase curved gently downward.

"So, what was it you wanted to ask?" said Archeas, stepping onto the stairs.

Ian said, "I was going to ask if you know anything about the White Mage."

"The White Mage?" Archeas blinked and repeated. It was clearly not the question it had been expecting.

Slowing his pace to match Archeas, Ian shrugged. "I thought you might know something, having lived so long."

"When he was alive, I was very young. Back then, I wasn’t as mild-tempered or sociable as I am now."

"That sounds like a long way of saying you don’t know much."

Archeas shrugged. "We had no direct acquaintance. But I heard many stories. Several dragons were fond of him."

"I heard rumors he was a descendant of dragons or learned magic from them."

"That is likely only half-true. I heard he was a human and an orphan. He apparently learned magic by watching over the shoulder of the fairy mage he served. He was a natural talent. Of course, that wasn’t all."

Archeas chuckled softly and continued, "He not only had the nerve to make a bet with a dragon, but he was also lucky enough to win and learn magic. He had the passion to wander the continent for half his life, researching all kinds of spells..."

As it spoke, it was staring into the distance with a faint, reminiscent look, as if recalling the distant past.

"And he was an unrivaled genius, with the tenacity to compile that knowledge and establish a magic theory suitable for humans."

He lived a more eventful life than I thought.

Smiling, Archeas added, "He was also the one who proved to the dragons once again that humans are a species of infinite potential. That’s why I’ve often regretted not meeting him."

"Do you know anything about his final years?"

"To some extent. But—" Archeas, who had been slowly descending the stairs, finally turned its head back to Ian. "Why are you so curious about him?"

"Because it seems I am a descendant of that man," Ian replied.

"What?" Archeas’s eyes widened.

Staring into those glowing yellow eyes, Ian added flatly. "I have never learned magic systematically. I’ve just been using it because I can."

"Are you saying the spells were already engraved on your soul?" Archeas asked again, its eyes wider.

Ian shrugged. "I don’t know if they’re engraved on my soul or in my blood. Perhaps."

It wasn’t even a lie—just worded carefully enough to pass as the truth.

"Good heavens. To think you were hiding a secret like this..."

It had the ability to see through lies. Judging by its reaction, it had clearly concluded that Ian was telling the truth.

"But yes, this answers so many questions. Wait, in that case, is that mysterious something enveloping your soul also his legacy?"

"I’m not sure," Ian said, shaking his head.

Ian shook his head. This, too, was not a lie. He wasn't even certain that the thing enveloping his soul was really the status window.

"I see... but I suspect I’m right."

As expected, Archeas nodded again.

Unable to hide its shock, it continued, as if to itself, "After completing his magic theory, I heard he distributed his work to his disciples and then secluded himself in a dragon’s nest. There, he delved deep into the study of mind and soul, perhaps seeking eternal life. Even the greatest archmage cannot escape death, after all."

Ian listened silently, just nodding.

"Unless one achieves divinity and ascends, it is taboo for a mortal to covet immortality. I doubt anyone could have dissuaded him. I never heard a detailed explanation, but that was likely why he was chased from the nest."

It didn’t surprise him that this version differed from what Lucia and Diana had told him. Archeas’s story was also likely different from the actual events.

"After that, I heard he lived in seclusion in a corner of the Fairy Jungle. The dragons only learned he was conducting research related to dimensions after everything had already happened."

As Archeas spoke, the surrounding light dimmed. Its eyes, gleaming gold in the growing darkness, seemed to glow even brighter.

"Of course, we never learned what exactly he was researching."

"All his research records were lost?"

Archeas immediately nodded at Ian’s question. "Yes. He was gone, and the entire area was devastated. An immense amount of chaos took root, so much that even the dragons were helpless. Perhaps that was how we came to realize what he’d been doing."

"So the White Mage really was the one who corrupted that forest," Ian murmured with a sigh. It seemed some part of Diana’s story had been true.

"Yes. Not only that, he carved a giant rift in this world."

"A rift?"

"I won’t say it was the first rift. Chaos and madness were not absent from this land, even then."

Archeas’s voice grew chillingly quiet.

"But his was the first that could not be healed. The first that scarred the world beyond repair."

"So you’re saying..." Ian stared at the glowing yellow eyes for a moment, then finally frowned. "Are you saying the White Mage is the one responsible for turning the world into this mess?"