I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 639
Ian put the cigarette back in his mouth and jerked his head to the side. "Sit down. Let’s eat."
Mev blinked, looking flustered. "Wait, you’re refusing? Why?"
"Because I don’t urgently need a new sword right now," Ian replied indifferently, inhaling smoke. That was enough to make Mev look even more troubled.
"What do you... No... But I have to fulfill my mission. I am the keeper and bearer of the Blazing Judgment. Upon meeting you, I must—"
"It’s my sword anyway. Let’s just say I’m lending it to you again. I’ll take it back when I need it." Ian cut her off, exhaling smoke as he looked up at her. "So keep using it until then. That’s more efficient. It will offset your restrictions to some extent. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?"
Mev stood there awkwardly, biting her lip in conflict. "If you insist... then I’ll hold onto it for a while longer."
A few seconds later, a sigh escaped her lips. "But my mission still stands. I won’t draw it unless absolutely necessary, and I will give my life before I let it be taken or lost."
"Please, save the oaths. That sword is hardly worth comparing to your life."
Still betting her life at the drop of a hat.
Ian clicked his tongue. He had refused the sword to prevent that ominous dream from becoming reality. Of course, the dream might not have been a prophecy, but he couldn’t rule out the possibility. And because of that, he needed to make decisions he normally wouldn’t.
Especially decisions that could change the future.
Ian looked down at his right hand. Yog, coiled around his wrist, was motionless. The snake was clearly in a deep sleep. It wasn’t strange, considering it had pushed itself just as hard during the battle, but it was still a pity.
If Yog had been awake, he could have discussed the dream with it immediately. It might have even stolen glimpses of the dream on its own. Then again, maybe it already had—maybe it remembered everything far more clearly than he did.
"This holy relic isn’t something to be called just a sword," Mev murmured, sitting back down. "But it’s not bad to hear."
A smile touched Ian’s lips. "I’m not just saying it. If the moment comes, don’t hesitate to use it."
"Okay. I will. But... there won’t be many situations like that. My own swords are excellent."
"Well...." Ian grabbed a skewer of jerky with his gloved left hand and glanced beside the campfire. Mev’s helmet and sword were laid out neatly beside it.
"They are good swords. I haven’t seen them before. Did you find a relic?" asked Ian.
"They’re treasure swords of old Agel Lan. Supposedly ancient fairy relics. The Bastard King gave them to me," Mev answered, taking the skewer.
Ian picked up another stick and added, "Even if you settled things with him, I doubt the Bastard King would just let you go."
He knew exactly what kind of person Declan was. Even if he let Mev go, he would have ensured a way to call her back to his side eventually.
"You’re right." Mev nodded easily.
I knew it.
Ian asked. "What was the condition?"
"He said it’s inevitable that you’ll clash with the Empire someday," Mev replied, chewing on the jerky.
She glanced at Ian. "When that time comes, he asked me to contact him. He said he would lend you his strength."
"So he thinks I’m going to start a war...."
A wry smile crossed Ian’s lips as he bit into the warm jerky. It was a natural assumption, given that Declan didn’t know about the Dark Prince. To the Bastard King, Ian’s current actions would look like nothing but preparation for war against the Empire. And truthfully, whatever his intentions, Ian himself had said he wouldn’t avoid such a conflict if the situation demanded it.
"I know the Bastard King has dangerous ambitions. But it’s also true that he’s capable." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Turning to look at the fire, Mev continued, "He built a significant force in a short time. He has the people’s trust, along with excellent knights and vassals. His soldiers are elites with plenty of combat experience."
"Like the Avengers who follow you?"
"They may be the very best, yes. But the rest aren’t far behind."
She swallowed the jerky she’d been chewing and added, "Whenever we hunted monsters or cleared demonic realms, he always dispatched additional soldiers to accompany us."
"So he made them gain combat experience that way." Ian nodded.
Of course, even with Mev leading them, there must have been casualties. However, those who survived would have turned into elites with terrifying speed.
"Right. In terms of capability, they might not lose out even to the Imperial Army. And with Orendel becoming a sacred land, he’ll be able to expand his forces even faster."
Mev nodded, then glanced at Ian.
"When that day comes, he asked me to become the supreme commander of his legion."
"I guess you accepted that request."
"There was no reason to refuse. But regardless of that, I’m not leaving your side, Ian. I still owe you a debt." Mev stuffed the rest of the jerky into her mouth and threw the stick into the fire.
Instead of answering, Ian let out a low laugh and handed her another stick from beside the fire. Even as she took it readily, Mev’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You’re not about to tell me you still won’t accept my help, are you?"
"That’s not it. ...For now, at least," Ian added quietly, looking into the darkness beyond the fire. He originally meant to travel with Mev for a while longer. However, after that ominous dream, he could no longer say that with certainty.
"We don’t even know who we’ll end up fighting yet." Sensing Mev’s unwavering gaze, he reached out and picked up the liquor bottle.
"You mean we might fight the Dark Prince?" Mev said quietly as he took a sip.
Ian put the bottle down and put the cigarette back in his mouth. "So you’ve already heard."
"If Lucy didn’t keep secrets from me, then probably." Mev nodded, her voice dropping lower. "But Lucy seemed to have a soft spot for the survivors of that demonic realm. She seemed genuinely saddened."
"So you assumed I was leaning toward them." Ian exhaled smoke with a slight twist of his lips. In truth, it wasn’t entirely off the mark.
Mev lifted the bottle as she answered, "That’s what I thought. But it seems you haven’t decided yet."
"It’s not a decision to make based on personal feelings. Of course, I won’t intervene in the war right away, either." Ian’s eyes narrowed as he answered. The thought crossed his mind that the scenes in his dream might be the result of acting too cautiously.
Then does that mean I should decide quickly and act first? But no matter how I think about it, that’s the more dangerous path.
As he shifted the cigarette between his fingers, Mev moistened her lips with a sip of liquor, then added with jerky in her mouth, "Whichever side you choose, I’ll follow that path. Ian."
"Don’t do that blindly. I could be wrong."
"Your judgment has always been right so far."
"No one makes the right call every time. I am no exception. It wouldn’t be strange if I drove everyone to their deaths at any moment. Especially in times like these." Ian took another bite of jerky.
"...True. That could happen." Surprisingly, Mev nodded easily. She looked at Ian, who was chewing his food, and said, "But even so, I wouldn’t blame you. And I doubt I’m the only one who feels that way."
She held out the bottle. "Most of us would have lost our lives long ago if it weren’t for you."
He looked into her eyes for a moment and said, "All the more reason to make sure those hard-won lives last as long as possible."
It was a thought he hadn’t expected to have. At first, he had only kept them alive because he needed them. However, now, he truly hoped that, if possible, no one would die. The headache of figuring out how was better than feeling that irreversible sense of loss.
"You really haven’t changed a bit. Ian," Mev murmured, watching him drink.
Ian’s brow furrowed. "Hardly. I’ve changed a lot."
And in a direction I didn’t want, at that.
Ian set the bottle down, adding the thought silently.
The smile on Mev’s lips deepened. "Being harsh on yourself is the same, too."
"Funny that you make it sound like both things are your lines to deliver..." Ian shook his head lightly and put the cigarette back between his lips.
Mev watched him for a moment before she picked up the bottle. "Anyway, it finally feels real that we’ve met again."
She wet her throat with alcohol and looked back at Ian. "I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time."
"I was too late, I know."
"I won’t deny it. I can’t say otherwise, even to be polite," Mev replied with a slightly mischievous tone, then added, "But I’m glad you came back safely, Ian. And thank you for protecting Lucy till the end."
"It goes both ways, so let’s stop here." Ian chuckled. He tossed the branch in his hand into the fire and glanced into the darkness.
Mev said nothing more, chewing her jerky in silence. The silence didn’t last long.
"So." Mev’s voice cut through the air, clearly shifting the subject.
"After you reach the Temple of the Brazier, are you heading to the snowfields?"
"Well... for now, yes. It’s already been months since I returned. Everyone must be waiting anxiously. I should go back before their patience runs out," said Ian, inhaling the smoke.
He glanced at the softly snoring Moro, then looked back at Mev. "So let’s take this big guy and cover as much ground as fast as we can."
"Okay. I’m ready," Mev answered calmly, holding his gaze.
Ian chuckled low and stood up abruptly, cigarette still in his mouth.
"Don’t just be ready—get some more sleep. I’m going to wash up. I feel filthy."
"Alright. Go ahead."
As Mev nodded, Ian walked toward the sound of water.
"Ah, I forgot to tell you something." He stopped a few steps later, shifting the cigarette between his fingers.
Mev tilted her head and looked back at him.
Meeting her eyes, Ian added, "I missed you. It’s really good to see you again."
Mev froze, her eyes wide. Ian put the cigarette back in his mouth, turned his head, and strode away.
"Me too."
A whisper, like a monologue, followed a long moment later, but Ian didn’t stop or look back. He simply pulled off his tattered top and exhaled a plume of smoke, as if to hide the faint smile tugging at his mouth.
