#593
Sanford, who had frozen for a moment, then slowly raised his head.
“Ha, haha… Don’t you think that the schedule of the Holy Spirit Agency shouldn’t be disrupted because of people like us?”
His face was filled with a unique, sly yet cowardly smile as he spat it out.
“If that happens, I really won’t be able to raise my head…!”
I’m holding on just fine.
Just as Ian was about to snort, Sanford quickly continued.
“If you ever need to smuggle again, come to me anytime. I’ll take you for free.”
It was nothing more than an empty promise.
Sanford was already a half-wanderer, so it wouldn’t be easy to meet him again. But Ian nodded coolly.
“I’ll remember that.”
Because I didn’t know if I would ever have to go to the archipelago. I had already figured out how to get this one-eyed gambling addict back.
“If you want to live according to the will, it would be best to stay here quietly. At least until we hear news that the chaos in the center has been resolved.”
At Ian’s addition, Sanford opened his mouth, furrowing his brows.
“In the center, chaos?”
“Well, maybe.”
“Is there any problem… occurring?”
It was even more impossible to ignore Ian’s warning, since he had not even returned from beyond the black wall.
“So, keep your remaining money safe. Don’t waste it on gambling.”
But that was all Ian had to say. He had already taken the bait, so there was no need to tell the squeamish brat what was going on beyond the wall.
Ignoring Sanford’s frown, he turned to O’Hara, who was standing next to him.
“…the saint’s agent.”
Although his face was visibly pale and sickly, Ohara smiled weakly and lowered his head.
Ian’s gaze turned to Anna, the expressionless maid who was supporting her. Looking into her dry eyes, Ian spat out.
“Take good care of him. Don’t die before you hear good news.”
“… … !”
Ohara’s double-lidded, thick eyes widened for a moment. Anna nodded without avoiding Ian’s gaze.
“Yes I will.”
Ian nodded, looked forward, and shook the reins.
Moro, who had been lightly shaking, walked away, and Edward, who had been watching them closely, started the carriage again as if he had been waiting.
Polygonal- polygonal-
Even Simon, who had been sitting on the saddle with a blank expression, belatedly shook the reins.
Sanford and O’Hara, and Anna’s gazes were on the back of his head, but Ian, as always, did not look back.
Sling… .
Instead, he pulled out the dagger that had been newly placed on his right waist with his left hand. The blade was a bluish color with a curved edge. It was the Pale Lightning Dagger that he had received from Ohara.
As a unique class, it had options such as being unable to repair or having a certain probability of causing a level 2 bleeding condition when attacking. Of course, the most important thing was the level 3 shock skill. It consumed the wearer’s magic power, not the magic stone.
‘It was literally for self-defense, but…’
Ian quietly poured his magic into it. The bluish sheen on the surface of the blade became a little more vivid.
Although there was little sign of it, the shock had already begun. The electricity contained in the blade would only reveal itself the moment it touched something.
It was only the next moment that Ian let go of the handle. But the dagger did not fall. Instead, it floated between his palms.
‘… As expected. It’s being maintained.’
A faint smile crossed Ian’s lips. This was because the blue light on the blade did not disperse.
If you use it for throwing, it will be quite effective. Even if you block or parry a flying dagger, your eyes will be dizzy.
Ian, with the corners of his lips curled up, grabbed the hilt of his dagger again.
“That’s what the landlady said.”
As the left window of the carriage opened slightly, Lucia’s soft voice spread. When Ian turned around, Lucia stared at the dagger in his hand and added,
“What kind of request did you make?”
Ian leaned back slightly and looked across at her.
It was to check on Brennan, who was lying across from him. The middle-aged knight, who had stepped on his foot involuntarily, was lying down as if he had fainted. Ian, who had glanced at Shahin, who was crouching next to him, finally opened his mouth.
“Gray Tower.”
“Gray… is that a magic tower?”
Lucia opened her eyes as if she had not expected such words at all. Her eyes were surprised, but showed no anger or hatred at all. Ian continued speaking, feeling a strange sense of emotion at that fact.
“Yeah. I heard the crazy spellcasters there are asking for payment.”
“… So he was from the Gray Tower.”
As the carriage pulled into the street leading outside, Lucia spoke in a subdued voice. It was then that Tessiah clung to her side.
“So that’s why that happened yesterday? That’s amazing. You broke your promise and survived.”
“… … ! I see. So that’s why you looked so sick.”
Lucia opened her eyes and finally let out a gasp. Ian suddenly looked back at her.
“Come to think of it, I guess the Saintess of the Hearth didn’t make such a vow.”
“I’ve never asked, but I don’t think there would be any wizard who would dare to suggest something like that to the royal family. I heard that was when the royal family’s power was at its strongest.”
At Lucia’s answer, Ian nodded coolly. Well, back then, the rooftop wasn’t as closed off as it is now, so the standards for making a pledge might have been looser.
“Is that the tattoo?”
Thessaia’s soft voice continued.
“If I had known, I would have looked into it more closely. There was a way to survive even after breaking the oath…”
If you weren’t interested, what is it?
Ian said, snorting softly.
“Do you want to break your promise too?”
“That’s not it. After all, what I signed was a pledge to prevent leaks of orders, and I have no intention of teaching anyone. I was just curious.”
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“As you can see, it wasn’t a perfect method anyway.”
Ian shrugged.
I was muttering to myself that it might have been a good thing that I didn’t belong to any of the towers in the game. If I had, I would have opened my eyes bound by all kinds of oaths.
“So, where are you?”
Lucia asked meaningfully.
Ian blurted out calmly.
“well.”
It occurred to me that the location of the Gray Tower was not too far to the north. Perhaps I had passed by it in the past when I was taking him to the Temple of the Hearth.
Anyway, it was obvious that Lucia would insist on following him if she found out.
“… Are you trying to keep it a secret from me too?”
Lucia asked back with a sad tone. She even had an expression on her face like a puppy that got wet from the rain.
“Because just knowing it is dangerous.”
Of course, I couldn’t shake Ian. He spoke softly and glanced at Thesaiah.
“I’m not going to handle it anyway. I’m going to rely on the church.”
“ah…!”
Thessaia’s eyes flashed. One corner of her mouth curled up.
“You’re trying to get me to send out the purifiers. As expected from Ian… Thinking of making these ugly things fight each other.”
… this is actually a second best option.
Ian, who had been mumbling to himself, turned his gaze and spat out.
“Let’s focus on the problem at hand for now.”
The carriage had already left the city and was moving along a completely unpaved road. The road led up to a hill covered with grass and dry trees that had grown here and there in the sea breeze.
“Because I want to get to Orndel as quickly as possible.”
Ian concluded his speech, his eyes taking in the desolate ridge rising beyond.
“… Yes. I want to do that too.”
Lucia nodded, her face showing that all her attachment to the Magic Tower had disappeared.
“… … ?”
It was only then that Ian’s head turned over the carriage roof, as the sound of a yawn spread.
Simon’s fierce face, with tears streaming down his face and his lips licking back his lips, shook across the room.
“Isn’t this the time to be absent-minded like that?”
Tessiah, who had moved to the window, spat out. Simon blinked, then looked down at her and smiled.
“Even if the border becomes a devil’s realm, what could happen?”
“huh…?”
“The great warriors who defeated the Demon Clan of the Deep Sea are gathered here in one place.”
Ian’s one eyebrow rose slightly. Seeing that Lucia had a similar expression on her face, it seemed likely that Tessiah, looking up at Simon, would also have a similar expression on her face.
“I am just glad that I could be an eyewitness and witness.”
Simon, with one hand on his chest, continued speaking as if he were giving an eloquent speech.
“I am a messenger who will watch over the exploits of the great warriors, including the Holy One, and relay the accurate facts to the center…!”
“Oh yeah…?”
Thessiah’s voice continued with a hollow laugh. Simon’s gaze returned to Ian, whose expressionless face had returned to the roof of the carriage.
“Yes. We will be able to see the dazzling sword and shield of the Holy One again. In front of that sword that even defeated the Demon Clan, the monsters of the borderland are no match for-”
“Unfortunately, I won’t use that.”
Ian cut him off. Simon’s head tilted a beat later.
“You’re not using it…?”
“I guess I had no idea why I was carrying this.”
Ian tapped the hilt of the fang-toothed sword that jutted out over his shoulder.
Didn’t Jin’s steel sword’s durability drop to a dangerous level?
Until I met Platinum Dragon again, I didn’t plan on using it unless it was absolutely necessary.
“Ah, ah-ha… So you’re going to swing that big sword?”
“Anyway, I understand what you mean. I didn’t intend to make you fight anyway… .”
Ian nodded and added, staring intently into Simon’s eyes.
“If you really want to be a witness, do it with a sense of mission.”
“Mission… The word ‘feeling’ means… .”
“I’m telling you not to turn away.”
Ian’s eyes widened meaningfully as he spat out the words.
“No matter what terrible situation unfolds.”
“… … .”
Only then did Simon’s face harden. It was immediately after that that Thesaia’s languid voice followed.
“Why are you looking like that? Are you just going to talk nonsense without even looking at me?”
“… … .”
Simon’s head lowered. He looked at Tessiah, Shahin, who shook his head, and Lucia, whose face was expressionless, and the corners of his mouth finally curled up.
“How could that be possible? I will watch over you with a sense of mission!”
He looked back at Ian one last time and added:
“No matter what terrible situation unfolds…!”
Ian’s eyes narrowed a little more.
“I wonder how long that determination will last.”
***
The sky in the outskirts was always cloudy.
Most of the day was dark and gloomy, neither day nor night.
Inside the carriage.
Saaaaa…
Simon’s eyes, leaning back on the chair and looking up at the sky outside the window, were as gloomy and dry as dark clouds.
It was a change brought about by a journey that lasted over two weeks.
“… Please have a piece of jerky, Your Majesty.”
Shahin held a piece of jerky in front of his mouth. Simon shook his head helplessly, but the man forced a piece of jerky into his mouth.
“You should eat. Your face is too thin.”
“… … .”
Only then did Simon begin to move his jaw mechanically. He still had no appetite, but he was finally able to eat.
All kinds of monsters that have mutated into forms you’ve never seen before. A magical realm that seems like hell transferred to the real world. Humans who have eaten monsters and turned into monsters, and even a colony where they live together.
For a while, I couldn’t even eat because of the horrible things I didn’t want to remember and the sight of Ian slaughtering them.
Ian, unable to stand it any longer, closed the window, but it could not stop the screams and the stench.
“… … ?”
It was then that the bottle of wine came closer to Simon’s face. Thesaia, sitting across from him, shook the bottle and smiled.
“drink.”
Her face was as calm as ever, just a little messy. Not only her, but everyone in Ian’s group was like that.
The terrible things that devastated Simon are an everyday occurrence for them.
“…thank you.”
Simon took the bottle and brought it to his lips. It was a strong drink that made his throat burn, but it actually made him feel more alert.
Thessaia’s voice continued.
“Just hold on a little longer. It looks like we’re almost there.”
“It’s still… hard to believe.”
Simon frowned as he put down his bottle. He added, holding out the bottle as Shahin stuffed another piece of jerky into his mouth.
“It is a shame that a kingdom remains in such a terrible place.”
“I told you this a long time ago. You didn’t hear me at all. … Well, I wasn’t in a state to listen back then.”
Tessiah smiled as she accepted the bottle of wine and added as she handed it to Lucia, who was looking out the window.
“The south was completely abandoned and became like that. It was a useless area. But up here, it’s different. It’s been quite peaceful these past few days, hasn’t it?”
“I didn’t stop by the village because I was taking the fastest route.”
Lucia added calmly and brought the bottle to her lips. Simon, who felt a sense of distance again at her calm appearance that was beyond righteous, nodded bitterly.
“okay….”
“Well, I’m curious too. Even if we subjugate them periodically, it’s probably still dangerous. How do they live?”
Tessiah shrugged her shoulders and added, taking the bottle Lucia had handed her to her lips.
“It’s my first time properly entering Orndel.”
“Me too.”
Lucia added. She shrugged as she caught Simon’s gaze.
“When I lived here, I never left Agelan.”
“Aha… I see.”
Simon, who was answering, suddenly blinked. He had only just noticed a faint glint in Lucia’s eyes.
He added, not having difficulty guessing the emotion contained within.
“You said that the apostle’s relative is here.”
“Probably, unless something else went wrong in the meantime.”
“I will miss you and look forward to it.”
As if to say, Lucia smiled. Tessiah took the bottle from her lips and muttered in a quiet voice.
“Maybe there’s someone else who wants to see that red hair the most.”
“… … ?”
Simon, who had been tilting his head, followed Thesaia out the window.
Ian sat on Moro’s saddle. Simon’s twisted eyes stared at his expressionless side face, and a flash of life spread through them.
“Saint Acting. No way-”
“If you have the energy to talk nonsense, look over there.”
Ian cut her off without even looking at her, then nodded and added.
“Now that we’re all here.”
“… … !”
Simon’s eyes widened, as did everyone in the room, including Thessaia.
We only saw each other for a moment.
“at las…!”
Without saying a word, Thessaia and Simon opened the carriage door and stuck their upper bodies out.
fantasy,
