I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 666

Trees towering high stretched endlessly along the gentle ridge. It was a vast coniferous forest that the barbarians called the Gray Forest.

Whoosh—

The wind from beyond swept over the barbarian warriors as they trudged on, their breaths rough and heavy, before passing over Ian, seated astride Nila.

It carried a biting chill, but it was nothing compared to the cold of the Lu Glast back when it had turned into a wasteland.

In that sense, it really is positioned almost too perfectly.

Taking a sip of the little remaining liquor, Ian took in the dim forest. Although the snowfields were uninhabitable land, they were vast enough to occupy more than half of the North. Just the area Ian owned would amount to that much.

Gal Maro, where Hope City lay, sat in the region's southwest. The cold there was relatively mild, and though it stood at a higher elevation than the main territory, the land itself was flat.

With forests covering nearly the entire region, there was no shortage of timber or game. Since it was originally settled to serve as a bridgehead with the main territory, the distance from the barrier wasn't that far either. Although likely unintentional, it was even separated from the other two regions, unlike Travelga.

And yet it ended up like that.

Ian's eyes narrowed slightly. The foresight, now memorized only as words, passed through his mind again. Hope City becoming ruins was one of the parts he couldn't understand at all.

No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t feel like the Dark Prince’s doing.

It wasn’t impossible for Hyked to win the civil war. Even so, there was no reason to invade the North, much less push beyond the barrier. Nor did Archduke Olaf seem the type to antagonize the victor. If it benefited him, he would recognize the Dark Prince's legitimacy under any pretext.

So it comes back to the Archduke.

A long, misty sigh spread from Ian's nose. Once again, he’d arrived at the same conclusion. He’d seen Travelga reduced to ruins as well.

A situation where both cities would become ruins—no matter how he thought about it, only a war between him and the Archduke fit. This was one of the reasons Ian believed the civil war in the North must be avoided. It also seemed like the nearest future.

I just have to get through this somehow and hit max level first.

Ian, eventually reaching the same conclusion this time as well, brought the liquor bottle to his mouth. Of course, it wasn’t as simple as thinking it. This very subjugation had proven as much.

He’d purified multiple sources of madness and slaughtered plenty of monsters and demons, yet his experience hadn’t increased by much. If not for the string of one-off side quests, he wouldn’t have gained even this much.

Between the North and the frontier, was it?

Of course, that didn't mean he was cornered. Ian mulled over the place he had to visit first after resolving the issue with the Archduke.

—I just want to sleep already.

A low whisper spread through his mind. Of course, it was Yog wrapped around Ian's wrist.

The creature, having shed its skin, opened its eyes less than half a day after Lucia left. It seemed the sacred fire of the brazier had been interfering with its consciousness awakening.

—It’s getting disgusting again.

They hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye, but Yog was oddly unconcerned. The reason was that since they were fatefully connected with Lucia, they would definitely meet again. It was an ominous prophecy, but Ian only clicked his tongue.

Anyway, Ian immediately realized the meaning contained in the creature's whisper.

"Really?" Thesaya, sprawled across the carriage roof, seemed to realize it too.

As she sat up abruptly, Mev, walking side by side with the carriage, looked back in puzzlement.

Thesaya swept her gaze over the barbarians at the rear, then finally met Ian’s eyes and said, "We’re almost there, right, Prosthetic?"

"Huh. I was just about to tell you. How did you know?"

The answer came immediately. Miguel’s bandit-like face popped up over the edge of the carriage roof.

"You’ll see it right after passing this curved road."

"Finally!" A bright smile spread across Thesaya’s face.

One corner of Ian’s mouth curled as well—though his carried a different meaning than hers.

"I knew it already, but it really has grown bigger."

This road was familiar to him. In the past, after crossing the snowfields to unite the barbarians, he had returned this way from Nor Lindor. Back then, he’d had to travel much farther before Hope City finally came into view.

"Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do once we’re back, right?" Thesaya shouted.

The smile on Ian’s lips faded at once. She was telling the barbarians to pass along the stories they’d heard from Lucia and her.

Thesaya’s versions were far more dramatic and thrilling than Lucia’s. In other words, they were riddled with embellishments and personal interpretations. Simon’s influence was obvious, and Yog had eagerly added fuel whenever it could, fanning the flames at every opportunity.

"Yes, Elder!"

"We will spread the greatness of the Demigod far and wide!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Thanks to that, Ian had somehow become a demigod who tore apart an archdemon of the desert with his bare hands, subjugated the beastfolk and ruled over them, sank a black fleet, and fought a bloody battle against a deep-sea archdemon while riding the ocean currents.

"Preaching the greatness of the Demigod is good, but don't leave out the beastfolk and Erenos! And the Sacred Land of the Frontier, got it?"

The reason Ian didn't stop her wasn't that she didn't fabricate stories out of thin air, nor because the barbarians listened with sparkling eyes. It was because, along the way, she firmly drilled into them that the beastfolk, Erenos, and the Kingdom of Orendel were now allies.

They’d even started calling the beastfolk their brothers across the sea. It helped that a few among them had met Charlotte before, but either way, many potential complications had been resolved without effort.

"We will keep it in mind!"

"Don’t worry!"

They’re suddenly full of energy.

Clicking his tongue, Ian gave Mev a small nod and flicked the reins. He’d planned to enter first anyway, so it made sense to move ahead and take position.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

Nila immediately overtook the carriage. It lifted its head slightly, knowing it’d soon pass Moro.

Snort...

As expected, Moro, pulling the carriage without showing signs of fatigue, snorted and turned its head. Nila didn’t spare it a glance, but Moro paid no mind, staring at her with burning intensity.

It’s not just reckless in a fight, is it...

Ian swallowed a chuckle. Yog mocked Moro relentlessly, but this was a hundred times better than them snarling at each other every time their eyes met.

"I will also do my best. Great Warrior," said Caleb.

When Ian looked back, he straightened his back stiffly and added, "Upon return, I will also spread the Great Warrior's great achievements to the soldiers of the fortress. Before long, all Northerners will know the greatness of the Demigod."

"No, that’s—" Ian objected, then hesitated. After a brief sigh, he turned his gaze away.

Judging by Caleb’s expression, there was no stopping him anyway. Despite being a follower of Lu Solar, Caleb had somehow ended up no different from the barbarian warriors.

Of course, there were plenty of reasons. Ian had fought at the forefront of every battle and slain multiple demons right before Caleb’s eyes. The stories told by Lucia and Thesaya had only sealed the deal.

"Think of it positively, Ian," said Mev, having overtaken the carriage. "Soon enough, no one will ask what you went through beyond the Wall." A playful smile curved her lips—the kind she only ever showed him.

"That’s... incredibly comforting. Thank you," Ian, replying with a resigned laugh, soon turned his gaze to the front.

As the trees disappeared, the view opened up wide.

—As expected, it’s getting clearer.

Amidst Yog's whispering, Ian took in the city surrounded by a wide wooden palisade in the distance. Just as he had seen in the vision, Hope City had grown far larger.

"It’s really different from what I imagined. In so many ways," Mev murmured, her lips parting slightly.

Her surprise was only natural. The city was still ringed with wooden palisades instead of stone walls, and most of its buildings appeared to be wooden houses. Even so, its sheer scale rivaled that of a major imperial city.

"Well... it is a capital of sorts." Ian nodded calmly.

What surprised him more than the scale of the city was the farmland spread outside the palisade. It lay empty now, but it was clear something had been planted there in spring and summer.

It must have become inevitable as the city grew, but still...

Barbarians were cultivating fields—fields laid out much like those he’d seen in the western Empire. There was no doubt that imperial merchants traveling through the snowfields had lent a hand.

Ding— ding—

A faint ringing pierced Ian’s ears just then. He paused and turned toward the palisade. It was still a considerable distance away.

Ding— ding—

From the watchtower rising beyond the palisade, a guard was ringing the bell vigorously. He was even shouting something loudly, looking back at the city.

With a bit of focus, Ian could faintly make out his voice.

"He’s back! He’s finally back—get ready, everyone!"

That alone was enough to make Ian tilt his head slightly. No matter how good the eyesight of a barbarian warrior, it was a distance too far to confirm that he was accompanying them.

—Looks like I’m going to miss something entertaining again.

Amidst Yog's low whisper, one corner of Ian's mouth twisted slightly.

"That butcher’s getting ahead of himself again, isn’t he?"

"What do you mean?" Mev whispered from beside him, riding close like an escort knight.

She wore a questioning look, as though she’d heard the bell.

"Looks like they knew I was coming and were waiting for me." Glancing at the carriage behind, Ian added, "Hope City has both a holy statue and a brazier. The gods probably tipped them off first."

It wasn't difficult at all to imagine Karha's holy statue scattering red divinity and the brazier's sacred fire blazing. That was likely why Yog was suffering.

"Really? Then I should prepare too." Looking back at the city where the bell sound spread faintly, Mev lowered her visor. She pulled the reins slightly to slow Selim's pace. It was clear she intended to follow diagonally behind.

"Align!"

"Align!"

Everyone understood at once what those bells meant. At Volber and Askel’s shouts, the barbarian warriors fell into line behind the carriage with practiced precision. Though they all looked haggard, they still corrected their grips on their weapons and straightened their posture.

Nasser leaned his head out the window and asked, "Elder, aren’t you coming in?"

"Nope. Not going in." Thesaya turned to look forward.

She must find the North quite comfortable.

With a low scoff, Ian turned his gaze forward again, pulling off his hood.

By now, the bell had fallen silent, and guards were already rushing down from beyond the palisade. From behind the tightly shut gates set into the long wooden wall, faint murmurs drifted through the air.

Are they all coming out to greet me?

The corner of Ian’s mouth twisted on its own. He had known something like this would happen eventually. He just hadn’t expected them to be waiting the instant he returned.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The firmly closed main gate drew closer. Beyond the tall palisade, everything had gone quiet before he realized it. Just as expected, Ian felt divinity spreading from the other side.

—Could I drink just a little of your blood, Friend? I don’t think I can hold on.

At the very moment Yog whispered weakly, the tightly shut gates began to swing open to either side.

Whoosh—

A wave of warm, heat-laced wind poured out, and Yog’s voice faded as if melting away. Ian, of course, paid it no mind.

Beyond the gates stood two lines of fully armed barbarian warriors, facing each other across the main road. The formation stretched the length of the avenue, and beyond them, a vast crowd packed the space to the brim.

The entire city had come out to welcome the Great Warrior. And yet, it was silent.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The sound of Nila’s hooves echoed clearly as it passed through the gate. Even as Ian entered the city, no boisterous cheers rose.

"Oh... Ohhh...."

"Demigod of the North...."

"Our Great Warrior—"

Both residents and warriors only bowed their heads after looking at him with eyes swirling with emotion and joy.

That’s a new reaction.

Ian’s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked over the wave of bowed heads. There was something almost religiously solemn about the sight.

Thud, thud...—

The barbarian warriors following behind him were no different. Like Moro, they kept their heads slightly raised, eyes forward, advancing in silence.

"O thunder and lightning."

"O Demigod of the North."

So they really are praying.

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked over the bowing residents, then shifted his gaze toward the plaza. Its far end was packed tightly with people. At the center stood a long altar, upon which a brazier blazed with sacred fire.

Whoosh—

Wrapped in blazing red divinity before it stood what appeared to be Karha’s holy statue, likely meant to celebrate his return. Ian’s gaze lingered for a moment on the neighboring statue, an unfamiliar figure carved with bulging muscles.

That’s not me, right? It better not be.

In any case, that wasn’t the important part right now. Ian lowered his gaze toward the base of the altar, where elders in matching attire stood arrayed in a semicircle, waiting for him.

Wondered why they were going on about demigods....

Only then did Ian realize it hadn’t been the gods who announced his return. Standing off to the side behind the elders was a familiar knight.

So he moved fast.

It was Lucas, the commander of the Barrier Fortress. He had met with the Archduke and came straight here to wait for him. And judging by his expression, he hadn’t brought good news.