Chapter 562

I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

The taverns in the back alleys were far grittier and more somber than those on the main streets. The customers, too, were mostly suspicious-looking characters.

"So you finally came crawling to me, One-Eye. You must be in deep shit."

This tavern was no different. The large man sitting across from Sanford cackled, revealing a set of sparse, yellowed teeth. His face was covered in pockmarks, and he wore a stinking leather vest.

"Good, you already know. That’ll make this quick, Pockmark." Sanford said leisurely, bringing the mug of beer to his lips.

Captain Pockmark sneered. "How could I not? The whole port is buzzing about how you got your ass handed to you. And by the looks of it, your life is still on the line."

Even though he seemed relaxed, he kept warily glancing at Ian and Lucia. The same was true of the subordinates sitting around him.

"If you don’t want to end up in the same boat, let’s get to the point," Sanford said, putting down his mug.

Pockmark, after glancing at Ian one more time, grinned. "My, how scary. Alright, fine. How many guys are you looking to offload, One-Eye?"

"Eight. Take all of them if you can."

"I’ll take four. And they’ll only get half of what the others are paid."

"Half? You’re as cheap as you are ugly. What, you planning to toss away two rowers altogether?"

The captains were growling as if they were about to fight at any moment, but Ian, standing behind them, wasn’t really listening.

I’d give anything for some air conditioning.

It was a scene he had been watching for two days straight, and he was sick of it. There wasn’t anything to be gained from it. The only new thing Ian had learned was that among the smuggling captains, Sanford was one of the more tolerable-looking ones.

Simply standing in the sweltering room, heavy with stench, felt like torture. His patience was nearing its limit. He almost wished for a fight to break out, just so he could vent his frustration on those reeking bastards.

"Looks like having one eye means you can’t see shit. You know I have to take from the others’ pay to split it. I can’t go any lower."

"Let’s go with seven-tenths of the others’ pay. You have to think of my reputation, you ugly bastard."

"Reputation, my ass. You should be grateful I’m even taking them off your hands—"

They were all just putting on airs with words, never once drawing a blade. Of course, that was likely because Ian and Lucia were watching. It seemed everyone knew that the two of them had wrecked a gambling den. From what he’d overheard earlier, the news that he had blessed Shahin was also spreading fast. It wouldn’t have been surprising if someone had stepped forward to test the rumors, but none did.

"Hold on. I need to talk it over with my boys."

"Don’t drag this out. You see who’s behind me, right?"

They all just kept shooting glances like this. While Captain Pockmark huddled with his crew, Sanford silently brought his beer mug to his lips, making sure never to look back. He likely didn’t want to show a subservient side.

Lucia stifled a small yawn behind her mask, and Ian found himself on the verge of deciding to just smash that pockmarked face in.

—Huh…

Yog’s low exclamation echoed in his mind. The creature had awakened only a few hours earlier, after being knocked unconscious by the surge of divinity.

—I think it’s starting, my friend.

At the whisper that followed, Ian’s brow twitched slightly. The thought that the grating annoyance he felt might not just be due to this stench-filled tavern finally crossed his mind.

"You should head out first, Sir Ian," Lucia whispered then.

At Ian’s glance, she tilted her head toward Sanford. "I’ll bring him out when this is over."

After hesitating for a moment, Ian said, "If anyone gives you trouble, don’t hold back. Smash them."

He was only concerned about leaving her alone in the middle of a den of criminals. In truth, he didn't see anyone who could actually put her in danger. Behind the mask, Lucia’s eyes curved slightly.

"Don’t worry. If anything happens, you’ll come for me anyway, won’t you?"

"Right. But still, don’t let your guard down," Ian added with a small smile and turned around.

He crossed the room amidst the stares of the drunkards and opened the creaking door. The alley revealed itself, shrouded in an eerie darkness. The salty smell that hit him wasn’t just because the docks were nearby.

—Can you feel it now?

At the ensuing whisper, Ian nodded. "Yeah."

The alley felt more ominous than usual. The scantily clad women and drunkards who had been roaming the alley had vanished as if they had hidden somewhere. Except for a few drunks passed out in the corners, the alley was empty.

Swoosh…

Instead, a faint fog was drifting into the alley like a ghost. The candles that had dimly lit the alley flickered out one by one. Hazy darkness already submerged the area beyond. Ian’s gaze swept the alley before finally turning upward.

A moment later, he leaped.

Tap— Tap—

Bounding off windowsills and signboards that an ordinary person would find impossible to get a foothold on, Ian landed on the roof of a four-story building as if performing a trick. Balancing effortlessly on the edge of the angled roof, he took in the sight of the large and small buildings stretching out beyond.

Woosh—

The docks, covered in a hazy fog, spread out wide. Unlike Racliffe, the center of the curved dock jutted out long and sharp like a spearhead. The ships moored in a line bobbed ominously, shrouded in darkness and fog.

—There must be dozens of them. I wonder how many will make it across the sea safely.

Ignoring Yog’s tension-free whisper, Ian turned his gaze toward the sea beyond the docks. Sea fog blurred and tangled the horizon. He activated his Magic Detection, but the pale blue chaos mixed in the fog interfered with his vision like static.

Rumble…

It was then that the bead of chaos essence let out a low thrum. Ian drew upon the power of chaos. His eyes turned violet, and the chaos interwoven with the mist surged into sharper relief. Yet it wasn’t only the chaos within the mist that grew clearer.

Call it a ghost fleet, and I’d believe it.

Far beyond the fog to the left, pale blue halos of light, lined up in a long row and crossing the sea, had appeared. It was undoubtedly the archipelago’s fleet. The reason the fog had crept this close was that they were passing by nearer than expected.

—Huh, impressive.

The pale blue light shimmered beneath the sea’s surface as well. Though they were far away, it was easy to surmise that each was quite large. They were likely the sea beasts that the archipelago’s fleet was said to have tamed.

—Think it over again, my friend.

Yog whispered. The creature had already slithered up onto Ian’s pauldron. Flicking its purple tongue, it looked at Ian’s profile.

—Are you really okay with letting Bukikia fall into their hands?

At the suggestive whisper, Ian snorted. "Of course, I am."

—Even if it brings about something far worse?

Ian’s brow furrowed slightly. "You mean the ancient god they worship?"

—Yes. Why else would they be flocking over there like that? They’re risking revealing their true nature.

Yog chuckled softly, as if entertained.

—The god they serve commanded them to bring it a sacrifice. It’s only natural. No matter how much of a failure it is, it’d be incomparably more delicious than small fry.

"They’ll just end up with more minions at best."

—Will it, though?

This time, Ian turned to look at the creature on his shoulder, his eyes narrowing. "I doubt a seal that has imprisoned a god will break just because a single archdemon is offered as a sacrifice."

—It won’t break, no. But it could create a crack. As you already know, a crack, once formed, only grows larger, never smaller, until one day, it shatters.

Ian didn’t reply. He shook his head and turned his gaze back to the blue halos crossing the distant sea.

—Everything in the world has a cause and an effect. Every cause must precede its effect. That is the highest law of this world.

Yog whispered on, heedless.

—The void is the only space that overturns that law. Even a demonic realm, as long as it exists in this world, cannot completely ignore that law. The cause of chaos and madness taking root still exists, doesn’t it?

"Speak plainly. Stop beating around the bush with useless nonsense. Lucy is listening too," Ian finally said, clicking his tongue.

Yog chuckled.

—Don’t worry. For now, I’m only speaking to you, my friend. I was trying to tell you why the gods cannot freely manifest in this world. And why they can only barely show themselves as insignificant fragments.

Just like you, Ian snorted inwardly.

He already knew how Yog had come into existence. They had crossed the Black Wall, and the flood of chaos and madness that bled out in that instant had given Yog form.

—But the one slumbering in the sea is different. Whether it paid a great price or succeeded in transcendence, I don’t know, but it already exists in this world as an effect. Even if it breaks its seal and reveals itself, it won’t violate the law.

Ian’s eyes narrowed instinctively. "So you’re saying that even the celestial gods won’t be able to make a proper intervention."

—It’ll be child’s play, as always. Of course, that thing won’t be as powerful as it was before it was sealed, but well, I doubt that will make much of a difference to you mortals.

Yog’s voice lowered suggestively.

—Instead of creating unnecessary future troubles, why don’t we just step in, my friend?

Ian’s gaze turned icy. However, conversely, one corner of his mouth was slowly curling up.

"That was quite convincing, but I’ll pass. Unless it’s a situation where I absolutely have to, I won’t fight."

Yog, who had paused as if he hadn’t expected that at all, whispered a moment later.

—Are you serious?

Ian shrugged. "Of course. There’s no guarantee those guys will succeed in their subjugation in the first place. If they fail, the archdemon and the corrupted ones will be locked in a war of attrition. Even if they succeed, who knows how long it will take for the crack to grow large enough for the god to escape?"

Ian turned his head to the side and looked down at Yog. "Besides, even if I kill Bukikia, it doesn’t seem like the potential danger will decrease. You want to become a god, too, don’t you?"

Yog flicked his purple tongue instead of answering. A moment later, a low laugh echoed in Ian’s mind.

—Sharp, my friend.

Friend, my ass.

Ian snorted.

He didn’t say it aloud, but he was certain of one thing: as long as he drew breath, the seal on that ancient god would never be broken.

If Yog’s words were true, then it was an enemy no mortal could ever hope to defeat. However, in the game, there were no unbeatable bosses. That meant that if that thing broke its seal and revealed itself, there had to be a way to kill it somewhere.

Though whether I’ll be the one to pull it off is another matter.

In truth, it wasn’t even certain if he could kill Bukikia. The probability of him drowning before that was overwhelmingly high.

—But you don’t need to worry about me, friend.

Yog’s sly murmur slipped into his mind again.

What nonsense is this snake going to spew now?

—Because my main body could reclaim me at any time.

Ian’s brow furrowed a little more. "Wasn’t getting you to help me in the Black Lands just a pretext? You still haven’t figured out how to get to my home, have you?"

—Of course. But being useless is also a sufficient reason for me to be recalled.

True.

Ian gave a slight nod. Trying to grasp what that long-haired one was thinking was next to impossible. If Yog was a mere serpent, then that one was no different from a dragon. And perhaps, Yog had already gotten various clues without even realizing it. And for that being, that might be enough.

—As I’ve said before, I quite enjoy existing as myself. And that feeling grows stronger with time. Even now, I sleep for half the day.

Yog’s low whisper continued.

—My goal right now is not to become a god, my friend. It is to be able to exist fully. And for that, I need you.

A faint, dry laugh escaped Ian’s lips. Though the tone was still leisurely and playful, it felt quite sincere. The creature, in its own way, was doing its best to survive.

"Then from now on, you’ll be—"

Ian, who was about to say something, closed his mouth and looked down. It was because he had heard the sound of a door opening. The familiar top of a hooded head and another head with messy, long hair came into view.

"What’s with this sudden fog? Don’t tell me."

As Lucia, who had been murmuring, sighed, Sanford looked around and called out, "Sir? Where are you? I think the time has come. Sir?"

Turning his gaze back to the distant sea, Ian said, "Right. The time has come."

It was Lucia who lifted her head at the sound of his voice. Sanford, who had finally followed her gaze and looked up, blinked blankly. "Why are you up there?"

"To watch the fleet pass by."

"Pardon? In this fog, what could you possibly see?"

I see it just fine.

Ian, who had been staring at the blue halos slowly passing by on the sea, finally jumped down.

"Ugh, you crazy?" Sanford, who had been looking up at him, jumped back in fright, instinctively raising his right arm to cover his remaining eye.

Thud…

Of course, the ominous conclusion Sanford had imagined didn’t happen. With a heavy thud, Ian landed, crouching on one knee. With only a slight frown, he then stood up as if nothing had happened.

"Start preparing to set sail, Sanford," said Ian.

Sanford lowered his hand, though the crease on his brow did not ease. "Now? You mean right now?"

"Yes, immediately."

"B-But there are still some guys I haven’t passed on."

"Just take them all. We’ll pay for them."

More crew can’t hurt.

As Sanford nodded, Ian looked at Lucia and added, "I’ll go back to the inn and get the others. You two go to the docks and start getting ready to leave."

He looked at the fog-filled alley and turned in the direction he had come from. "When the fog lifts, other captains will start preparing to leave, too. Let’s get a head start before it gets chaotic."

"Huh…"

"You heard him, right? Let’s go, Captain." Lucia pulled on the arm of the sighing Sanford.

As Sanford was dragged away, Ian turned his back to them and started walking.

—So, what were you going to say, my friend?

He didn’t even bother to reply to the ensuing whisper.