I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 664

Ian’s eyebrow slowly arched. Moro’s profile, visible from the side, looked utterly serious.

At the same time, it seemed extremely cautious, as though it were worried its blade-like horn might so much as graze Nila.

What on earth is this?

Nila’s face was hidden behind Moro’s body, but its posture was just as stiff. It was probably just as bewildered as Ian was right now. Yet Moro calmly rubbed its cheek against Nila’s, even letting out a low, rumbling breath from deep in its chest.

Swoosh...

It was then that Nila's drooping mane began to undulate and hold orange sparks. Miguel, who had been frowning slightly unlike Ian or Lucia, grimaced even more.

"Dammit, let's back off!"

He not only pulled back Ian, who had his arms crossed, but also wrapped his right arm around Lucia's shoulder and retreated. Ian didn't ask why. There was no need.

Nila jerked its neck in the opposite direction.

Whoosh, thwack—

Then it snapped its neck like a whip, smashing the side of Moro’s head. Blinding sparks burst outward as Moro’s head flung aside, its entire body twisting with the force. Through the shower of sparks, Nila’s full form emerged, orange light blazing in its eyes.

Neigh!

Glaring as if enraged, the creature bent its knees and steadied its stance. Its gaze was fixed on Moro's flank as it staggered back.

Boom—

Immediately after that, Nila straightened its bent legs and shot forward. The trail of scattering sparks slammed straight into Moro’s flank, which was clad in black armor.

Clang!

Moro’s body bent and was flung aside. Nila lifted its head, fully shaking Moro off, then slammed all four hooves into the ground and came to a halt.

Crash, rumble—

Moro rolled loudly across the ground. The noisy area became silent as if doused with cold water. Lucia and Ian stood with their mouths slightly open, and even the barbarian warriors froze and turned to look.

Ian shook off Miguel’s grip, already preparing to shout. Given Moro’s temperament, it would charge back like an enraged bull.

However, contrary to his expectations, Moro only rose slowly. It lightly shook its head to shake off the dust from its head and mane, then looked back at Nila. Far from being dyed purple, its eyes looked devoid of anger.

Why is that ill-tempered bastard...

Watching Moro approach Nila much more cautiously, Ian slowly tilted his head. That was when Miguel let out a chuckle.

"Thought your mount might be different, but I guess males are all the same, huh?"

Ian’s expression finally twisted as he looked at Miguel. The comment forced a thought he had never once entertained.

"Wait, so you’re saying Moro has fallen for Nila or something?" asked Lucia.

"In human terms, well, something like that," Miguel replied.

Ian opened his mouth, then closed it again. For once, he was at a loss for words.

"Once we realized divinity had taken root in Nila, the High Priestess tried to pair it off. Figured the offspring would be a fine steed."

Looking at Lucia and Ian in turn, Miguel curled up one corner of his mouth slightly.

"After I returned from carrying out the Great One’s task, everything was already prepared. They brought all the horses with good Northern bloodlines to let Nila choose a mate."

"So, what happened?" Lucia asked, looking a bit shocked.

Miguel let out a low laugh.

"What else? It beat the hell out of them, every last one. It’s a miracle they didn’t die. Looking back, I guess Nila held back just enough to keep that from happening. Either way, the ones that rushed it at first couldn’t even meet its eyes by the end. They just ran."

"Lu Entre, my goodness." Lucia let out an exclamation that sounded like equal parts relief and disbelief.

Turning his gaze back to Moro, Miguel added, "One thing’s for sure. Any stallion that sees Nila for the first time loses its mind. It’s like they’re bewitched. Just like that one right now."

Only then did a faint smile spread across Ian's lips. "So you mean Nila is a tremendous beauty...."

"Even to us, it is. To horses, I imagine it’s even more so."

At that moment, another explosive sound rang out. Nila, standing on its hind legs, struck Moro's head with its front hooves. Moro staggered and skidded backward.

"Judging by that, it doesn’t look like that one’s going to give up without taking a serious beating." Miguel chuckled.

Ian looked toward Moro as it came to a stop. It shook its head as if dazed, but its reaction was still far from anger.

I was worried they’d try to kill each other...

Another chuckle passed Ian's lips. Since it was a meeting between a holy beast and a demonic beast, he had never even imagined it. That Moro would end up courting so one-sidedly was even more unthinkable.

"Stop it, Moro."

Anyway, he couldn't let it keep getting beaten up like that.

"Nila. You too. That’s enough."

Moro clearly wasn’t going to give up easily. Nila wouldn’t kill it with a few blows, but if this kept up, innocent barbarian warriors might get dragged into it.

"As expected... a mount worthy of the Great Warrior really is something else."

"Didn’t you see it charge straight at demons before? That black one’s definitely a sacred beast too."

The barbarian warriors, who had already gone back to their tasks, were still sneaking glances over, eyes shining as if enjoying a rare spectacle.

Snort....

Moro stopped as ordered, snorting regretfully. Its gaze never left Nila. Nila, without sparing it a glance, turned and walked back toward Ian.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The glow in its eyes subsided, and the sparks rippling through its mane died down as well. Despite swinging its head like a mace earlier, all it had was a small scrape on its cheek.

"Seriously, that temper of yours."

Despite puffing its breath at Miguel’s teasing remark, Nila leaned its head slightly toward Ian, as if worried it might get scolded after the fact.

"Anyway, well, I'm glad what we feared didn't happen. I am worried in a slightly different sense, though," Lucia said softly as she reached out to stroke Nila’s neck.

Ian smacked his lips as he ran a hand along its muzzle.

"Well... they’ve said hello, so that’s enough."

"Mind if we keep borrowing the creature until the subjugation’s finished? We still need it to pull the brazier carriage," Miguel asked cautiously.

Thinking of the other white horses pulling their carriage, Ian nodded easily.

"Go ahead. Got any liquor left?"

For now, it seemed best to keep Nila away from Moro.

Patting Nila's flank, Miguel nodded. "Of course. Just give me a moment. As you can see, this one doesn’t listen to me very well."

Nila, which had been leaning into Ian and Lucia’s touch, finally turned as if giving in. Miguel gestured for it to follow and started walking toward the front of the carriage.

Beyond that, Moro came back into view, standing there blankly. It was still staring at Nila. Even with the sacred flames blazing in the nearby brazier, it didn’t seem to feel the heat at all.

"Practically gone blind," Ian murmured, shaking his head. It really was a rare sight, in more ways than one.

"I’m kind of rooting for Moro," Lucia said quietly.

With a faint smile on her lips, she looked back at Ian and added, "Even knowing it’s unlikely, it didn’t hesitate to approach. And it doesn’t seem like it’ll give up either."

Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly. Lucia shrugged, then looked back.

"They’re already back."

Ian turned as well. Beyond the injured gathered near the brazier, bickering with the priests, a gentle glow flickered. It was the light of a torch held by a knight on a white horse. Beside it, the outline of a two-horse carriage gradually came into view.

"I'll go to Moro. I should comfort it. Feed it something too," Lucia added.

Ian, looking back at her, nodded. "Take it somewhere dark and feed it there. No need to stir up any more strange legends."

"I will. Though I think everyone will find out eventually anyway." Lucia smiled gently and started walking, gesturing Moro to follow.

Anyway, cheeky rascal.

Looking back at the receding Lucia, Ian finally let out a chuckle. Well, they were bound to part ways once the subjugation was over. She probably just wanted to convey her thoughts one more time before then.

But right now, finding a way not to lose you guys is more important.

With that thought, Ian let his gaze drift around.

The barbarian warriors were busy at work. Some were clearing away monster corpses, while others dragged fallen trees together or chopped the ones that had already been brought in.

Fwoosh—

At the edge of the camp, a priest holding a torch with sacred flames was lighting bonfires. Each time the priest pressed the torch to a pile of firewood and recited a prayer, the sacred fire leaped across.

So that’s what makes a forced march possible.

Not only did it push the cold of the snowfields, but it also helped restore fatigue and wounds. As Ian nodded to himself, his eyes suddenly twitched.

Crack— Crunch—

An unpleasant sight caught his attention. Several barbarian warriors were standing atop a demon’s corpse.

"Hit it properly, man. Are you tired?"

"Just pull straight! The skin’s ridiculously tough! How on earth did the Great Warrior manage this with his bare hands?"

"That's why he's a demigod. Move, man. I'll do it."

Some were pulling the demon's front paw, and one was striking with an axe. It seemed they were trying to tear off a claw. The one directing them was clearly Volber, the axe clenched in his hands.

Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Sorry, I’m late. Heh." Miguel came running hurriedly, holding out a leather canteen in his hand.

Receiving Ian's gaze, he jerked his head to the back. "It's hard to manage it all with one hand, you see."

Nila, shouldering the yoke again, was looking this way. Meeting Ian's eyes, the creature finally sat down on its belly.

Nodding, Ian uncapped the canteen and took a mouthful of the strong liquor. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Is that bastard still—"

At Miguel’s low mutter, Ian swallowed and turned his head. Miguel, glaring, was staring at Askel standing over there. Askel’s gaze was fixed beyond them, on Lucia standing beside Moro.

Funny, considering how she’d lectured me nonstop.

The corner of Ian's mouth twisted slightly. Lucia seemed completely unaware that she was being watched.

"This won’t do. I’ll have to give him a sharp warning soon. How dare he...."

"Leave him be."

"...Huh?"

Miguel stared at Ian as if he’d misheard. Ian pulled the canteen from his lips and shrugged calmly.

"Scolding him won’t make feelings disappear. He looks like he’ll just watch from a distance anyway. Let it be."

"Are you serious? Huh." Miguel, letting out a sigh, soon smacked his lips sourly. "If you say so... still, if he tries any nonsense, I won't just stand by. That much can’t be helped."

"Do as you like."

He didn’t seem like the type to, anyway.

Ian nodded readily. After all, he knew better than anyone how deeply Miguel cared for Lucia.

"Ah, they’re coming."

Miguel, clearing his throat awkwardly, soon turned his head. Ian also took another sip of liquor and looked back.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

Mev was approaching with the carriage, a sacred-flame torch in hand. Caleb, perched on the driver’s seat, was stiff as a board, his eyes darting around as he took in the surroundings.

Whether it was the sheer number of monsters nearby or the demon corpse sprawled in the distance was hard to say.

"Over here, my lord!"

Miguel ran quickly and reached out. Mev, handing him the torch, jumped down from the saddle lightly. Miguel snuffed out the flame with a practiced grip and immediately took Selim’s reins. Even after years as a priest, the motion was still second nature.

"Good work. Glad you didn't get lost." Ian jerked his chin.

Mev, taking off her helmet and shaking her head to organize her messy hair, smiled. "You too, Ian.

Ian watched Mev’s face for a moment, lit by the glow of the sacred fire. Mev, who had been coming closer, gave an awkward smile.

"Do I really look that bad right now?"

"Not at all. Care for a drink?" Ian laughed softly and offered the canteen.

Mev accepted it without hesitation and took a swig. Almost at the same time, the carriage Miguel had guided behind the brazier swung its door open.

"Finally, it's warm! If only it could get rid of the smell, too." Thesaya stepped out briskly, pulling back the hood to reveal silver hair and a pale face.

The attention of the wounded and priests gathered next to the brazier naturally focused on her.

Thesaya gave Miguel a casual wave as she strolled past them. "Long time no see, Prosthetic. Still ugly as ever. Good to see the rest of you, too."

It seemed she’d decided to behave exactly as she pleased the moment they entered the snowfields.

"Bodies everywhere. Barbarian warriors all over the place too. Yep—still a complete mess."

Murmuring almost cheerfully, Thesaya stopped in front of Ian. "In that sense, Ian, how about heading back slowly now? I think you've enjoyed it enough by now."

"Well...." Ian exchanged a glance with Mev and curled up one corner of his mouth.

"Got it!"

It was then that a cheer erupted from the side. Thesaya, twitching her eyebrows at Ian's expression, turned her gaze. Standing atop the demon’s corpse, Volber held a massive, blade-like claw high above his head.

"A trophy to celebrate the Great Warrior’s return! Let’s offer it to Karha!"

"Ooooo—"

"Demigod of the North-!"

The barbarian warriors raised their weapons and shouted again.

Thesaya twisted her lips into a crooked, mocking smile. "Hasn't changed a bit. Looking stupid and having excess strength."

"Indeed." Ian, similarly curling up one corner of his mouth, added, "Makes me want to find out just where their limits really are."

"What do you mean by that?" Thesaya’s smile stiffened.

From behind them came Miguel’s hesitant voice. "L-Limits? Why?"

"We don’t have that much time," Ian answered calmly, shrugging as he turned. "Let's clean up the remaining wasteland as quickly as possible."

Miguel's mouth opened slightly.

Although Ian didn't know, the nightmare-like memory of the rapid march was passing through Miguel’s mind. And starting the very next day, the subjugation truly continued without pause—just as relentless as it had been back then.