Chapter 245
"Nice to see you, Sir Spello. Since you’re still guarding the gate, the Dragon Slayer must be inside."
"That’s correct."
A voice echoed from outside the window.
"I understand many have tried and failed to get past this gate. But we have a bit of a connection, don’t we?"
"That’s true."
"So, I’ve brought a small gift. Here, take it. You won’t be disappointed. Just give me a moment of his time. I’ll be in and out in no time."
"... You may have heard that many have come and gone, but it seems you haven’t heard why they left."
"Hmm?"
"The Dragon Slayer didn’t refuse to meet visitors. Instead, he gave one condition."
"And what might that be?""He said to let only those who don’t have a single skeleton in their closet should enter."
"...?!"
"He said he would investigate visitors immediately and thoroughly, and if he found even the smallest fault, he would hold them accountable. If you are truly spotless, he will vouch for you without any issues."
"Huh...."
"But it seems you already have some dirt on you. As a courtesy to our acquaintance, I suggest you go home and put your house in order first. Then come back."
"Y-yes, thank you, Sir Spello. I shall do that."
Well, he’s doing his job diligently.
Leaning back on the sofa, Ian smiled slightly as he listened to the fading sound of the carriage. After the all-night investigation, Spello had volunteered to guide and guard the group. Ian accepted and assigned him a task. The conversation just now was the result.
Since Ian had awakened, this had been the third visitor, and the third to leave. Having spoken with a few perceptive nobles during the investigation, Ian reached a definite conclusion.
There were no quests to be had in this city.
It seemed that in the game, Radcliffe had already fallen to ruin by the time the player arrived. Even without the corruption and plague, the Duke had turned it into a city of the dead.
Unintentionally, Ian had saved many who would have originally perished. But without quests, he had no reason or inclination to clean up after the corrupt nobles and officials.
But if that’s how it was in the game... doesn’t that mean this place might still end up in ruins somehow?
There were forces at play that he couldn’t change, no matter how hard he tried.
... Whatever. For now, it’s enough that I saved them.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ian closed the book he was reading. Its cover was ominously dark and devoid of any title. There were two more similar books beneath the sofa. These were the grimoires he had taken from Kralen’s desk, along with his journal.
Of course, they were filled with incomprehensible nonsense, even more advanced gibberish than the ones he had found on the frontier.
I guess these will make good kindling for the campfire.
Kralen’s journal, along with his head and the void mark, had been submitted as evidence. Ian had retrieved the void mark under the pretext of personally destroying it, but the rest was left in the inner fortress.
They were gifts for the investigation team that would be dispatched from the central government. He had endured the long, tedious investigation until morning to ensure everything was clear and undeniable. Although the official documents bore the names of Gothier and Nasser, too many people knew his name.
Still, I should let the big guy know, just in case…
Ian placed the book down and leaned back against the sofa.
His gaze swept across the dimly lit, spacious room. Mev and Charlotte lay in one of the two beds, seemingly dead to the world.
Although they had a whole house to themselves, the group naturally clustered in the largest room to sleep. Likely, they couldn’t sleep peacefully unless near each other, especially after such a tiring and stressful time.
In any case, Ian was the first to wake. It wasn’t because he had given up the bed and was uncomfortable, but because he had rested enough. In this battle, he had only taken on the most challenging parts, leaving most of the actual combat and physical tasks to his companions.
Although he had used up a fair amount of magic power, it wasn’t as much as in previous battles, even though the opponent was both a council member and a demon.
... Well, there should be times when things go smoothly.
He had prepared extensively and endured tough times to make that happen.
Reaching out to the makeshift table beside the sofa, Ian picked up the glass of liquor and said, "You better let go of that."
"...!" A white hand, quietly reaching out from under the sofa to grab a grimoire, froze. The hand quickly withdrew, and Thesaya, with a sheepish grin on her face, emerged from underneath.
"How did you know...?"
"Well," Ian answered with a chuckle, bringing the glass to his lips. "You weren’t in sight, so I thought you might be hiding somewhere. Turns out you crawled under the sofa."
"It looked interesting. I am a spellcaster, after all. Not that I know any spells."
"It’s best not to read it unless you want your first spell to be necromancy."
"Of course not. I was just curious about the contents. Just a little peek." Thesaya wiggled her thumb and forefinger with a playful smile.
Yeah, right.
Ian snorted again and took a sip of his drink.
Thesaya, now sitting beside him, brushed her messy silver hair aside and asked, "Where are freckle and the one ear? They were gone when I woke up."
"They woke up earlier. I sent them out with some tasks."
"Tasks?"
"... I told them to secure that beastfolk berserker and check in with the church. Also, to get some food and check on ship passages."
Ian added as he glanced at Thesaya. "If you’re bored, you can head down too. They’ll be back soon, and then I’ll wake everyone."
"No thanks. I’d rather stay here with you." Thesaya’s playful smile returned as she added, "We won’t see each other much longer, will we?"
"...Yeah, I suppose not." Ian hesitated, then turned away as he answered. He lifted his glass again.
Thesaya watched him for a moment, then continued, "Can’t you just come with us to the South? Your great mission is over anyway."
"I can’t."
"Why...?"
Why? Because I know nothing about the South.
Despite his thoughts, Ian replied, "I have too many tails following me. As you know, every place I go turns into chaos. It won’t help with what you need to do."
Setting down his glass, Ian picked up the pewter bottle and poured himself another drink.
"So, I’ll head South after I’ve shaken them off. You go ahead and establish yourselves."
"... Alright. It won’t be easy, but I’ll do what I can to help." Thesaya wrinkled her nose playfully and added, "I owe you, after all. Don’t I?"
An elf paying back a favor. That’s rare.
Ian mused inwardly and set down the bottle, gesturing with his chin.
"Just make sure to help her. She’ll face many challenges. Be there for her."
"That won’t be easy either, but I’ll do that. If not me, then who else would help her? But what about that creepy striped cat? He’s a corrupted one, after all."
"Charlotte will handle that."
Whether she kills him, or spares him.
Ian thought of Palmar as he took a drink. When Palmar awoke in the interrogation room and realized his tail had been severed, he was in shock. Shortly after, when Charlotte stood before him, he obeyed her orders with a look of humiliation, just as she had once done with Ian.
"I plan to kill him." Charlotte’s hoarse voice echoed as she rose from the bed. "After I get all the information I need from him."
"Had a good sleep, kitty? How’s your body feeling?"
"Fine. I feel refreshed." She stretched luxuriously and approached Ian, who was sitting on the sofa.
Thesaya, noticing her face, chuckled. "You were already ugly, and now you’re even uglier."
Charlotte’s face bore four deep scars running from her forehead to her chin. Even to Ian, it looked like a wound that wouldn’t fully heal. Her body, already covered in scars, had gained one more.
"It’s a scar that will make me even more beautiful. A mark of battle and victory."
She lifted the bottle and took a long drink, letting the liquor pour down her throat. Her neck, marked with scratches, pulsed as she drank.
Drinking on an empty stomach like that must hurt.
Clunk.
The sound of the door opening came from the first floor.
Ian shrugged. "Looks like they’ve finished their tasks."
Soon, the aroma of freshly baked bread, sausage, perhaps seafood stew, and maybe pasta began to fill the air.
"Wow...."
Both Charlotte and Thesaya swallowed in unison.
Since early morning, none of them had eaten a proper meal. It was nearly sunset, so they had been fasting for over half a day.
Mev suddenly sprang up. Blinking at her gathered companions, she muttered, not bothering to fix her disheveled hair, "Is it already time to eat?"
"... I’m glad you have an appetite."
I was worried you might lose your will to live again, like before.
Ian chuckled softly and set down his glass, standing up.
"Let’s go. We have places to be after we eat."
***
After devouring their meal like they hadn’t eaten in days, the group boarded the carriage. The horse and carriage had been moved to the garden behind the mansion.
"Oh, Palmar is scheduled to be handed over tomorrow morning. I mean, Nasser will be the one responsible for his disposal," said Philip, as if he had just remembered that after they got on the carriage.
As the carriage began to move, Ian nodded. "Well done. What about the ship?"
Charlotte and Thesaya’s eyes simultaneously turned to Philip.
Philip, glancing at them, continued."There’s a merchant ship departing in two days’ time. The atmosphere in the city isn’t good. All the merchants are planning to leave within the week."
As Ian nodded, the carriage came to a halt. There was a knock on the window. When he opened it, Spello’s stern face appeared.
"Are you heading out, sir?"
"Yes, I’m planning to visit the church."
"As expected, you are devout.... I’ll accompany you for security. We never know when someone might try to approach you."
He’d probably pretend to die if I asked him to.
Ian chuckled softly.
The real reason he accepted Spello’s offer was to avoid hassle and let his companions rest. However, the city’s nobles perceived it differently.
Currently, Spello was one of the few knights cleared of suspicion by the Dragon Slayer and the purifiers. This essentially granted him a form of immunity, increasing his chances of surviving the potential disruption ahead.
Spello knew this, which made him even more respectful to Ian.
"Then I’ll leave it to you."
"Yes, sir. I won’t let anyone set foot inside the church."
Ian closed the window. As the sound of Spello’s horse’s hooves resumed, the carriage started moving again.
Philip glanced at Ian and spoke. "I couldn’t ask earlier because of all the tasks you gave us. Are you going to the church to...?"
"Yes, to meet the Platinum Dragon."
"...!" Philip nodded, as if he had expected this. Everyone else did the same, except for Mev, who looked surprised. Dressed lightly in a purifier’s robe, she had followed them without knowing their destination.
"To meet the Great Platinum Dragon? Now?"
"There’s no reason to delay. We need to report after finishing the mission."
And receive the reward.
Mev sighed, her mouth opening and closing as if in disbelief.
"I-if I had known, I would have worn my armor and carried my sword properly. Philip, why didn’t you tell me?"
"Oh, I thought you knew, my lord. My apologies. Shall I lend you mine?" Philip quickly bowed.
Mev, looking regretful, shook her head. "No... It’s not your fault. I was too focused on the food."
Removing her hood, she began to tidy her messy hair. Seeing this, Thesaya also smoothed her long hair.
Ian chuckled. "Don’t bother with such things. He won’t care about our appearance."
"Still, how can we meet such a noble being so unprepared?"
The carriage stopped, and Nasser opened the door. Spello and three guards stood on horseback on either side, forming a path.
Drawing a bit too much attention here, really.
Ian stifled a laugh as he exited the carriage.
A massive church building with one of its large doors open came into view. Originally adorned with large, grand windows, it now had an eerie appearance, with many of the windows shattered and left unrepaired.
Ian took one last look at the darkening sky and then started walking. The rest of the group followed, and Nasser, closing the carriage door, bowed.
"Take care."
Ian, pausing midway up the steps, frowned and turned to look at him.
"What are you talking about? You’re coming with us, Philip."
"...? Me too?" Nasser asked, looking bewildered.
"Yes," answered Ian.
Nasser, wearing a rare, genuinely happy smile, hurriedly followed. The interior of the church was eerily empty. A modest altar and numerous lit candles were the only sources of light in the desolate sanctuary.
"It’s surprising there’s not a single priest left in such a large city... At least they’ve kept it clean," Philip remarked, his voice trailing off as an uneasy silence settled over the room.
Everyone looked at Ian, unsure of what to do next. Ignoring their uncertainty, Ian retrieved a small charm from his pocket dimension. It was something Archeas had given him to use in summoning.
Ian stared at the charm for a moment. There were many questions he needed to ask and things he needed to hear. Since he didn’t know when he’d have another chance to meet again, he planned to leave nothing out. Of course, including the reward.
Fwoosh—
A flame ignited in Ian’s hand, and he tossed the charm into it. It quickly burned, emitting a bright golden light and scattering countless sparks.
Swirling in the air above the altar, the sparks formed radiant golden characters. These were words Ian could not read, a dragon’s incantation known as a Mantra. Below the Mantra, a radiant orb of light appeared, with a faint silhouette emerging within.
Teleportation magic, perhaps. I’d love to learn that, Ian thought as the orb’s golden glow intensified.
"...!"
Awestruck, the others instinctively dropped to one knee, heads bowed. Even Thesaya was not immune to the overwhelming reverence evoked by the presence of an immortal being. Ian alone remained standing.
"...?" He squinted slightly, looking at the increasingly distinct silhouette.
Swish—
The orb burst into a spray of golden particles, revealing the figure within.
"I didn’t expect to see you again so soon...."
With a gentle voice, the glowing golden eyes curved into a smile.
"Good to see you, Ian. You look better than before. That’s a relief."
"You..." Ian blinked once, then continued, "... seem to have shrunk a bit since we last met."
Archeas, holding a large glass bottle in his arms, appeared in the form of a dwarf.