Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Skeletons were laid out on the ground. Despite the excavation not being finished, there were well over ten bodies, and various personal belongings followed in a line.

"...." Mev's face, as she looked at them, was rigidly hardened. It was because the mud-covered skull overlapped with the face of her brother Vernon.

...No. It can't be. It shouldn't. Mev immediately denied it, but it was not easy to shake off the thought that had already surfaced. Perhaps if he had fought bravely against the darkness and died in battle. But to be used as nourishment for some nameless beast, without even being granted salvation. Or to be abandoned in the darkness and never have their bodies found.

If that's the case.... A grinding noise of metal echoed from her tightly clenched fist.

I would stake everything I have—

At that moment, her eyes darkly distorted as if sinking into a swamp.

"The more I look at it." Ian's voice resounded. "This doesn't seem like the work of the one we're looking for."

Mev quickly regained her composure and turned her gaze. Ian, with his usual indifferent face, was staring at something in his hand.

"Are you saying it's not the work of a dark mage?" Philip blinked and asked.

"For starters, the method is different. He uses magic, not living sacrifices,” said Ian

"...And?" Philip asked again.

"These corpses. About half are criminals, as you guys would have guessed, but the rest are soldiers. Probably those escorting the criminals." Ian's gaze swept over the skeletons.

"Even I wouldn't use regular troops of this scale as a sacrifice. Especially if they're from Orendel's lord's army,” said Ian.

"Orendel... did you say?" Philip remarked.

"Yes."

Ian extended what he was holding in his hand. It was a wooden tag found while searching the bodies. Half-rotted and with a blurred seal, but the letters at the bottom were recognizable. Dave. Orendel.

"It's true. It's an identity card issued only to regular troops." Philip carefully confirmed and muttered.

"A dark mage in hiding wouldn't touch such a risky target," said Ian.

"That's a convincing point," Mev, who had been listening silently, spoke with a calmer face.

"It's just a speculation for now," said Ian.

The moment Ian saw the name tag, he easily thought of a suitable beast. His reasoning was merely fitting clues to it.

What's so special about a targeted investigation? In any case, it was a monster who needed to be killed, so being wrong wouldn't really be a problem.

"So...." Ian leisurely brought up the main point. "I plan to check it out myself that whether this is an accident or the result of someone's conspiracy."

"Check it out yourself?" Mev asked.

"We haven't decided on our next contract's destination yet," Ian replied.

"...!" Mev's eyes finally widened.

"What do you mean? The next contract?" Philip asked.

Ignoring the bewildered Philip, Ian continued. "Surely in Orendel, there must be someone who knows these people. If we trace back, won't something come up?"

"...Alright. Let's decide that." Mev nodded.

Her decisions are always swift. Thus, the next destination was set. Ian satisfactorily placed the name tag in his pocket.

"You've made another contract, my lord?" Philip asked in a lowered voice.

"It was necessary, Philip. As you can see, there's a possibility of more immoral beings existing besides the dark mage."

"But my lord...”

"Stop the nonsense and go take care of the horses, Philip." Ian cut him off. "If the horse dies, I'll ride you instead."

"It doesn't seem like the time for jokes, sir,” said Philip.

"...," Ian replied in silence.

"It's not a joke, is it? Understood,” said Philip.

When will he ever catch on? Ian clicked his tongue as he watched Philip's retreating back.

"It... seems like you have finished your conversation." A panting voice echoed. Below, in the pit, sweat-covered Miguel stood.

"Can I stop digging now? It seems like nothing more is coming out," said Miguel.

Next to Miguel was a pile of skeletons. The result of his continuous digging while the others conversed. Ian glanced at Mev. She was staring intensely at the skeletons once again, as if they were weighing heavily on her mind.

"Sir," Ian called Mev.

Mev, who turned to face him late, listened as Ian casually added, "Could you offer a prayer for them?"

"Did you say a prayer?" Mev's eyes widened.

"It wouldn't be strange if these resurrected as monsters. It might be good for them to have been granted peace by you," Ian replied.

"...Thank you, my lord," Philip replied.

The trembling Philip also climbed into the cargo area. Mev, walking alongside Ian, soon fixed her gaze on the fog brushing against her knees. The fog, far from being damp, felt as dry as the mist in a crematorium. A repulsive rustling sensation conveyed the tainted magic within. It was a familiar sensation. The same sensation as the corruption spreading from the tainted essence bead she possessed.

"It's his magic...," Mev murmured.

Mev wasn't surprised. Not just because she trusted Ian, but also because she had some idea of what to expect after the warning from the dark mage.

"That's right. It's his magic." Ian replied nonchalantly.

It was then that Miguel suddenly sighed. "Maybe I should have left the forest alone after all."

"Changed your mind already? Such remarkable loyalty." Ian chuckled sarcastically.

"It seems like too big a game for someone like me to be involved in. In my experience, those who overstep their bounds always end up dead," Miguel shook his head.

Ian's laughter deepened. The man knew his place, after all. And, in a way, his words were helpful to Ian.

"I don’t know about myself, but Sir Riruel would never let you and Philip die," said Ian.

It was Ian’s excuse to offload the troublesome ones to Mev.

"I will definitely protect you both. I swear it by the Goddess." Mev naively nodded.

"Did you say a vow...?" Miguel's face, initially perplexed, lit up with gratitude.

"My lord, you truly are the most honorable of all the knights I know," said Miguel.

"There's no need to thank me. I have my reasons for doing so," Mev replied.

"Eh...? Reasons, you say?" Miguel asked.

It was when Mev was about to say something that Ian abruptly stopped walking. The carriage also halted suddenly.

"Ouch... Why did we stop suddenly?" Philip, who had hit his head on the backrest, rubbed the back of his head as he stood up.

"It wasn't me who stopped it," Miguel said as he gave a confused look.

"What do you mean...?" Philip asked.

"Why are they suddenly like this?" said Miguel.

Miguel snapped the reins, but the horses only snorted and refused to move forward.

"It's no use." Ian, staring far ahead, muttered.

Mev, looking in the same direction, furrowed her brows.

"...I feel an ominous magic," said Mev.

"Ominous... magic?" Philip blinked.

"From there lay a demonic realm," Ian answered. He continued, "They say no one who enters comes out. It seems it's literally impossible to leave in the first place."

It was the corrupted or cursed lands. A place that completely was consumed by darkness, where even the laws of the world were twisted, which was called the demonic realm in this world.

"We'll have to leave the carriage here." Mev, having made a decision, looked at Philip and Miguel.

"Pack what you need," said Mev.

"Before that, shouldn't we get an explanation, my lord? Ian just said we can't leave if we enter." Miguel's eyes widened.

"Don't worry about it," Ian cut him off indifferently. He continued, "If we kill the dark mage, it'll probably disappear. Maybe."

"But, isn't that a bit irresponsible..." Miguel’s voice trailed off.

"Should I just take responsibility and kill you instead?" said Ian.

Miguel quickly turned away. Meanwhile, Philip, with his bag strapped on, stepped off the carriage with a grim face.

"I was prepared, but this is more nerve-wracking than I expected," said Philip.

"Better to be nervous than careless. You'll be leading the way," said Ian.

"Leading the way? What do you mean...." Philip hesitated, then looked back at Ian.

Philip’s voice trailed off. The memory of the day he first met Ian flashed through his mind. Especially Ian's gaze when he said he would lead the way through the forest.

"You... still remember that?" Philip asked.

"How could I forget?" Ian replied.

Philip, pale-faced, turned desperately to Mev for help.

"You made that statement, Philip. There's no room for me to intervene. I only hope this experience teaches you a lesson," Mev spoke firmly.

It was then that Miguel jumped off the carriage. He made eye contact with the disheartened Philip and gestured toward the mist.

"What are you doing? Stand up quickly and lead," said Miguel.