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Chapter 223

She peeked her head out of the carriage door with a smile. "It smells a bit, but everything looks intact."

"And the equipment?" Ian asked.

"Yeah. You really took good care of it, redhead. It paid off."

"That\'s a relief..." Mev nodded.

Ian sighed as he glanced at the dead horse lying beside the carriage. It was good that their supplies were intact, but they would still have to abandon the carriage.

Could I revive it with chaotic energy...?

He wondered briefly, but dismissed the thought. Even if it worked, it could cause more problems than it solved. It was best to avoid actions that could be seen as corruption, especially under the gods\' watchful eyes.

At least Karha was the only one who noticed my fusion with chaos...

Ian was confident that the other gods hadn\'t seen his transformed state. The underground was typically beyond the gods\' sight, and the demonic realm had yet to be fully established.

Even after killing the Defiled Tree, it would be difficult for the gods to see the inside demonic realm immediately. Plus, he had hidden Della Lu\'s Grace in his pocket dimension. Karha likely noticed because of the direct mark on his body.

Maybe that’s why Karha gave divine power to me... to keep it hidden from other gods?

It wasn\'t an unreasonable theory. If true, Karha had helped him in more ways than one.

Well, after scribbling on someone else\'s body without permission, the least you can do is that.

While Ian was inwardly muttering ungratefully, Philip, who had taken a suitcase out of the carriage, spoke up. "We\'ll need to camp somewhere tonight. Where should we set up?"

"In the city," Ian replied, gesturing to take the pack from Philip. "It\'s too open here. I don\'t want to sleep next to a field of corpses."

"Understood," Philip nodded as he handed over the pack.

Ian started walking, and the rest of the group, each carrying their share of supplies, followed him. The road to Tessen was eerily empty, devoid of any bodies. All the minions had congregated near the monastery, leaving the path and the city itself free of corpses.

"This looks bad. It’ll seem like we did this," Thesaya remarked as they passed through the open city gates.

Tessen was as silent as a grave. The moss and mold that had covered the city were now black and withered, making the place seem even more ominous. It felt as though monsters or spirits might leap out from the shadows at any moment.

"That won\'t happen. Not for a while, at least... No one will come near this place," Philip replied in a somber tone.

Ian, leading the way, turned off the main road and entered a single-story building. The roof had partially collapsed, and bricks had fallen from the walls, making it little better than a ruin. However, being a single-story structure, it was less likely to cause serious injury if it collapsed further. The air inside was stale, much like the basement they had just left. Broken, rotting furniture lay scattered across the floor.

"Give me a few minutes," Philip said, kneeling in the center of the house as he followed them in. He muttered a prayer, and a soft golden light soon enveloped his entire body. Divine power radiated from not just his right hand but his entire being, casting a gentle glow throughout the room.

Sss—

Dark smoke rose and dissipated from various spots, and the air quickly became fresher.

Is this like sunlight sterilization?

Ian chuckled softly as he set down his pack. The others, seeing the improvement, began laying out their belongings on the floor. They were likely trying to remove any remaining toxins and spores from their items. Ian also opened his sealing box from his pocket dimension, pulling out all the equipment he had stored as backups. He left them out for everyone to collect later.

Charlotte, after standing with her arms outstretched to bask in the divine power for a moment, turned around and took a deep breath.

"It’s warm, but we should still have a fire. I’ll look for some firewood."

"I’ll go with you, kitty," Thesaya said.

"Why?" Charlotte asked, a bit puzzled.

"If you collapse while wandering around looking like that, what then? Move along, don\'t block the way." Thesaya pushed Charlotte\'s back as they exited the house, clearly more interested in exploring the ghost town than helping with the firewood.

"Phew..." Philip finished his prayer and stood up.

The golden light lingered, illuminating the room softly. The once damp and musty air now felt much fresher. Philip seemed momentarily fascinated by the sight he had created, then turned to the others.

"You two lords should rest first. You both look extremely tired."

"You need rest, too. We all do. You go first," Ian said, unpacking his bag.

Mev, having removed her helmet and set it on the floor, nodded in agreement. "Yes, rest first, Philip. Ian, you too. I\'ll take the first watch."

How unbearably wholesome.

Ian chuckled to himself but didn\'t argue further, spreading out his blanket. He was exhausted, not just physically, but mentally. Despite having some reserve of physical and magical energy, the mental fatigue was overwhelming. He had been through too much—having his consciousness kidnapped multiple times, wrestling with chaotic energy, and experiencing transformation and reversion, all while remaining aware.

"There’s food in the sealing box. Help yourselves. And sort out the watch rotation. Wake me when it\'s my turn." Ian added as he crawled into his blanket.

"Understood, Ian. Philip? Come lie next to Ian," Mev said.

"I\'m really fine. You should rest first, my lord. I\'ll tell Charlotte and Thesaya—"

At this rate, they\'ll be at it all night...

Ian fell asleep before their bickering ended, slipping into a deep slumber. Endless darkness enveloped him.

Then, the dream began. He was part of the swirling chaotic energy, intertwined with the souls drifting in the violet mist. They were being pulled into the fissures etched into the world\'s surface, flowing through them into the void, and beyond, into the gaping maw of something dark and immense.

***

"...!" Ian\'s eyes snapped open. His forehead was damp with cold sweat. A strange mix of fear and discomfort lingered.

What was that...?

The feeling he experienced now was merely residual. The memory of the nightmare was already blurred, and he couldn’t recall even a fragment. Ian’s gaze turned to the sky beyond the collapsed roof. The once reddish sky had returned to a dull gray overcast. The traces of the violet mist were as elusive as the toxic fog had been.

Gotta be around sunrise.

Estimating the time by the color of the clouds, Ian sat up.

"Why are you awake already?" Mev’s low voice came from beside him.

While the rest of the group lay asleep around the dwindling campfire, she sat alone on the other side. It seemed Philip had ultimately won their earlier argument. Mev added, "Get some more rest. You’re the last watch, so I’ll wake you in an hour... no, two hours."

"I’m already awake. You should rest. I’ll take the rest of the watch," Ian replied, standing up.

Mev shook her head. "I’ve slept enough."

Ian sat down across the campfire. Mev handed him a bottle of liquor. It seemed the night guards had taken turns drinking it, as more than half was gone.

If we finish this, we’ll have two bottles left...

Thinking this, Ian brought the bottle to his lips. As he sipped the liquor, his eyes scanned Mev. Her equipment was clearly at the end of its lifespan, beyond repair or maintenance. They would need to get her new gear in Racliffe. Though he doubted they could afford a full suit of plate armor, he couldn\'t imagine her wearing anything else.

While he was contemplating this, Mev spoke again, "Come to think of it, I didn’t get to say it properly yesterday. Things were so hectic, it slipped my mind."

"What did you want to say?" Ian asked, handing the bottle back to her. His attention shifted to the jerky and rye bread lying haphazardly on a dirty cloth near the fire.

"Thank you, Ian. Thanks to you, I\'ve accomplished yet another revenge."

Ian chuckled softly as he picked up a piece of jerky. "I feel like I stole your vengeance. Those priests were connected to the Defiled Tree by their souls."

"In the end, somehow, their souls separated and returned to their bodies. I was able to kill them myself," Mev explained.

"Is that so...?" Ian mused, thinking back to the Defiled Tree after its roots were severed. The creature had used all its remaining chaotic energy to fend him off and regenerate its roots. It had even tried to regenerate itself with all its might. Separating the souls of its minions to use their energy wasn’t surprising. With the inherent attraction between soul and body, the souls likely returned to their bodies at that moment.

"It must have seemed trivial compared to your battles. How was it fighting the void entity?" Mev asked.

Ian shrugged. "Disgusting."

"...That’s all?"

"And strong."

Mev laughed lightly at his added comment, raising the bottle to her lips. Her eyes, reflecting the firelight, flickered softly as she looked at him.

"Right. Other impressions are pointless. The important thing is that you defeated the creature and closed the demonic realm. Your deeds will go down in history as the purifier of the West, driving out decay and plague."

I could do without these nicknames.

"I haven\'t stopped all the rituals in the West yet. And more importantly..." Ian shrugged as he took another bite of jerky. "Duke Kralen is still out there."

"... Yes, that’s true." Mev\'s eyes darkened as she took a sip from the bottle and handed it back to Ian. She spoke in a low voice, "Perhaps the root I\'ve been searching for all this time is him."

"Could be. There\'s also a good chance he\'s part of the group I\'m after."

"The Round Table Council..." Mev\'s sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

She knew very little about the Round Table Council, mainly because Ian had been tight-lipped about them. All she knew was that they sought to overthrow existing laws and establish a new order, and that the council was composed of several influential members. This time was no different.

"That\'s not your concern. For now, our priority is finding a way to force him to reveal himself," Ian said, taking a hard piece of bread and wetting his lips with water. "If, as you said, he managed to stop the ritual, his power base would be stronger. If we kill him without concrete evidence, we’ll be wanted not only in the West but also in the Empire. Not even the Platinum Dragon could save us then."

The Platinum Dragon, Archeas, couldn\'t intervene in worldly matters without a justified reason. It likely wouldn’t be able to prove Ian’s innocence either. Even if it could, it might not, as it would confirm that it is the one pursuing the council.

Mev, sipping more of the drink, spoke in a chilling tone. "It doesn\'t matter. If he truly is the one supporting the corruption from the shadows, I will eliminate him without hesitation. I’ll bear the stigma. You won’t have to worry about being implicated."

"We can\'t let that happen," Ian replied, scoffing as he took the bottle from her.

Why are you saying you’ll bear the stigma?

"This is my request as well."

"...."

"I’ll find a way to kill him without becoming wanted by the Empire. Until then, wait. I’ll gladly let you have the honor of taking his head."

"...Alright. I\'ll do that."

She is surprisingly obedient in situations like this.

Ian smirked inwardly as he continued, "Anyway, it might be pointless to talk about this now. He might not be a council member or the end of your quest for vengeance."

"Even so, I’ll be able to eliminate one more corrupt being."

"Then it seems we\'ll have to travel together a while longer."

"...We’ll see." Mev\'s response made Ian raise an eyebrow as he took another sip of the drink.

Mev turned her gaze to the fire and finally spoke. "After Racliffe, I have a favor... no, a request to make. Ian."

"A request...?" Ian\'s lips curled into a slight smile as he picked up another piece of bread. "You mean Philip, don’t you?"

"... How did you know?"

"Just a hunch. What, you want me to escort him?"

"Something like that. Take him to the main church. Can you do that?"

"I can\'t promise anything right now. There\'s no guarantee my mission will end at Racliffe."

"...What if we assume that one of us achieves our goal first?" Mev asked.

Ian shrugged while chewing his bread. "It still wouldn’t change anything. You seem to have forgotten that one of my conditions for accepting a request is the consent of the person involved. So, what do you think?"

Ian turned to look behind him. "Philip."

"How did you know I was awake?" came Philip’s groggy voice from the corner.

Mev’s eyes widened as Ian continued. "You weren\'t snoring."

"... Do I usually snore?"

"Most of the time."

In truth, Ian had heard Philip\'s quiet exhale when Mev spoke, but this explanation seemed more plausible.

"I guess I’ll have to pretend to snore next time," Philip said, embarrassed, as he got up and looked at Mev. "But is it really necessary to ask Lord Ian? Couldn’t you just come with me?"

"... I said that because I don\'t plan to," Mev said, hesitating.

Philip frowned. "Why?"

"I\'m planning to return to the frontier, Philip."

"The frontier...?"

Ian also stared at Mev, recalling their unfinished conversation before they entered Tessen.

"Why the frontier? It must be in chaos now."

"That’s not something you need to know," Mev replied calmly.

Philip looked shocked. "It’s not something I need to know? If not me, who will carry out your plan—"

"A grown bird must leave the nest," Mev interrupted, looking at Philip. "The same goes for you, Philip. You\'re no longer a squire. You\'re a knight. You need to find your own sky and fly far and high."

"But... my lord... I prefer being with you. Actually, with everyone here. I don’t care about knighthood or titles..."

"Never forget that you are a holy knight acting on the will of God. You have your own duties and responsibilities now. You cannot ignore them."

This is getting emotional now.

Ian continued his meal, listening to their seemingly endless conversation.

"It\'s only a possibility, but..." Ian finally spoke again after finishing his meal and rinsing his mouth with a drink. "It’s possible he might not need to go to the capital."

"What?" Mev frowned, and Philip widened his eyes. "Do you have a plan?"

Ian tilted his head. "Have you forgotten who my client is?"

"...!"