I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 649

Cherwyn, the High Priestess, waited in the hallway until Ian reached the top of the stairs.

Watching him approach, she smiled. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help my curiosity. I could hear the artisans' gasps all the way inside."

"As you might have seen, they were closer to sighs than gasps," Ian replied, continuing his stride.

The hallways circling the main hall connected to study rooms and meditation chambers for the priests, which meant the living quarters were naturally pushed to the outskirts.

"It looked like a treasure bestowed by the Platinum Dragon itself. I wonder how it ended up that way, but I won't ask. I don't want to put the Agent of the Saint in a difficult spot."

Ian curled the corners of his lips at Cherwyn's remark. "I appreciate your consideration."

"Don't mention it. Here, let me show you inside." She lifted an arm toward the open doorway of her office and stepped in first. "What kind of alcohol would you like? We have almost everything."

"The strongest you have."

"A fitting choice." Cherwyn smiled back at Ian and strode across the room.

Following at a leisurely pace, Ian looked around. The High Priestess’s office was modest and not especially large. A desk stacked with documents sat at the front, and off to the side stood a small table and a single display cabinet. In short, it was a simple, practical space.

"It’s a mess. Embarrassingly so. Please, have a seat, Agent of the Saint." She moved toward the shelf and gestured to the chair across from her desk.

Ian nodded and sat on the edge of the chair. Beyond the stacks of files, the document Cherwyn had been writing caught his eye. It was a letter to Archduke Olaf.

"I need to inform him you’ve returned."

Clearing space with a sweep of her hand, Cherwyn set a pewter cup in front of him. Leaning over, she placed another cup on her side and pulled the cork from the bottle in her left hand.

"Don’t worry. I’ll calm him down before he gets any strange ideas."

A sharp, clean aroma rose as she poured.

Ian let out a quiet, amused breath. "I hope you succeed."

"I’ll try my best. I hope this suits your taste."

Returning to the other side, Cherwyn poured alcohol into her own cup. She placed the bottle down next to her, took her seat, and smiled brightly.

"If you like it, I’ll give you the whole bottle as a gift. I rarely drink it myself since it’s far too strong."

"I’ll gladly accept," Ian said, lifting his cup.

Cherwyn lifted hers in response and took a sip. Ian did the same. The pungent scent stabbed at his nose, and the liquor felt like it was freezing his throat.

"Excellent," murmured, lowering the cup.

Cherwyn, who had barely wet her lips, smiled. "I'm glad. By the way, are you really leaving tomorrow?"

"I heard what’s happening with the barbarians. I can’t keep putting the temple in a difficult position."

"We are fine. We may serve different gods, but the barbarians are like brothers and comrades to us. Besides, the number of people offering prayers to the Blazing Goddess is increasing."

Ian's smile softened slightly at Cherwyn's answer. "Thank you for constantly looking out for us. I owe you a great debt."

"You brought Lucy back safely, so that more than covers it."

"I heard Miguel and the other priests are participating in purging the cursed lands. Once I cross the snowfield, I plan to join them immediately, just in case."

Cherwyn lifted her cup again. "That puts my heart at ease."

"Lucy said she wants to come along. Did you hear?" Ian asked, lifting his cup in response.

Cherwyn smacked her lips and nodded. "She came running to ask me first thing in the morning. I didn't intend to let her out of the temple anymore, but I allowed it just this once. She has a special bond with Miguel, doesn't she?"

"You’re generous."

"In return, please send her back immediately once the subjugation is over, Agent of the Saint."

"I will. Do not worry," Ian answered and brought the cup to his lips.

Cherwyn, only wetting her lips again, watched him slowly drain the alcohol. "I heard there are survivors beyond the Black Wall. That they are living in underground strongholds."

"That is true. I haven't seen everything, but quite a number have survived." Ian nodded as he set down his cup.

Keeping her eyes on him, Cherwyn said, "And my brother... I mean, Prince Hyked is ruling over them."

"Correct. I met him myself. Not just me, but Lucy as well." Ian answered.

Cherwyn looked at him for a moment before adding in a slightly trembling voice, "Then you must know for certain. Has His Highness... truly fallen?"

"So Lucy didn’t tell you that far," Ian said quietly, meeting her red eyes.

One corner of his mouth twisted slightly as he recalled Lucia saying she had told Cherwyn only what was necessary.

"She told me to hear the details directly from the Agent of the Saint. Very firm about it, as befits the Vice High Priestess." A faint, bitter smile spread across her lips.

Ian lifted his cup. "I hope you don’t take it too harshly. She likely said it out of consideration for you."

"I know. I understand. Thanks to that, I became certain of my brother's condition. If he were the same as before, there would be no reason to withhold words."

That's true.

Taking a sip of his drink, Ian said, "It is true. His Highness has accepted Chaos."

"As I thought...." Cherwyn let out a low sigh

Even if she had expected it, the sorrow and regret would not be any less.

"However, to borrow the Vice High Priestess's expression, it should be called a noble sacrifice rather than corruption."

At the words Ian added after lowering his cup, Cherwyn’s eyes quivered.

Meeting her trembling, crimson gaze, he said, "His Highness and the people who follow him made that choice to protect the people."

After holding his gaze for a moment, a faint curve finally softened Cherwyn’s lips. "I see. That’s just like him. If it were the only way, he wouldn’t have hesitated."

"He isn’t consumed by madness, either. He was gentle, good-humored, and brave. He even subjugated an Archdemon with us."

"Does he still stand at the vanguard?"

"He does."

At Ian’s calm answer, Cherwyn’s smile deepened. A brief shimmer of longing crossed her eyes.

"And does he still consider himself the Crown Prince?" Cherwyn asked in a much lower voice.

Ian casually shrugged one shoulder. "He is called that, but he acknowledges the legitimacy of His Majesty the Emperor. He isn’t trying to claim the throne."

"If that is so... then it is a relief." A faint sense of relief stained Cherwyn's murmuring voice.

However, Ian was not finished speaking. "But he will return to the Empire. To return the people and to judge the Great Church that abandoned them."

Cherwyn's smile stiffened. She held her breath for a moment, then closed her eyes and asked, "Does the royal family know this fact?"

"Hard to say. They might have found out by now. Even if not, they will know soon. One of Princess Seras’s people, who traveled with me from the South, went to the capital. They should’ve delivered the message already."

"I see." Cherwyn, who had been listening with her eyes closed, murmured as she picked up her cup.

Bringing it to her lips, she swallowed several mouthfuls in succession, unlike before. "I always liked the Crown Prince... no, my brother Hyked. He was a person with a very warm and broad heart."

Lowering her cup at last, Cherwyn added in a subdued voice, "He never discriminated against his half-siblings. He was always kind. And at the same time, he had such courage and boldness. The lack of conflict among the brothers was largely thanks to him."

She opened her eyes and looked down at her cup. "Everyone thought it was natural for my brother to sit on the throne. In contrast, His Majesty... Richard, who was merely a prince back then... was unreadable."

Those were eyes looking into her past, not at the alcohol inside.

"He was always calm and quiet. Even when our second brother died in battle. I vaguely noticed he harbored ambition, but I didn't pay it any mind. I was set to leave the capital soon anyway, and my brother Hyked was going strong. I never imagined that the Black Wall would change everything."

"It seems you still don't like His Majesty very much," Ian remarked, lifting his cup.

It was a line meant to steer the conversation away from something he didn’t truly care to hear, but Cherwyn didn’t deny it—she nodded instead.

"Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that my brother abandoned the Heavens."

Only then did she meet his eyes again.

"If war breaks out, I have no choice but to stand on the side of the royal family and the Great Church. Just as you must."

Ian said nothing. He only raised his cup again. He had already expected this from her. If she had claimed she’d abandoned the Empire, that would’ve been the real surprise.

"So I dare to ask you a favor, Agent of the Saint. If the moment comes when you face my brother, please do not show mercy to his sword. No...."

Cherwyn paused to catch her breath before adding. "If possible... please kill my brother yourself, Agent of the Saint."

Ian’s eyes twitched before he could stop it. While he stared, moving only his gaze, Cherwyn forced a faint smile across her lips.

"He must know he’ll eventually be defeated. And still, he chose this path for the sake of the people. That was always the kind of man he was."

Ian set down his emptied cup.

Cherwyn immediately reached for the bottle, rose from her seat, and leaned forward as she said, "However, even if it is possible, the royal family and the Great Church will not destroy my brother's forces immediately. They will push him slowly, piling all sorts of disgrace and dishonor upon him."

Ian’s cup slowly filled again.

As she watched the rising liquid, her eyes sank, darkening to match her voice. "Until he’s devoured by madness, as befits the fate of a fallen one. So if a chance comes before that... please..."

Setting the bottle upright, she sat back down. Her red eyes remained fixed on Ian.

"Please take my brother's life."

Ian’s eyes tightened again, not only because of her unexpected request. The instant she spoke, a quest window flashed before him.

[The Saintess’s Wish.]

It was an optional quest that could be refused.

"You are the only one I can ask this of."

Misreading his silence, Cherwyn added, "He will take the vanguard, as always, and he won’t avoid a duel with yo—"

"I think you’ve misunderstood something." Ian cut her off. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

As Cherwyn paused, he picked up his cup and said, "I have not yet decided which side I will stand on."

"What do you mean?" Blinking, Cherwyn muttered a beat late.

She looked as if she didn't understand Ian's words.

"Are you saying you might abandon the royal family and the Great Church?"

"I am neither a follower of the Great Church nor a devotee of the Radiant Goddess. And as you know, the Platinum Dragon will soon no longer be the Saint of the Order."

At this, Cherwyn’s lips parted in disbelief.

Looking into her somewhat dazed red eyes, Ian curled up the corners of his lips. "My relationship with His Majesty the Emperor is merely one formed by a request. I never swore loyalty, nor do I intend to. And besides, I’m not even an Imperial citizen."

"Lu Entre... merciful heavens..."

Only then did a low gasp escape Cherwyn's lips. Her expression showed she had only now realized the truth that Ian had no obligation whatsoever to side with the Empire or the Great Church.

She then stammered, her lips trembling, "But... even so... why...."

"There are survivors. They are not tainted by chaos or madness, and they still consider themselves people of the Empire. The Vice High Priestess and I are witnesses who can vouch for that fact."

Ian, having cut her off calmly, tilted the cup in his hand.

"Unless there is a firm guarantee that they will be accepted as members of the Empire, helping the royal family and the Great Church would be nothing more than participating in a massacre."

He took a drink, then met her eyes with a meaningful look. "That should be sufficient justification for the temple to refuse the royal family's call."