Chapter 594

I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

Simon, holding the open door, widened his eyes. "Oh, Lu Solar, thank you."

Behind him, Thesaya, who watched his awed sigh, hopped up onto the roof. Beyond the thinning trees and wide fields, she took in the sight of the ashen-gray castle and the city that surrounded it in layers.

At last, the corners of her lips curved upward. "Yeah, that definitely is Orendel."

Her gaze shifted to Ian. "Though it seems to have gotten much bigger than I remember."

Ian nodded. The area that had once been a shantytown for immigrants had been transformed into a city with its own wall. And around it, a new shantytown, enclosed only by a wooden palisade, had formed. The land cleared of the trees needed for all that construction had likely been turned into farmland.

"It seems even bigger than the Agel Lan I remember," said Lucia, leaning against the other side of the carriage roof.

Simon, staring at the city, nodded his head up and down. "In terms of scale, it could rival a major city in the Empire. Though it looks dirty and crude."

"Seems everyone’s crammed into one place. Well, looking at the surroundings, I guess they wouldn’t have had much choice," Thesaya added with a chuckle.

Simon shrugged. "There must be a few satellite towns supplying resources. Either way, I feel as though I’m witnessing a page of history. They say the old kingdoms, and even the Empire, started this way."

"Perhaps all the surviving frontier kingdoms are like this. A kind of city-state," Lucia added in agreement.

Shahin, who was holding the open door, was listening to their conversation with shining eyes, as if studying.

Thesaya shrugged. "Well, in any case, there’s got to be some safe road leading to other kingdoms. They can’t be completely isolated."

"Maybe for the Empire, but I doubt there’s a safe route up North," said Ian. The Imperial mainland might be another story, but the North and the frontier had never had any real direct exchange.

"We’ll find out for sure when we meet Redhead, I suppose. Or maybe the Bastard King will tell us before then," Thesaya said, now sitting cross-legged.

She then looked at Ian slyly and added, "Half-Ear told me about the special connection between you and the Bastard King."

"We’ll see."

Simon turned to Thesaya, his eyes shining. "A special connection?"

"It was thanks to Ian that the Bastard King was able to inherit his title and lands. Apparently, the original lord and his heir were corrupted. I think I saw it from afar myself. I didn’t know what was happening at the time, though. And even after that, it seems he benefited quite a bit from Ian’s reputation," Thesaya said with a shrug.

"Wow, so there’s such a story!" Simon let out a low gasp and turned to Ian, his voice carrying a strange note of excitement. "In that case, we can expect to be treated with the utmost hospitality. You must have many memories to share."

"Whether he’ll still welcome me now is something we’ll have to wait and see," Ian said with a snort.

It had been so long ago that it now felt like a distant memory. The man who had built a kingdom in a land soaked with chaos and madness and held it for years could not possibly be the same as the one Ian remembered.

"Anyway, first we’re heading to an inn."

"Pardon?"

"What?"

At Ian’s words, not only Simon but Thesaya as well turned to him, their eyes wide. "The castle is right in front of us. Why would we do that?"

"The sun is setting," Ian said as if it were obvious.

As Thesaya finally looked up at the darkening sky, Simon said, "You wish to show the proper courtesy! The other group is, after all, the king of a nation. Announcing our visit and setting an appointment would be the proper procedure."

"And we all look like hell," Ian added with a shrug, looking at Thesaya. "Let’s rest for a night, clean ourselves up, and go in during the day."

"Who will you send as the messenger?" Thesaya asked.

"I will go. I’m Ian’s official representative right now, aren’t I?" said Lucia.

"You’ve still got my documents, right?"

"Of course. It’s not like I’ve ever fallen into a river," Lucia answered promptly.

"It seems she’s eager to see her big sister as soon as possible," said Thesaya with a soft smile.

"Of course. I hope Miguel is there too," Lucia replied readily, a smile mixed with longing and affection spreading across her face.

"Please take my horse," interjected Brennen, who had been walking silently beside her.

Lucia looked at him with a smile. "I won’t refuse. Thank you, Sir Brennen."

"There’s no need to hurry. You can take your time," Ian added. He meant that if she met Mev and Miguel first, she should take the time to enjoy their reunion.

"Do you think they will let her?" While Lucia nodded, Thesaya slipped in quietly. Her smile had already turned mischievous. "They’ll all come running in a hurry. Especially Redhead."

"Just get back inside," Ian said, nodding his head to the side. "Mukapa is drawing enough attention as it is."

They were passing between fields where either potatoes or sweet potatoes were being grown. The farmers who were heading back to the city were quickening their pace, repeatedly looking back at the group. It almost looked like they were fleeing.

"Fine. I’ll stay quiet and pretend I’m not here," Thesaya added playfully and leaped into the carriage with an acrobatic flip.

Shahin, Lucia, and Simon, his eyes now those of a gossip columnist, followed her in.

As the door closed, Ian looked at Brennen. "If someone blocks our path, I will deal with them."

He gestured for Mukapa to come closer and added, "I’m more familiar with the ways of the frontier. The rest of you, just keep quiet and stay back."

"Yes, Agent of the Saint."

"And don’t call me that either."

Brennen clamped his mouth shut, and Mukapa moved up to ride at his side. Ian’s gaze swept over the pony he was riding. Surprisingly, it was the one in the best condition after Moro.

Unlike the other horses, which had visibly thinned, it looked exactly the same as when they’d set out. It showed no fear, only its usual sullen expression as it chewed.

You really shouldn’t judge anything by its appearance.

Pulling his hood down, Ian looked forward again. Torches were being lit on the sparse palisade and on the castle walls that rose behind it.

Ian’s gaze lingered on the castle wall for only a moment because two guards holding long spears were blocking the road leading to the entrance.

"Halt. Stop right there."

Their eyes gleamed from under their steel helmets.

Edward, receiving Ian’s glance, immediately stopped the carriage. Brennen and Mukapa halted as well, while Ian alone stepped forward a little farther.

"State your identity."

It was no surprise that hostility was evident in both their eyes and voices. Not only was the group heavily armed, but there was also an orc among them. And that they had come up from the south was reason enough to arouse suspicion.

"We are on our way to the central territories of the Empire," Ian said in a flat tone, stopping at a moderate distance. "In the carriage are the Elder of the Southern fairy house of Ereno and the Young Master Simon, second son of Viscount Chambers."

"The Empire?" The guards’ brows narrowed.

Ian gestured for one of them to approach and looked back at Brennen. "Show him the identification."

Brennen blinked, then fumbled in his robes a beat later and came forward. One guard, who had been hesitating, finally lowered his spear slightly and approached him. The other guard’s eyes never left Mukapa, his left hand resting on the horn at his hip as if ready to draw it at any moment.

"Hmm…" A low hum came from the guard who was looking at the document. He was clearly illiterate, but he was able to recognize that this document proved noble status.

He soon folded the document and looked up at Ian, his eyes still wary. "How is it that nobles of the Empire have come this far?"

"The inner sea has been sealed. We had no choice but to travel through the frontier."

At Ian’s answer, the guard’s brow narrowed even further. "Surely you don’t mean you came all the way here through the old Southern borderlands."

"That’s exactly what we did."

"But that area is…"

"It was like hell. It seems it was abandoned because it was beyond saving." Ian’s flat reply left the guard blinking, momentarily at a loss for words.

After looking at Ian for a moment, the guard finally added, "This is not a matter for me to decide. I will report to my superiors."

"I was planning to send a messenger anyway. Directly to His Majesty the King."

"Pardon?"

"I have news that must be delivered. Until His Majesty gives his reply, the rest of us will wait outside the city walls. Don’t worry. If we had intended to cause trouble, we would have done so already."

The guard, who had been staring at Ian in conflict, finally looked to his side. "This man will guide you."

"Thank you." Ian looked back at Brennen, who had returned to the carriage. Brennen leaped from his saddle and approached the carriage.

As Lucia, her hood pulled low, stepped out, Ian looked back at the guard. "Where is the nearest inn?"

"Follow the main road straight in, then turn into the third alley on your left."

As Ian nodded, the sound of hoofbeats approached. The guard, who had been waiting, came over as Lucia said, "Please give me that document."

"Yes," the guard readily replied as Lucia, who had stopped beside Ian, held out her hand.

Resting his spear on his shoulder, he respectfully handed over the document with both hands, instinctively sensing an air of dignity about her.

"Well then, I’ll be back," Lucia said, handing her reins to the guard who had approached. Another guard promptly turned and led her away.

Ian’s gaze followed Lucia’s figure as she receded deeper into the city, until one of the remaining guards said, "Until all procedures are complete, please refrain from going outside if possible."

"We will," Ian replied and looked back.

Edward, who had been waiting, shook the reins as if on cue. The carriage rolled forward, and Brennen, walking alongside, naturally took the reins from Ian and led them ahead.

Clip-clop— Clip-clop—

The group’s carriage finally entered the city. The lone guard’s gaze remained fixed on their backs for a long time.

"The guards here carry themselves with an unusual air. They felt more like experienced mercenaries than regular soldiers," Brennen whispered.

Ian shrugged. "They probably had to become like that to survive here."

Or perhaps only such men had survived.

He looked at the main road. Lucia, on horseback, had already reached the castle gate in the distance. Moments later, the closed gates swung open, and guided by the guard, her figure slipped beyond and disappeared.

There shouldn’t be any problems.

Ian nodded and followed the carriage into an alley.

"Ugh!"

"A-A monster?"

In the meantime, the residents who had been going about their business were all retreating with various cries of shock. Most, of course, were because of Mukapa.

"H-How can a monster be riding a horse?"

"That’s an orc, you idiot. But why is an orc in a place like this?"

Even the patrolling guards could not hide their astonishment.

"An orc? What’s that?"

"You ignorant country bumpkin. They’re another race living in the Empire. I heard only the great lords of the capital employ them."

"They hire creatures like that? Truly, Imperial nobles are something else. Th-Then, in that carriage, an Imperial noble—"

I didn’t think I’d be reminded that I’m in the frontier like this.

At the whispers of the passing guards, the corner of Ian’s mouth twisted beneath his hood..

Lowering his head, he muttered, "Sir. Would you mind taking care of the horses and the carriage? This is a backwater town where half the people don’t even know what an orc is."

"Of course. Just go on inside with Sir Mukapa. Edward and I will handle the rest," Brennen readily replied. Mukapa’s face betrayed no concern, but it was likely a gesture of consideration for him.

The window slid open a crack, and Shahin said, "I will help as well. Do not worry."

"That would be even better," Ian said, looking down the alley.

Finding the inn wasn't difficult at all. Not only were the torches on its walls particularly bright, but several drunks were already passed out, leaning against it.

"We’ll take care of things and come in shortly."

Brennen, who had stopped Moro in front of the door, reached out for Mukapa’s horse as well. Ian leaped from his saddle, and almost at once, the carriage door burst open before it had even come to a full stop.

"Ugh, that smell. Honestly, this town stinks no matter where you go," Thesaya muttered, hopping out.

Simon followed timidly after her, casting wary glances toward the drunkards nearby. Likely the lingering effect of what he had gone through in Rune Catis.

"Don’t worry. The only ones who would pick a fight after seeing Mukapa or Ian are the ones who are too drunk to see straight. They probably can’t even walk properly."

Turning his back on Thesaya’s words, Ian stepped into the tavern. Inside was the kind of cramped, grimy room one might expect in a backwater frontier village.

"Hhk."

A few patrons, already seated despite the early hour, drew sharp breaths. It was surely because Mukapa and Thesaya entered behind him. However, Ian spared them not a single glance.

His brow furrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on the far wall. Mounted there were the head of a large monster, stuffed and preserved, and beside it, an axe with a crack running through its blade. Both were all too familiar ornaments.

"Wel-Welcome. Shall I show you to a table?" the maid asked, timidly approaching.

As she repeatedly glanced at Mukapa, a faint, dry laugh spread across Ian’s lips as he looked back at her.

"I thought it might be, and sure enough… it is."

"Pardon? What are you talking—" The maid, who had tilted her head and looked back at him, froze. Ian had thrown back the hood he was wearing.

Staring at his face, the maid’s eyes widened as if to tear. "S-Sir… Fixer?"