#039
“Aren’t you worried?”
Philip, who was walking, suddenly blurted out.
Ian, who was reading the third volume of the records taken from the Marquis’ secret room, asked back angrily.
“what.”
“Orndel. From what I can see, there are more than one thing that makes me anxious. Even if it’s not a conversation between me and the lord.”
“You finally learned how to think. “It’s something to celebrate.”
“Is that how you see it too?”
Ian shook his shoulder.
As Philip said, Orndell still had many uneasy factors.
Including Declan himself.
But that didn’t bother me.
In this world heading towards destruction, there was bound to be a limit to the changes that individuals could make.
Since Orndel was prevented from being left in the hands of the Corruptor, this would have been the next best ending.
“Don’t worry. Is now the time for you to worry about Orndell?”
Philip suddenly came to his senses as he added these words.
“but. You are right. Agelran’s problem is the biggest and most urgent. In that sense… … .”
He lifted his chin.
“Has something come out?”
“Not yet. You better hope there is something. If there’s nothing else… “It may be late to return to Agellan.”
“… … !”
Philip had a nervous look on his face.
Actually, Ian wasn’t too worried. Corruptors are similar to wizards, and they like to keep records of what they do.
The content varies greatly depending on whether it is a record of evidence for fear of betrayal, a mental victory, or self-display due to excessive self-consciousness.
The Marquis seemed closer to the former.
A moment when my eyes were constantly looking at all kinds of magazine articles and information that I didn’t really want to know.
“There you are.”
Ian blurted out.
Philip, whose eyes were slightly anxious, suddenly turned his head.
“What? “What do you have?”
Ian held out the booklet he was looking at towards Philip.
Philip blinked.
“I can’t see anything.”
“okay?”
Ian smiled and poured magic into the pattern drawn on the cover.
Letters suddenly appeared on the paper.
“now?”
“… “It was a magical book.”
“okay. “It’s perfect for recording things you don’t want others to see.”
I don’t think it would have occurred to me that it would be suspicious to see a clean notebook mixed in among all these records.
“So, what does it say?”
“It’s a list. The Marquis really had the personality of not trusting anyone. “I wrote down not only the list of those mentioned, but also their personal information that I personally investigated.”
This guy really wanted to be king.
A sneer spread across Ian’s lips.
However, he didn’t seem to know what the real purpose of the old deer, Regis Brandt, was.
Nowhere in the summary of the secret meeting or conversation with him was there any mention of turning the entire Agellan into a devil.
The detailed plan was to establish a united nation centered on the corrupted, and to expand its power by creating an immortal army using the forbidden knowledge obtained from the abyss.
The grand ambition of the Marquis and other corruptors was to devour border countries and eventually grow into a force that would threaten even the empire.
‘In the end, they are all just Regis’ puppets.’
I felt like I knew what Regis Brandt’s method was.
It must have fueled the secret ambitions and desires of those in power and intellectuals, ultimately crossing the line.
Of course, they may have made countless promises that what they wanted would come true.
In Ian’s view, if Agellan was transformed into a devil, all of this would have happened.
At that time, the corrupters will have to obey even if they don’t want to.
No, maybe even they are nothing more than sacrifices.
‘With these crazy people operating secretly across the entire continent, how can this world not fall into ruin?’
In the meantime, humans are contemplating war with each other.
Philip, who was looking impatiently at Ian who was clicking his tongue, spat out.
“What names are there? “Do you know any names?”
“There is definitely Regis Brandt.”
Ian’s hands stopped turning the pages.
“Frederick Henson… .”
“… “Who is that?”
“He is a priest of Balk City. He was close to the lord. Oh, Hannah Burton. “This is a familiar name.”
“Who is that again?”
“A noble wife from Balk City. “I’m not a formal noble, but I am.”
“… They were really hiding all over the kingdom. I would like to suggest that a punitive force be dispatched. If it doesn’t work out, report it to the empire-”
“There’s no need for that.”
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“… … ?”
“Because the people I just mentioned are all dead.”
“yes… … ?”
Philip’s head tilted.
“Killing. who… … .”
At Ian’s gaze, Philip’s eyebrows rolled up.
“Are you coming?”
“I didn’t mean to. There was nothing I could do because they tried to steal the commission fee or stab me in the back. “I only found out that he was a corrupter right before I killed him.”
“… “I don’t think the lord of Balk Castle would sit still.”
“He actually liked it.”
“yes?”
“He was the only person who knew me. There must have been no harm in the fact that those who shared power and disciplined each other died. Moreover, there was clear evidence that he was a corrupter. In fact, he even gave me money to keep it a secret. He didn’t want things to escalate. He was exiled after that, but anyway. Half of the names here… … .”
Ian added, tired.
“I think I killed him.”
“… … .”
Philip, who had looked like a bewildered servant for the first time in a long time, finally spoke out.
“Nari, really… You are a great person. “If you do this, you can be called the guardian of Agellan.”
“I never did that for Agel Lan. So don’t think about adding strange modifiers in front of my name.”
Philip added, not paying attention to Ian’s cold voice.
“Then maybe you were born with a destiny to defeat the corrupters.”
“… … .”
Those words were persuasive.
Strictly speaking, his body, Ian Hope, was the main character of the game.
It was inevitable that he would become entangled with corrupters, monsters, and demons wherever he went.
Quests related to them had the best rewards, so I had no choice but to do it in order to become stronger.
“Anyway, in the end, it’s good. “If the root of corruption is completely removed, the remaining corrupters will have virtually no foundation.”
A smile spread across Philip’s lips.
“Now all we have to do is go to Agellan. “As quickly as possible.”
“hmm.”
Ian, who safely placed the book in subspace, fell silent instead of answering.
Philip narrowed his eyes and looked up at him.
“You’re not planning on stopping by somewhere else, are you?”
“Shut up. “Because I’m thinking about it.”
“… … .”
Ian was immersed in conflict, ignoring Philip’s gaze.
Because I could see in my eyes what would happen if I went to Agellan like this.
When everything is done, we will probably have to leave Agellan.
I won’t be able to set foot again for a while. Just like in the game.
It meant that I would also be saying goodbye to quests that were still left somewhere.
I didn’t have any regrets about leaving Agellan, but not in that part.
‘I went through all the big cities, but… I’m sure there are a few more.’
Will Maeve be able to hold out until then?
Ian remembered her last appearance.
The appearance was so calm that it seemed strange.
Perhaps it was a brief moment of peace that came after the expression of intense emotions.
Even now that I was alone, I couldn’t decide whether that would be the case.
While the inner scales go back and forth.
Suddenly, Philip stopped.
“What?”
Ian looked down at him.
Philip gestured forward.
“It’s a crossroads, Sir. One side turns around and leads towards Balk City. On one side… “It goes directly to Agellan.”
“… … .”
Ian looked ahead.
As the sunset was setting, the long road divided into left and right came into view.
“Now that I am your servant, I will follow whatever you choose.”
Philip added.
Ian scratched his chin for a moment and then turned his head.
“Go this way.”
The road leading to Agellan.
Philip’s stiff expression brightened dramatically.
“Well thought out!”
“… … .”
“I can’t believe you made such a wise decision. I have a feeling that everything is finally going to work out. We will be welcomed into the royal castle, and we will eradicate the darkness that has shrouded the castle and gain honor.”
“After listening to you, I have a feeling that my choice was wrong.”
“It can’t be. “I’ll shut up.”
Philip quickly pulled the reins in case he changed his mind.
Ian chuckled and looked away.
Since I don’t even hope for a smooth journey in Agellan, I thought it would be nice if the road to get there was at least smooth.
***
“at las… .”
Philip, who was coming down the slope, let out a sigh of emotion.
In the distance, the panoramic view of Agellan was spread out.
“For a small town, it’s pretty good.”
Ian murmured.
Agellan, formed around a gentle hill, was at least several decades ahead of other cities in the kingdom.
Even in the game, it wasn’t a small city. When it became a reality, it occurred to me that many parts had been omitted at the time.
A castle towering on top of a hill. Buildings continued below, and a castle wall surrounded the hillside.
There were many buildings at the bottom of the hill, and another wall surrounded the city.
There were many buildings around it, and construction to build another wall around the edge was in progress.
Next to it was a river of moderate width, and the plain on the other side was full of fields.
One of the secrets of Agellan, which is also the name of the city, establishing a kingdom would have included establishing a foundation in such an excellent location.
Perhaps the former Marquis Burchard wanted to make Orndell like this.
‘There hasn’t been any bloodshed yet.’
Ian nodded at the sight of the castle in good condition.
Because it meant that Maeve kept her promise to him.
“Tonight, I can finally sleep in a warm room.”
Philip’s steps became faster.
His appearance, which had been clean-cut until he left Orndell, was now without a bum.
Moreover, the weather was gradually getting colder.
Although it is a neighborhood where seasonal changes are not that big, even small changes can make a big difference to those living on the streets.
Soon after, Ian entered the outskirts of Agellan.
Quite a crowd. Most of them didn’t care about Ian and Philip.
This meant that there was frequent traffic from outsiders and that public security was good.
Then Philip stopped talking.
It was in front of the gate of the first castle wall.
“You seem like a foreigner. “Please reveal your identity and purpose.”
said the guard.
Even though he was going to repeat the same thing countless times, he seemed quite disciplined.
“I am the squire of Lord Meve Riorel, Treasurer of Agellan. “This man here is Sir Ian Hope, Lord Liurel’s guest.”
“I am a guest of the Liurel family… ?”
The soldier looked at the two of them with disbelief and gestured.
“I will send someone to check. “Please wait.”
“yes.”
Philip rode up to the wall.
Ian didn’t say anything either.
On the contrary, I was actually surprised.
This is such a common sense and normal procedure.
“The city runs systematically.”
“of course. This is the center of the kingdom. “From laws to residence, everything is systematic.”
It’s probably based on the Empire.
Even while thinking, Ian nodded calmly.
Anyway, in this world, it was a very livable neighborhood.
Scenes from the game flashed through my mind.
The city was in chaos, engulfed in fire.
It was a sight completely unimaginable today.
‘If something goes wrong this time, that’s what will happen.’
At that time, someone ran out of the gate.
A well-built man wearing the robes and hood worn by noble vassals.
He looked around, found Ian and Philip, and approached them.
“You’re finally here! “I almost lost my head waiting!”
The smiling face as he took off his hood was a familiar face to them.
“Miguel! “There are days in my life when I’m happy to see you!”
Philip hugged him tightly.
Come on? Miguel patted his shoulder while muttering, and looked at Ian getting off his horse.
Ian spat out.
“You have oil running down your face. “It seems like it was worth living, right?”
Miguel burst out laughing.
His well-trimmed beard and scars waved.
“Looking at your faces, I can’t say no. Now, let’s go in.”
He turned and walked away.
In the meantime, he exchanged glances with the guard and even nodded.
Philip chuckled.
“You’ve become a local.”
“As you know, I am good at adapting. Considering how long I’ve been here, well, it’s worth it. “You seem to be feeling like a mercenary now.”
“I didn’t want to, though.”
“That’s how it all starts.”
Miguel laughed and continued.
“We’re going to climb one more wall. “Philip may know, but the Liurel family’s mansion is at the very back.”
“Then why did you come out? I thought Nari would come out in person. Because the issue is the issue.”
“Of course you did. He waited for you more than me. “It’s just that you couldn’t do that.”
Miguel scratched the scar on his cheek, looked around and lowered his voice.
“I am currently under house arrest.”
“… … ?”
Not only Philip, but also Ian’s eyebrows narrowed slightly.
fantasy,
