I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 676

"Surely you don’t intend to ascend the throne?"

At her wide-eyed question, Ian’s brow twitched. Almost at the same moment, Thesaya spat out the wine she’d been drinking and burst into a coughing laugh.

How had she gotten that impression?

A dry chuckle slipped from Ian as well. Of all things, he hadn’t expected to hear something like this from a princess. Phaden and Seras, both staring with eyes wide, blinked in confusion.

"W-Why are you all laughing?"

"My apologies, Your Highness," Thesaya answered first, still coughing lightly with a hand over her mouth. "The Agent of the Saint has risen to the rank of a demigod. Would someone destined to become a god covet a seat of power?"

You too? Seriously?

Ian narrowed his eyes at Thesaya.

Unbothered, she cleared her throat and said, "While it’s true he has the qualifications, the Agent of the Saint even refused the throne of the snowfield barbarians."

"Then, who exactly..." Seras trailed off—and froze.

Her gaze snapped back to Ian. This time, the shock in her eyes carried a very different meaning.

"Me?"

"You’re of the imperial direct bloodline, aren’t you?" Ian answered.

Phaden and Asme’s eyes went wide.

Seras, lips parting slightly, stammered, "But I... I hardly stand a chance of succession..."

"We’re talking about the worst-case scenario. If there are no other options, it would be fully possible."

"Well... that’s... true, but..." Seras nodded absently. What shook her wasn't so much his words, but the fact that they came from Ian.

Picking up his cup leisurely, Ian added, "Though in times like this, you may not be able to leave the Morning Star Palace for long."

"N-No. That’s not it."

Seras snapped back to herself, eyes flickering as thoughts raced through her mind.

"By now, my father and everyone else will have assumed that I left to find you, Agent of the Saint. I already have a history of doing exactly that. In this situation, returning empty-handed would only make things worse. If anything, I should remain absent."

Murmuring as if talking to herself, she looked at Ian. "I’d like to ask that you allow me to remain here for the time being."

Ian nodded slightly. He hadn’t made that suggestion to stir any hidden ambition of hers. No matter how much he thought about it, joining the war immediately seemed like a shortcut to making the ominous prophecy a reality. It was rational to step back and observe the situation before moving.

If she’s at my side, misunderstandings like the one just now won’t happen either.

He would also be able to dump a bunch of troublesome responsibilities on her as well. He would have to share the credit, but that meant nothing to Ian. It might even extinguish the last embers of the Northern civil war.

No matter how extreme the Archduke became, he wouldn’t dare raise a blade against a princess. If it prevented a civil war, Ian wouldn’t hesitate to put her at the forefront.

"I may have said it myself, but I truly hope it never comes to that. I have no desire to sit upon a blood-soaked throne amid ruins," Seras murmured, lost in thought.

Ian shrugged lightly. "The chances aren’t high. Before that happens, either reinforcements from the Central regions will arrive or we will. Of course..."

As Seras met his gaze again, Ian added, "Before that, the possibility of Prince Hyked withdrawing first would be the highest."

"Even if he does, that doesn’t make the problem go away. It’s not as if he’ll simply return to the Black Lands."

"Well, I think he will."

Pausing, Seras asked, "Are you serious?"

Without avoiding her gaze, Ian nodded. "There are still plenty of demons, corrupted ones, and archdemons left in the Black Lands. His Highness will go to face them."

"To protect the Empire?"

"Probably."

Perhaps meeting an honorable death in the process is his true aim, before chaos devours his soul.

"You really think highly of my uncle," Seras said at last, sounding almost impressed. "Even though he’s fallen, you trust him this much."

Ian tilted his head slightly to the side. "I don’t see it as corruption. I see it as a sacrifice. It seems you haven’t heard this story."

"Sacrifice.... Now I understand why my father has always been compared to my uncle. Perhaps even if the capital falls, we might not need to worry about the citizens."

Murmuring, Seras's gaze went down to her wine cup.

"Unless they attack first, he won’t slaughter innocents. Even more so if he harbors other goals."

Ian knew well enough how fiercely Hyked cherished the people. Saving so many lives in the Black Lands alone was proof enough.

"Of course, I will call Philip back before that happens. He’ll need a clear picture of both the capital and the front lines."

"You truly have thought this through," Seras said, nodding in quiet admiration.

Ian studied her eyes, which were no longer clouded with worry but busy with calculation.

"I doubt you came all this way without a means of staying in contact this time."

"No. I left my people behind in the palace. It’s not a large group, but I’ll be receiving updates on the capital through the Scroll of Correspondence."

As expected.

"Then it seems the war hasn't started yet," said Ian.

"I can’t be certain. It may simply be that news from the front hasn’t reached us yet. Reports are sent to my father by letter, but he rarely speaks of them."

Ian smacked his lips but nodded.

Information was power, after all. It wasn't strange at all for information asymmetry to exist even within the Imperial Palace.

Shrugging lightly, he lifted his cup and added, "Then try not to reply, if you can. You’ve never been good at keeping things brief."

"That remark is a bit hurtful. I always put careful effort into them," Seras replied with a laugh. "Assuming the worst-case scenario doesn't happen, may I make the request again?"

As expected. She doesn't just let it go.

Ian took the cup from his lips and answered, "Go on."

"Even if my uncle withdraws peacefully, the fact remains that the capital will have fallen and the war will have been lost. The entire Empire would fall into turmoil—especially the capital and the royal family. So..."

She continued carefully, eyes gleaming sharply as she looked at him.

"After the war, would you lead your legion and accompany me to the capital? The barbarians won’t have to shed any blood. All I ask is that you lend your support to my father."

"That sounds more like supporting the Third Prince," Ian said bluntly.

It was probably also the real reason she slipped out without telling the Emperor about her prophetic dream.

Seras smiled brightly. "Of course, that is part of it. And no one will hold you responsible for the war. Not that there would be grounds to. I’ll be at your side the entire time."

Staring into her red eyes, Ian slowly curled up one corner of his mouth. "And the reward?"

"The same as before," Seras replied without hesitation. "You may not be hailed as the Empire’s light or a savior of the realm, but you would become the pillar that sets a tilting Empire upright," Seras answered quickly.

There wasn’t a single reason to refuse. Even so, Ian only nodded, offering no immediate answer. It wasn’t because a quest window had failed to appear.

Eventually, Seras swallowed hard and added, "If there is anything else you want, please feel free to say it, Agent of the Saint. Do you want the North?"

Ian finally reached for the wine bottle beside him. "The North is fine as it is. Even if my title were stripped away, nothing would change. That said, there are others who stand with me besides the barbarian legions. For instance—Erenos of the South."

Thesaya, who had been listening with visible interest, paused for a moment.

When Seras turned to look at her, she immediately bowed her head. "That is correct. If the Agent of the Saint demands it, all sentinels of Erenos will cross the inner sea and set foot on the mainland. It just so happens that I heard the blockade of the inner sea was lifted a few days ago."

She must have received the report from Diana. Ian knew Thesaya checked the Scroll of Correspondence tied to her family and the jungle from time to time.

Putting down the bottle, Ian added, "You wouldn’t keep a family that stepped up for the shaking Imperial Family across the sea forever, would you?"

"Of course not. Since the Erenos is also a prestigious family with a deep history, it would be fitting for them to remain in the Central region." Seras said, smiling. It was a welcome prospect for her as well.

As Thesaya’s eyes shone, Seras lowered her voice. "During the civil war, there may be fairy houses that show signs of disloyalty. I would like to entrust their judgment and condemnation to you. Resolving it within fairy society would look far more... elegant. What do you think, Elder?"

"Gladly. I will carry it out with pleasure, Your Highness," Thesaya replied, bowing deeply.

Despite her polished manners, she was a tyrant of Erenos through and through. Ian knew she was already imagining half a dozen ways to crush the troublesome pointy ears of the Central.

Seras lifted her glass. "I will arrange seats on the Central Council the moment I return. This promise will be honored."

"I will trust you, Your Highness," Thesaya replied, lifting her cup in return.

Seras took a measured sip. Thesaya, on the other hand, drained hers in one go, not forgetting to send Ian a look tinged with joy and emotion.

Pretending not to notice, Ian added, "There are also the beastfolk of the South. Their Great Chieftain has become an Apostle of Karha."

Seras set her cup down. "A beastfolk received a revelation?"

As expected, she hadn’t heard that part yet.

"She is my adjutant and a sister to the barbarians living on the other side of the continent. Help them not to receive slander or discrimination."

"That is both easy and desirable," Seras replied without hesitation. "The Empire has long worked to eliminate discrimination between races. At the very least, they will no longer bear the stigma of being servants of demons."

The corners of Thesaya's mouth twitched as she put down her cup, a clear sign she wanted to tell Charlotte this news right away.

Taking a sip of wine with satisfaction, Ian said, "Lastly, Orendel. You must have heard that a new sacred land was established on the frontier."

"...Yes," Seras answered after a brief pause.

Ian met her gaze. "Leave them alone. Don’t turn them into scapegoats to divert attention."

Creating a common external enemy was the simplest way to quell internal unrest. And compared to the Black Lands or the Black Prince, Orendel was an all-too-convenient target.

Of course, Seras likely hadn’t thought that far ahead. Her hesitation seemed to come from the fact that this, unlike the earlier matters, was difficult to guarantee.

"If you return with me," Ian added lightly, lifting a brow, "it would all but confirm the Third Prince as the successor. It seems... quite feasible."

"... Yes." Eventually, Seras nodded.

Drawing a steady breath, she added with determined eyes, "This may put me at odds with my brother, but I will see it through. Without fail."

"Can I consider the promise valid even in a situation where blood must be shed?"

"Yes, Agent of the Saint. In such a situation, help would be even more desperate." Seras nodded without a shred of hesitation.

"Then." Ian, looking into her eyes for a moment, finally curled up the corners of his mouth and lifted his cup. "The request is accepted."