I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 406

"So, he's at the front line." Finally, the corners of Ian's lips curled up. Of course, it wasn't a smile of joy.

"This is news to me as well," said the Count, his surprise now under control as he shifted his gaze. "I had heard nothing of the sort. What's going on?"

Ian looked at Valten, whose yellow gaze remained calm behind his visor.

"Since the expansion, the flow of chaos has shifted. It's become more unstable, more tangled," Valten explained, his voice dropping to a deeper tone.

"Even among the Lions, some have felt these changes. It's likely because the demonic realm has grown, and the entities that used to consume chaos and madness within the rifts have vanished. As a result, unusual phenomena have appeared everywhere."

The Count's eyes twitched. "Are you suggesting that the Wanderer's invasion was also because of that?"

"There's no way to confirm, but it's possible," Valten replied.

"And these phenomena you speak of—I assume they've started appearing in the archdemon's territories as well," Ian added.

Valten met Ian's gaze and answered without hesitation. "Yes, that's correct."

"Ah, for fuck's sake." Diana groaned, squeezing her temples with her eyes shut tightly. Though everyone turned to look at her, she did not conceal her frustration. Her eyes still closed, she muttered as though talking to herself. "No wonder. I had a bad feeling back then."

"You mean the goblin fortress?" At Ian’s question, Diana slightly nodded in response. The monsters she had encountered at the mountain stronghold had been revealed as minions of the Archdemon Akihatara.

"Right. The signs were there all along. I just overlooked them." The Count sighed heavily as he murmured.

No one blamed him. Even Ian, preoccupied with the immediate threat of the Wanderers, hadn't given it proper consideration.

"Does this mean the archdemons have resumed their war?" Lucia's question broke the silence. With unwavering eyes, she met Valten's gaze. "I heard they've stayed hidden for a long time now."

"I don't know that yet," Valten replied, his tone still polite despite his ominous voice. To Ian, it almost seemed like the knight pitied her.

While Ian's gaze briefly swept over Valten's heavy black armor, the knight continued, "This may be a proxy war between their minions. However, the scale seems to be different this time."

Lucia nodded in understanding. "So you're saying it's a situation that could escalate into a major conflict."

"His Highness seemed to think so. The reason he hasn't informed every outpost yet is likely because it's not entirely certain," Valten explained.

Diana let out another exasperated sigh, still pressing her temples with her fingertips, her eyes tightly shut.

The Count, now looking far more serious, spoke up. "So, all the Wolves are being gathered at the front lines?"

"That seems to be the case. I meant to head to Sol Bryn after resupplying, but I was redirected here with orders to repel the Wanderers alongside the local defenders." frёewebnoѵēl.com

"I see." Ian finally shifted his gaze from Valten's armor to the yellow eyes visible through the visor. Even with his sharp vision, Ian couldn't make out anything beyond those glowing eyes. "So, you never intended to annihilate them from the start?"

"The Wanderers take a long time to recover their strength after a loss. The priority was to repel them with minimal sacrifice. Of course, if the situation allowed, we would have attempted annihilation."

Ian picked up the glass of liquor from the table and nodded.

No wonder the experience points were so high.

Thinking back, the quest he received had been to defend the city, not to kill Carmiel. Perhaps the correct strategy had been to block the underground passages and hold the line. The strategy would have been to reposition and defend against the Wanderers until reinforcements came. Once the Wolves struck from the rear upon arrival, Carmiel would have likely retreated.

Ian had once again completed the quest in a way that only experienced players usually could. Of course, it was only possible thanks to the Mantra Resonance.

"You've done what we should have accomplished. Once again, you have our sincerest gratitude, Agent of the Saint," Valten said politely, his gaze sweeping over Ian and Lucia. "His Highness will certainly not overlook the significance of your remarkable achievements."

Well, it's unlikely he'll just hand me a reward and leave it at that.

Ian took a sip from his glass. He could already guess what sort of proposal Hyked would make to him. Although it might not have been the situation he intended, there was no way he would just let go of a piece that had fallen into his hands.

Still, it wasn't entirely an unpleasant situation for Ian, either. After all, he needed the Crown Prince's support to deal with the archdemons. With the other side extending their hand first, the situation looked much more favorable. Whether their goals aligned, however, was yet to be seen.

"So, how long will it take to reach Sol Bryn from here? Will we need to travel along the edge of the rift again?" Ian asked, lowering his glass.

Valten's glowing eyes flickered slightly as he shook his head. "No. Traveling along the edges on horseback is far too risky. We'll avoid the rift, but it will take over ten nights of camping to reach our destination. Of course, if we march quickly, we could cut that time in half."

It was farther than Ian expected. Then again, the region was near the front lines of the Black Lands.

"So, you're planning to march at full speed?" Ian asked.

"We'll do so to the extent possible. We'll need to conserve the Wolves' stamina," Valten replied.

Ian nodded calmly. While they hadn't engaged in major battles yet, traveling this far would have undoubtedly drained the Wolves. Riding a horse didn't mean one didn't tire, after all.

"Then how about taking a few more days to rest before departing? The dwarf craftsmen are currently repairing and crafting my equipment."

"Understood," Valten replied promptly before adding, "There seems to be plenty of food for the warhorses and spaces for the Wolves to rest. We'll assist with the city's recovery efforts while we wait."

"That's a relief," the Count said, nodding. "The restoration was a concern, but with the Wolves' help, it should be complete in no time."

His expression made it clear he wasn't expecting the help to come for free, but he didn't seem to mind. After all, from the moment they called for the Wolves, sharing the city's resources was a natural part of the process.

"If possible, I'd like to receive a horse as well." It was then that Ian added.

As Diana's eyes widened sharply and she stared at him, Valten, who had momentarily paused, asked, "A warhorse, you mean?"

"Yes. As I said, if it's possible."

"We can certainly spare one, but—"

There was no need to wonder what concerned Valten. These weren't ordinary warhorses. They were in the process of being corrupted or had already become demonic beasts.

"It's fine. Just provide the horse, and I'll handle the rest."

Of course, Ian wasn't worried at all. Valten glanced between Ian, who appeared utterly nonchalant, and Lucia, whose expression was equally calm.

Finally, Valten let out a sigh. "Truly, you are a warrior who knows no fear. Very well. I'll arrange it."

"Thank you, Sir Valten," Ian replied with a smile.

Being acknowledged by a Black Lion wasn't so different from earning the respect of knights or barbarians. The more reckless and perilous the decision, the greater the respect it garnered.

"You've done what we should have done, so this is the least we can offer."

Having watched Diana's brow furrow as she looked from Ian to Valten, the Count finally spoke. "It seems we've taken up too much of the Agent of the Saint's time. I only intended to greet you, but ended up overstaying."

He was clearly trying to bring the conversation to a close, likely having other matters to discuss with Valten privately. "If there's nothing more, we'll take our leave."

"Go ahead. We'll be here for a few more days, so there will be other chances to talk," Ian said, nodding agreeably.

As the Count respectfully bent his knee toward Ian and Lucia, Valten suddenly spoke up. "Agent of the Saint."

Ian turned to him, and Valten hesitated for a moment before continuing in his deep, eerie voice. "I heard... you wield dragon's armaments."

"I do."

"And that the Great Platinum Dragon bestowed them."

"That's correct."

"In that case... would you allow me... to see them?"

Ian's eyebrow twitched slightly. The Count also narrowed his thin brows as he looked at the Black Lion.

Valten, who let out a cough, averted his gaze and continued, "If it's a dragon's armament forged in this era, merely witnessing it would be a great honor—"

A faint smile tugged at Ian's lips. It was obvious Valten simply wanted to see the dragon's armaments up close.

This guy... was he originally a paladin?

Ian recalled how Valten's armor closely resembled that worn by paladins or purifiers, albeit darkened as though tainted by corruption. From what Ian had seen of paladins so far, they either revered or despised the Platinum Dragon. It seemed Valten belonged to the former category.

"Well, it's not a problem," Ian said.

Considering they're even giving me a horse.

Setting his glass down on the table, Ian extended his left hand. A golden glow shimmered over the back of his hand, forming a hexagonal Mantra circuit.

When a golden hexagonal shield materialized above, Valten let out a genuine, awestruck gasp. Through his visor, his glowing yellow eyes shimmered more vividly than at any other moment that day.

"So beautiful. Truly. This must indeed be the shield bestowed by the Platinum Dragon itself. A legendary shield that can never be lost or broken."

"It'll be lost if my left hand gets cut off," said Ian.

He'd probably faint if he saw the Light Sword, Ian thought to himself as he continued, "Are you satisfied?"

Valten, with a resounding clang, slammed his fist against his chest plate and bowed his head deeply. "Thank you for broadening my horizons, Agent of the Saint."

"Then, have a good rest," the Count said, shaking his head in mild exasperation before turning to leave. Valten bowed once more, following closely behind the Count.

"What is—" Ian let out a chuckle as he dismissed the Platinum Barrier and sat back at the table. By then, the smile that had lingered on his lips was entirely gone.

"We might end up fighting the archdemon's minions much sooner than I expected," he said, meeting Lucia's calm green eyes.

She nodded in agreement, while Diana frowned and looked at him. "Sooner than expected? Were you planning to fight them from the start?"

"I told you. I'm going to break the Wall and return."

"I thought you meant something else. No, forget it. Damn it all," Diana muttered, shaking her head. "Sol Bryn, of all places. Fuck."

Her hand trembled slightly as she slipped it into the side of her chest plate, pulling out a tightly rolled cigarette. Her gestures suggested she couldn't hold back from smoking it immediately.

"Hold it," Ian said sharply.

Diana froze mid-motion, narrowing her eyes. "This is the one you gave me."

"Did I say otherwise?" Ian interrupted, pulling a small wooden case from his pocket dimension. Setting it on the table, he added, "I was going to suggest sharing mine. Smoke your own if you want."

"I wasn't thinking clearly. You always have a plan, Ian Hope." Diana hastily shoved her cigarette back into her chest plate.

Ian, who had placed the last of Findrel's cigarettes between his lips, handed her his glass. "Looks like you need this, too."

"Of course," Diana said, immediately bringing the glass to her lips.

She's going to get drunk at that rate, Ian thought as he lit his cigarette with a spark between his fingers, inhaling the herbal scent deeply before snuffing the flame with a pinch.

"Is the change in chaos’s flow really only due to the expansion? Or could it be—" Lucia's voice trailed off as she stared at the table, clearly lost in thought. Her untouched food sat forgotten in front of her.

Ian easily guessed what she left unsaid—the giant monsters he had slain at the borders and the waves of chaos the monsters had unleashed in their last moments.

"Who knows?" Ian replied, shrugging as he exhaled a trail of smoke.

He knew from experience that minor changes could lead to vastly different outcomes, although it could be dismissed as overthinking. Despite the impossibility of stopping or removing the overarching flow, altering its path or pace remained possible. While his actions may not have been the sole cause, they could have been a contributing factor to the change.

Does everything I do end up like this because I'm the protagonist of some game?

Ian, who had always dismissed the thought as egotistical, pondered it once more before letting out a faint smirk. Diana, having set the glass down, was staring intently at the cigarette in his mouth.

To me, it's just a strong herbal smoke.

He couldn't help but wonder what it was to her kind. Without much thought, Ian extended the cigarette toward her. Diana quickly took it and placed it between her lips.

The moment she inhaled deeply, her entire expression softened. For an instant, she seemed to have found an unbroken inner peace.

Watching her in confusion, Lucia asked, "So, is Sol Bryn really that dangerous?" It appeared Lucia had chosen this moment to question Diana.

Still exhaling smoke through her nose, Diana parted her lips to answer. "I've never been there myself, only heard stories. It's a place that the archdemons have taken over countless times and every time, it was a different one who claimed it."