Chapter 563

I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

The dense fog that had blanketed the city was now gradually thinning. This was partly because the party’s preparations had taken a little longer than expected.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

As Hashim strode down the middle of the main road, Ian, mounted on Moro, followed alongside the carriage. There were far fewer people on the thoroughfare than usual, and it surely wasn't just because of the fog.

I guess everyone has a rough idea of what this fog means.

Watching the people hurrying somewhere, Ian nodded nonchalantly.

It was still a long time until dawn. Once the fog completely lifted, the Imperials, who had finished their preparations, would surely pour out into the streets.

Neigh…

Moro snorted roughly and shook its head. Its breath was heavier than usual, likely due to the faint chaos mixed in the fog. While it would only cause a vague sense of unease, fear, or heightened emotions in ordinary people, Moro was surely feeling the chaos much more vividly.

"Easy now. There are no enemies," Ian whispered, stroking the horse’s thick mane.

Moro let out a long stream of air as if to catch its breath. Perhaps it just wanted to return to its true form. It had been in its disguised state ever since the Black Wall fell.

Creak.

It was then that the carriage’s side window opened.

"Strange. Now that we’re finally leaving, I almost feel reluctant," Thesaya said leisurely.

Poking her pale face through the window, she added, "It was just getting fun."

"And here I thought you meant you’d miss the South," Ian replied, looking at her.

Thesaya stuck her left arm out the window and shrugged. "I was practically a prisoner in that mansion. What’s there to miss? I think I’m just cut out for a wandering life."

Her attire, having shed the cloak, was much lighter in many ways. She looked more like a pirate than an elder fairy.

This was also the result of her two nights of roaming the city streets with Simon. His thoughts on the matter might have been a little different, but for Thesaya, it had clearly been a very fulfilling and enjoyable time.

"Of course, the real fun might be just beginning," Thesaya added with a smile.

The corner of Ian’s mouth curled up on its own. "Losing your sense of fear isn’t a good thing."

"Don’t worry. I haven’t lost it. Like I said, these are the moments I feel most alive."

I wish I could feel a little less alive, then.

Ian gently shook his head. Just then, a dark-skinned face appeared from the opposite side of Thesaya.

"What kind of fun are we supposed to be expecting?"

It was the beggar boy, Shahin.

Thesaya grinned. "Our little sprout doesn’t need to know. And I’m not going to tell you."

"There’s an archdemon called Bukikia in the inner sea right now," Ian said calmly.

Hashim, who was walking ahead, flinched, and Thesaya whipped her head around to face him.

"The archdemon from the old stories?" Shahin asked, blinking.

Ian nodded. "Yes. And its minions are swarming there, too. That’s why the port is blockaded. The archipelago’s fleet is on its way to fight them."

"Why would you tell him all that?" Thesaya hissed, her eyes wide.

She then shot a glance at Shahin. "It was so hard to persuade him. I should be reassuring him, not—"

"That’s why I’m telling him. His life could be in danger," Ian cut her off without even a glance, his eyes fixed on Shahin. "So if you’re scared, just get off here. You’ve got your siblings to think of."

Unexpectedly, Shahin had refused both Thesaya and Simon’s offers, the reason being that he had two younger siblings here. One of them wasn't even related by blood. He never had a father, and his mother had passed away years ago after coughing up blood. Since then, he had been begging alone to feed his siblings.

"I heard rumors that monsters from beyond the Black Wall had trickled in, but an archdemon…" Shahin murmured softly.

Just then, Thesaya grabbed his hand firmly. "Don’t worry, Shahin. Even if you die, my promise still holds. The fairies of Erenos will continue to look after your siblings."

This was the condition Thesaya had offered to persuade Shahin. If Shahin went to Erenos, his siblings would be taken in as well. She had even promised to send a fairy to watch over them while he was away at sea.

That had only been possible because of the Scroll of Correspondence, which allowed her to exchange words with Diana. Smaller than the one she had entrusted to Charlotte, it allowed for nothing but the most vital messages—yet she had willingly spared the space for Shahin.

"I’m truly grateful for your words, but I’ve heard there’s nothing more meaningless than a fairy’s promise, Elder," Shahin said, looking into her eyes and gently pulling his hand away.

"What? Who said such …Wise words?" Thesaya, who had shot her eyes open, clicked her tongue and added, "It’s true. Except for me, of course. I’m different from those ungrateful pointy-ears. Isn’t that right, sir?"

At her glance, Ian snorted and shrugged. "Well, that’s true."

"See? The sir you admire so much even vouches for me."

"But don’t manipulate a child like that," said Ian.

Thesaya, who had been holding her chin high in a display of pride, pouted.

Of course, Ian paid her no mind and added, "Once you’re on the ship, there’s no turning back. It might be fine, but if something happens, I won’t have the luxury of protecting you. Besides, you still haven’t decided who to follow, have you?"

Though most of it had come from Brennen, Simon had also made a considerable offer. He would bring all of Shahin’s siblings to the mainland and make them servants of his family.

When Shahin still couldn’t decide, they had even agreed to postpone the choice until they reached the mainland, on the condition that if he ultimately refused, he could simply take some money and return on a smuggling ship. Perhaps due to the competition, both sides had promised exceptional treatment.

"Thank you for being honest with me, sir. But I won’t get off. I’ll board the ship as well," said Shahin finally.

By now, they had left the busy streets behind; the road was darker.

Thesaya, meanwhile, snapped her fingers with a grin. "Good thinking. You’re as smart as I thought, trusting my promise."

"… I’m sorry, but that’s not the reason."

"Hmm?"

"Nor am I saying I’ll be following you, Elder."

At the beggar boy’s sharp words, Thesaya blinked. "I thought you got in this carriage because you chose me. Was that not it?"

"I got in here because the sir is with you, Elder."

"Ah."

As Thesaya finally let out a low sigh, Shahin’s gaze turned to Ian. "And I said I would board the ship because you are here, sir."

Casting a glance at the shady sailors appearing one by one, Ian looked back at Shahin. "I’ll say it again, but I have no intention of taking you with me, Shahin. So you’d better give up any foolish hopes."

It wasn’t an empty warning. The enemies he would face from now on were all terrifyingly strong. There was no way Shahin could survive. Of course, he had even less intention of dragging around a burden.

"That’s right. Our little sprout should just take this Elder’s hand and return safely to the South. You need to grow up strong with the fairies," Thesaya quickly added.

Shahin, his lips pressed into a firm line, finally nodded. "I will think about it. Honestly, I still can’t believe the Radiant Goddess would pay any attention to someone like me."

"Exactly. That humility, yes, I like that very much."

And yet he still doesn’t say he won’t board.

Smacking his lips, Ian turned his gaze away without another word. He’d given more than enough warnings. Besides, the offers Shahin had received were life-changing. If he sent him back rashly and nothing happened, it would just be a wasted opportunity.

"Tie it down properly. There’s a gap."

"Don’t rush me. Anyone who drops and breaks one will get their head broken, too."

Instead, Ian looked at the cargo carriages lined up sporadically along the roadside. Men were coming out of an alley, carrying square boxes or round wooden barrels, and loading them onto the carriages one by one. They were likely the crew of a smuggling ship, finishing their preparations before taking on passengers.

"Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like a fight broke out around here," Hashim whispered then, having slowed down and slipped between Moro and the carriage.

Glancing at Moro, who snorted, Hashim added, "Just as you said, sir."

"Good news for us," Ian replied nonchalantly.

A chuckle from Yog crossed his mind.

In truth, Hashim had only repeated the snake’s predictions. Yog had already predicted that Bukikia would have summoned its minions scattered across the inner sea, the reason being that it would have sensed the assembling fleet. Ian, too, found its opinion plausible. The archdemons he had encountered so far hadn't been completely devoid of reason.

Not that it was more than a threadbare struggle against their madness.

They lost their reason completely only after being cornered. Bukikia would likely be no different. Besides, he had already connected with the creature's consciousness through the vision.

"They’re loading a lot of stuff. It’s only a few days at most," said Thesaya.

Hashim’s head turned toward the carriage. "You never know what might happen at sea. The winds in the inner sea are unpredictable, so we often have to row. There needs to be enough water and food."

"Aha."

"There should also be enough food for the return trip, too, since we are not docking officially."

Thesaya, who had been nodding nonchalantly as if she had abruptly lost interest, suddenly turned her head again. "Wait. So you’re just going to drop us off on the shore and leave?"

It seemed she hadn’t considered that possibility before. Ian hadn’t either.

"There are hidden docks outside the city where we can moor. Places that guys like us frequent. They’re quite a distance from the city, but that’s something we can’t do anything about…" Hashim replied.

His eyes downcast as if burdened by their gazes, he then turned his head forward and added, "Don’t worry. We will escort you safely to the mainland."

Thesaya let out a low snort. "You should be saying that to the people in the back. They’re the ones who are scared."

Behind them, Simon’s party was following. With departure looming, Brennen and his squire looked tense, their faces rigid. Perhaps it was only because of the shady sailors loitering along the roadside.

"Yes, I will tell them when we board," Hashim replied and moved ahead again.

Before long, they reached the harbor. Instead of steps, a sloped stone ramp stretched down to the water, worn smooth by the passing of countless carts.

"Diligent, aren’t they? I thought no one would be here yet," said Thesaya.

Ian just nodded. Several cargo carriages were already crossing the dock. Of course, this was just the beginning. In an hour, the area would be swarming with sailors and passengers.

Clip-clop—

Hashim led the party to the central dock, which stretched out long and thin toward the sea. Wooden ramps branched off to the left and right like tree branches, and ships were moored alongside them.

Ian, who had been scanning the area where the fog was dissipating, finally stopped his gaze straight ahead. Not far from the end, two cargo carriages were stopped.

"Freddy! Are you in love with that barrel? Stop hugging it and roll it!"

"A little faster. Let’s finish this quickly and get some rest!"

Sailors were bustling around them, carrying square boxes that likely contained salted food or rolling wooden barrels that were clearly filled with alcohol. The carriage’s cargo bed was almost empty. Their departure preparations were nearing completion.

"That’s the Black Wave," Hashim said, turning back from where he had been walking ahead.

Ian nodded, looking at the smuggling ship he would be boarding. A tall mast stood in the center of the deck, and a smaller one rose from the bow. The only thing he knew about ships was that those were called masts.

"It’s smaller than the one I was on before," said Thesaya.

Hashim nodded. "But it will be much nimbler and faster. Of course, it’s not without its drawbacks, but we’ve reinforced and refitted it enough to overcome most of them."

It meant that it was a ship specialized in smuggling.

They probably didn’t pay any attention to safety.

Hashim, who had added that they should follow slowly, hurried forward.

"Hurry it up, you bastards! We’ve got guests! Alt, fetch the captain!"

Even as he did, Hashim waved his arms and shouted, his tone completely different from the respectful one he used with Ian’s party. At once, the once-sluggish sailors snapped to attention, scattering as if seared by fire.

So we just need to step in once they’re done.

Ian leisurely loosened Moro’s reins, half-listening as Thesaya whispered more words of persuasion to Shahin.

Ian’s gaze turned upward. Through the thinning fog, the clouded night sky had suddenly flared with light.

Rumble—

The sound of thunder echoed a moment later. However, Ian's narrowed eyes were not from the thunder. It was because he had realized that the dark clouds in the sky were now swirling as if forming a giant vortex.

"Could this be?" Thesaya, who had paused, asked, looking at Ian.

Ian, instead of answering, lightly shook the reins and moved forward.

Passing Mukapa, who sat in the driver’s seat with an unusually stiff expression, Ian turned his gaze to the sea on the far right, hidden until now behind the carriage. There, unlike the waters where the fog had nearly lifted, a heavy haze still clung to the waves.

The sky, filled with dark clouds, flashed once more, just after Ian’s brow had narrowed slightly. Ian didn’t miss the faint purple light that seemed to flash from very far away, shimmering in the fog before fading.

—Looks like my prediction was a little off.

Yog’s laughter-tinged whisper echoed in his mind.

Rumble…

Ignoring the thunder that rolled in a moment later, Ian looked at Mukapa’s stiff face. "Let’s hurry. Looks like it’s already begun."