I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 672

Around the raised throne, five or six barbarian children had gathered. They perched on the seat itself or ran circles around it, giggling loudly.

Below them, the hall, lined with long dining tables, was unexpectedly sparse. Aside from a few elderly folk, everyone else had already gone outside. The boisterous noise from beyond flowed into the hall without pause.

Rumble...

Through the din, a faint sound of thunder spread. Ian, who had been quietly tilting his cup while watching the children, eventually turned his gaze.

Sitting some distance behind him were Lucas and Hester. As if he had been waiting for this moment, Caleb rose to his feet.

"Agent of the Saint."

Only Lucas approached Ian. The other two immediately turned and headed for the exit.

"I thought you’d come as soon as I finished eating," Ian said, gesturing toward the seat across from him.

Lucas, bowing slightly, pulled out a chair and smiled. "Didn't you say not to bother you? It seemed like you were enjoying some time alone, so I didn’t want to intrude."

"Much appreciated," Ian replied with a smile.

Lucas, taking a seat, added, "Still, I didn’t expect you to send even your companions away."

"My ears were starting to ring. Besides, they all looked desperate to get outside and have fun."

Even at this moment, the commotion from outside was flowing into the hall. It was less a banquet than a full-blown festival. Arm-wrestling, feats of strength, drinking games, gambling, and even singing contests were scattered throughout the city.

None of it was the sort of thing his companions would simply pass up.

The smile on Lucas's lips deepened. "If I weren’t here on duty, I’d have joined them long ago."

"Why not even now?" Ian said, pouring a drink.

Lucas, politely lifting the cup to wet only his lips, shook his head. "With thunder like that, a blizzard is likely to start soon. We can’t afford to be delayed. And the noble decision made by the Agent of the Saint should be conveyed to the world as soon as possible, don’t you think?"

At the look in Lucas's eyes, where even a sense of duty could be felt, Ian's eyes twitched.

"If you do that, the backlash might land on you," said Ian.

"Don’t worry. That won't happen, and even if it does, I will gladly bear it," Lucas answered immediately, looking back at the throne where the children were sitting. "That empty throne will come to symbolize the freedom earned through battle. It will stir the hearts of the people of the North and ease the anxieties that have weighed on them."

It was an interpretation completely unrelated to his intentions, but Ian just nodded.

Either way, it would be useful. Both the Archduke’s suspicions and the justifications of those who supported him would lose their footing.

"I hope you deliver this reply safely to the Archduke as well." Ian held out the parchment he had placed on the chair next to him.

Lucas received it politely with both hands and answered, "I will fulfill the mission given by the Demigod without fail."

So ‘demigod’ now comes naturally.

Ian handed over the parchment readily. By this point, it wasn’t even entirely wrong.

"Looks like you’re ready," Ian said, turning his gaze and rising from his seat.

Hester had appeared at the entrance and stopped there. Lucas, hastily tucking the parchment into the folds of his cloak, sprang to his feet.

"You don't have to see us off, Agent of the Saint."

"I was heading out anyway."

He’d sat around long enough. He had planned to stay cooped up in the residence and rest, but before that, he needed to make a round of the city and cut off any unnecessary interference in advance.

"In that case..." Lucas finally bowed his head and fell into step beside Ian, a pleased smile lingering at his lips despite his words.

Ian, paying no heed, moved his steps and approached Hester, who stiffened with visible tension.

"Agent of the Saint." Hester bowed slightly.

Ian stopped in front of him and tipped his chin toward Lucas. "Take care. When you get back, you might end up on the Archduke’s bad side."

"Y-Yes? Yes!" Hester blinked as if he hadn’t expected that at all, then snapped his head up to reply, looking almost moved.

Can't say anything to him, really.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Ian walked out the doorway.

"Great Warrior!" Caleb, holding the reins of all three horses, bowed his head.

Approaching him, Ian jerked his chin. "You’ve done well, Cal."

"It was only my duty!" Caleb answered, straightening his back stiffly. The weary, about-to-retire look he’d once had was nowhere to be seen.

Lucas stepped up beside him, offering a hand to Caleb. "Cal will be coming to Travelga with us as well. He’ll serve as a witness to the subjugation."

As Caleb handed over the reins, Ian added, "Don't exaggerate needlessly. Just say what you saw."

"Yes! I’ll record every detail, leaving nothing out."

He had clearly taken Ian’s words in an entirely different way. Letting out a long sigh through his nose, Ian watched as Lucas and Hester mounted their horses. Caleb climbed into the saddle last.

Holding the reins, Lucas bowed. "Then, see you again soon, Demigod."

Ian nodded, and Lucas tugged the reins to the side. The three riders turned their mounts and rode off.

Now all that’s left is to wait.

Only then did Ian let out a relieved breath. He had the sense that he’d cleared nearly every major hurdle. Whether news of the war would arrive first, or the Archduke’s reply, it would take time to find out.

"Break his wrist, Captain! Don’t lose to some pup!"

"Askel! Don’t give ground! What—haven’t you grown yet?"

The raucous shouting came into clear focus. Ian’s gaze shifted past the departing riders to the back of the altar.

"Volber! Volber!"

"Put your weight into it! Slam him down!"

Beyond the steadily flickering sacred flame, raised fists and shouting voices churned together in a chaotic mess.

Can't just pass by.

Smacking his lips, Ian headed toward the center of the plaza. A wide circle of barbarian warriors came into view. At its center, two centurions stood facing each other across a large table.

It was Volber and Askel locked in an arm wrestling match.

"That's it, Captain! Did you see that, you brats!"

"Damn it, Askel! You idiot! Use your wrist!"

The winner, unexpectedly, was Volber. Raising his fist tightly, Volber's face brightened instantly as he looked around the barbarians.

"Great Warrior!"

He had spotted Ian passing by. Askel, still clutching his wrist and clicking his tongue, froze along with the rest of the warriors as their attention snapped toward him.

"Looks like youthful vigor lost out to experience," Ian said with a chuckle.

Askel squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment. Just then, a flash of silver hair popped up among the warriors.

"Shouldn't the Great Warrior show us a move?" Thesaya, meeting Ian's eyes, raised one eyebrow slightly. It was a look telling him to show them what he was made of.

Volber burst out laughing immediately after. "Care for a round, Great Warrior? Like old times?"

Ian, curling one corner of his mouth up, turned readily. "Seems like losing a few teeth didn't teach you anything."

The warriors erupted in cheers and quickly cleared a path. Thesaya turned to them and shouted, "That’s it? Only one of you has the guts to challenge the Great Warrior?"

"Oooooh—"

Warriors sprang up from all over.

Approaching Volber, Ian spread one hand wide. "Five more. If I beat them all, that’s the end."

"Garson! Where did Garson go? Did that bastard go to drink?"

"Stop dragging your feet and get out of there, Askel! Your turn’s over!"

The warriors bickered noisily as they picked their representatives. In the meantime, Ian clasped hands with Volber across the table.

"Please give it your all, Great Warrior."

"That’s a long-winded way of saying you want to live one-armed." Ian snorted and jerked his chin.

Volber’s thick forearm bulged with strength. Even so, Ian’s arm didn’t so much as tremble.

...Yeah. Guess this is what I’ve become.

A strange bitterness welled up at the thought, but Ian pressed down on Volber’s arm all the same—careful, at least, not to break his wrist by accident.

"Next."

"As expected, you are incredible, Great Warrior." Rubbing his wrist, Volber laughed and stepped back.

The warriors who challenged him next fared no better. In the blink of an eye, Ian folded five arms in succession and brushed off his hands.

"Have fun and don't bother me."

"Ooooo—" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The barbarian warriors erupted in cheers. Catching Ian’s glance, Thesaya winked.

Why are you the one looking proud?

Shaking his head slightly, Ian turned away. True to their word, the warriors didn’t stop him, though they were already loudly spreading tales of his absurd strength.

"Great Warrior! Have a drink!"

Out on the main road beyond the plaza, the drinking had already begun in earnest. Drunkards seated everywhere thrust cups toward him. Ian didn’t refuse, downing them as he moved on. Bets were flying here, too, of course.

"Crazy, Garson is already out cold!"

"His expression doesn’t even change. Is it because his skin’s dark you can’t tell?"

The one receiving the most attention was a brown-skinned young man sitting upright between two women. In front of him, Centurion Garson was sprawled in his chair, snoring loudly.

"Ah, you came, my lord?" Nasser said as he chewed on the jerky handed to him by the woman beside him

Ian’s gaze moved from the women seated on either side to Garson sprawled before him. "So the paladin who used to drink tea has fallen this far."

"I didn’t start it, my lord," Nasser replied calmly.

After all, he’d once been an apostle of Lu Solar. Unless alcohol simply didn’t affect him at all, even without his stigmata, his recovery ability was bound to be abnormal.

"Don’t accept everything they offer. Make sure this doesn’t turn into trouble."

With that, Ian picked up a bottle from the table and moved on. Bonfires burned throughout the streets, women chatting as they carved and handed out meat.

"And so the Great Warrior charged through the sandstorm—"

In the alleys, wounded members of the subjugation force had taken to telling stories, with crowds of dozens gathering around the better ones. And, of course, gambling tables using bone dice were everywhere.

That bastard calls himself a priest....

Ian, spotting the priest with a steel prosthetic hand among the gambling tables, clicked his tongue.

Miguel was enthusiastically shaking a cup of dice with his one remaining hand. If Lucia were here, she would surely have been sitting right next to him.

Rumble...

Thunder rumbled now and then as Ian made his way through the streets and alleys, trading greetings with passersby. Before he realized it, his steps slowed.

At the corner where an alley met the main road, he spotted a red-haired paladin standing with about ten children. Each of them wielded wooden swords or spears, while Mev corrected their stances. Every so often, she burst out laughing at their clumsy mistakes or mischievous pranks.

It's been a while since I've seen an expression like that.

Without taking his eyes off, Ian moved slowly.

It was when he had almost come out of the alley that Mev's gaze turned toward Ian. The children had told her he was coming.

Keeping his eyes on her unguarded smile, Ian walked over at an unhurried pace.

Mev walked toward him instead, pushed forward by the children at her back.

"They're talented kids. The city's future is very bright." Mev said with a shy smile.

Ian smiled back. "Must have met a good teacher."

"That can’t be it... But what brings you all the way out here? I thought you’d go straight back to the residence."

"I figured I’d take a lap first. I wanted to drink in peace." Ian, shaking the bottle in his hand slightly, tilted his head to the side. "Care to join me? Looks like you’re finished here."

"Huh?" Blinking in surprise, Mev glanced back. The children had already scattered.

As Ian passed by her, he added, "Let's go."

"O-Okay... yeah. I was getting thirsty anyway." Avoiding his gaze, Mev fell into step beside him.

Ian’s smile deepened a little more. However, as they made their way back along the main road, Ian soon slowed again.

He stopped and looked across the street toward the city gate. Beyond the wide doors, which had been left open after Lucas’s group departed, a long procession was making its way toward the city.

"Said they would be later than usual this year...."

As Ian scanned it, his gaze stopped on the silhouette of a large rider.

"Is it the merchant group of the Hexagonal Alliance?" asked Mev.

"Probably. And...."

One corner of Ian’s mouth curled upward as he kept his eyes on the rider.

Although he was covered from head to toe in a thick fur cloak, just the fact that he was riding a horse far too small for him gave him away.

"Someone the barbarians will be very happy to see."

It was Mukapa.