I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 733

Familiar voices drifted through the half-open door.

"Y-Yes! The two honored guests returned just moments ago." The steward stopped short and answered hastily, swallowing before bowing his head. "I informed them that Your Excellency would arrive shortly and asked that they wait, but..."

"They didn’t listen, I assume. Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing new." Ian let out a quiet huff of laughter and kept walking.

"Y-Yes, Your Excellency!" Relief washed over the steward’s face. He fell naturally into step beside Ian. "They also requested that once you arrived, all attendants be dismissed so they could speak freely."

"And that plenty of liquor be brought in?"

"Yes. ...How did you know?"

How could I not?

Ian smirked inwardly and gave a slight nod. "You’ve done well. Dismiss the others and get some rest. Make sure you eat, too."

"Yes, Your Excellency. Please enjoy your meal."

The steward stopped, bowing deeply. The other servants and attendants quickly turned away, no doubt at some subtle signal he had given.

Ian pretended not to notice and quickened his pace, having learned long ago that ignoring such things was the best way to put his attendants at ease.

Inside the dining hall, the voices fell quiet. They had sensed his approach.

Creak—

Ian pushed the door open and paused at the threshold.

The spacious hall came into view. Though the windows were shuttered, candlelight flickered brightly along the ceiling and walls. More candelabras illuminated the large rectangular table at the center, where an extravagant spread of meat dishes covered nearly every inch.

"You’re here, Ian?"

"You’ve come, my lord."

An elder fairy with a goblet in hand sat near the head of the table, facing her brown-skinned companion across from her.

Thesaya tilted her goblet toward him with a lazy smile.

Ian stepped inside with a low chuckle. "I thought you’d have eaten outside."

There was sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth.

Thesaya shrugged and raised her tin goblet to her lips. "It wasn’t good enough to eat twice in a row. Better to fill up properly during the day so we can enjoy ourselves more tonight, don’t you think?"

"Sounds like you had quite the night already." Ian closed the door behind him and walked toward the table.

Nasser gave his usual relaxed smile. "I can’t deny it. Last night was truly something."

I’m sure it was.

Ian was not surprised.

They had repelled an archdemon’s invasion and survived. They had witnessed his duel with Karha before entering the city and had been swept up in a thunderous welcome.

If the night had ended quietly after that, it would have been stranger. Everyone must have burned through the last of their stamina celebrating.

"Don’t look so disappointed, Ian. Tonight won’t be any less lively. Too much happened to cram it all into one evening," Thesaya added as though offering comfort.

Ian slid into the seat at the head of the table and let out a soft scoff. "I’m not disappointed."

"As if. The moment you step outside, the city’s going to explode again," Thesaya said without missing a beat.

Ian drew a slab of meat toward himself with a flick of his Willful Grasp and picked up his fork and knife. "Thanks. That completely killed any desire I had to go out."

"What are you talking about, Ian? Everyone’s practically straining their necks waiting for you to show up again. Isn’t that right, Half-Ear?" Thesaya turned swiftly to the opposite side.

Nasser, chewing, nodded readily. "That’s true. Wherever we go, they talk about you."

"And there’s even more to see right now. Yesterday, a bunch of centurions held a group duel over the inn you used to stay at."

"The Dragon Slayer’s room?" Ian raised one eyebrow slightly while chewing the well-seasoned meat.

Thesaya nodded immediately. "That’s the one. I can’t believe that stinky inn has become a pilgrimage site for barbarians."

That’s my line.

Ian shook his head faintly as he continued eating. He had no interest in who won that duel.

Setting an empty goblet in front of Ian, Thesaya slowly poured as she continued, "Anyway, if you head near the inn, you’ll see storytellers and bards everywhere. They’re all desperate to write new tales and songs. You can catch some pretty entertaining performances in between."

"Looks like they’ve already forgotten the archduke’s death," Ian said with a faint sigh, lifting the goblet to his lips.

He hadn’t been entirely unprepared for this—but what was happening across the city clearly exceeded even his expectations.

"Plenty of people seem pleased about it. Even more are disappointed you’re not the one taking that seat," Thesaya answered, watching him drink.

Nasser nodded in agreement.

"All the more reason you should show yourself once more before the coronation, wouldn’t you say?" said Thesaya.

Thesaya leaned closer and lowered her voice. "You’re the one who named the next archduke. You should reinforce that. Especially now that people know it was an archdemon who invaded the North, resentment’s only grown stronger. The future archduke must look pretty wilted right about now."

"You have a point." Ian lowered his goblet.

He did not particularly like the idea, but she was right. While the fervor was still hot, it would be better to settle things clearly and prevent any larger incident from brewing.

"Good. So we’re going out tonight, then?" Thesaya finally broke into a wide grin, one eyebrow twitching playfully.

The earlier reasoning had merely been a pretext; she simply wanted to roam the streets with him.

Instead of answering, Ian speared another piece of meat and asked, "What are the others doing?"

Thesaya shrugged and took another drink. "Haven’t seen the princess or the high priestess. They’re probably busy with the coronation preparations. The prosthetic’s likely running errands behind them. As for Redhead and Snub-Nose..."

"They’re at the church by now." Nasser swallowed his bite and spoke up when her gaze shifted to him.

Ian looked over.

When Ian glanced at him, Nasser calmly stabbed another piece of meat and added, "The priests asked for their advice."

"Advice?"

"They want to paint the Battle of Calbrook on one of the church walls. More specifically, a mural of you fighting Akihatara and the Avatar of Agony," Nasser said as if it were nothing, popping the meat into his mouth.

Noticing Ian’s expression, he added, "They watched the entire battle from start to finish at the closest range. They wouldn’t refuse the priests’ request."

That wasn’t why Ian’s eyes narrowed.

"Another painting. On the wall," muttered Ian.

Nasser nodded calmly. "The ceiling fresco is already famous. Even nobles from the South come just to see it."

"They must’ve made a tidy sum in donations. Add a mural, and they’ll be raking it in for years." Thesaya chimed in, lowering her goblet.

When Ian’s gaze shifted to her, she shrugged again. "The priests here seem very fond of you. They go around saying the Great Church must be gravely mistaken about something."

"You’ve got to be kidding me," Ian finally closed his eyes and let out a weary groan.

If the priests had already gotten a taste of money, there would be no stopping them short of killing them. Mev and Mukapa, too, were surely cooperating with great enthusiasm.

"Right. Exactly the sort of situations you hate," said Thesaya, refilling her goblet.

Ian opened his eyes, and she casually tipped the bottle toward his goblet as well.

"So once things settle down, you’re leaving, aren’t you? You never planned to stay cooped up here forever, just watching how things unfold in the capital."

"Hard to say." Ian swallowed his bite of meat and answered while holding her swamp-colored gaze.

She set the bottle down beside him and smiled faintly. "You can’t fool me, Ian. I don’t know which side you’ll choose, but you’re going to get involved in the civil war eventually. If that’s the case, you’ll need to prepare. And if not now, then when?"

She really does enjoy playing the wise elder.

Ian snorted inwardly and lifted his goblet.

This was likely the real reason she had come rushing back and waited for him.

Even as Nasser quietly chewed, watching, Thesaya leaned closer and whispered eagerly, "So? What’s the plan? Tell me. I’ll keep it to myself."

Ian took a slow drink, then lowered the goblet. "What’s the situation in the South?"

With a flick of Willful Grasp, he pulled another piece of meat onto his plate.

Thesaya let out a long breath through her nose, though she answered readily. "As I said, the inner sea routes have reopened. However, with so many ships sunk and so many people trapped for months, it’s still chaotic. Once word from the capital spreads, the chaos will stay that way for a while."

"So you’re effectively stuck?" Ian cut a piece of meat and placed it in his mouth.

She shook her head, lifting her goblet. "No, even in the middle of that mess, Diana secured reservations on several smuggling vessels. Your eye for talent really is excellent, Ian. She had help from the merchants who were staying at her house, but it still couldn’t have been easy."

"When it comes down to it, she manages," Ian muttered, recalling the fairy who’d once specialized in laziness and running away.

He watched Thesaya drink, then added, "So I suppose you’ve let go of your grudge against her."

"As if. I just found the most effective way to make her suffer." She lowered the goblet sharply, a wicked smile curving her lips.

"You’re vicious, Thesa," Ian shook his head. He almost felt sorry for Diana. That was hardly the peaceful retirement she had envisioned.

Thesaya smiled. "Thank you, Ian."

"In any case, it sounds like the beastfolk have stabilized." Ian speared another piece of meat.

She nodded. "They have. The moment you give the word, they can move. According to Kitty, there are plenty of beastfolk who want to meet the barbarians."

"That’s unexpected."

"You could say that’s thanks to me." She lifted her chin proudly. "I told them the barbarians call them brothers across the sea. Or brothers at the edge of the world."

Ian chuckled under his breath while chewing. Of everyone in their group, Thesaya might actually have been the busiest.

"Whatever the reason, they’re all itching to cross over to the mainland. The question is when and where."

Thesaya leaned in closer, swallowed once, and lowered her voice. "So, tell me, Ian. What’s the next move?"

Ian continued chewing as he studied her for a moment. Then his gaze shifted to Nasser, who was watching him with bright eyes.

After swallowing, Ian finally said, "Somewhere in the mountain range between the North and the frontier... The Gray Magic Tower is hidden."