Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Ian descended to the tavern of the Snowy Toad Inn and finally took a breath, downing a drink. The door opened, and Trude and the mercenaries entered shortly afterward.

They're certainly diligent.

He smacked his lips as he poured a second drink, and Trude approached his table.

"Is the beastfolk woman asleep?"

Ian nodded as he lifted his glass. Charlotte had fallen into a deep sleep after her bath. Despite her strong vitality and recovery abilities, the time she spent alone in that pigsty of a house had taken its toll. In Ian's eyes, it was a miracle her wounds hadn't worsened.

"And the carriage?" Ian asked.

Trude smiled as he sat down. "It's parked next to the stables. I slipped the stablehand some coins, so it’ll be ready whenever you need it."

Ian nodded. Lucas’s efficiency was impressive. While Ian was with Charlotte, Lucas had sent the carriage to the inn. Trude and the mercenaries had volunteered to handle the rest.

"We also did a round of the outskirts. Most people had no idea anything had happened. There seemed to be some sort of magical barrier around the house. But one person saw a large silver bird and two large bats flying over the wall. Said it was early morning two days ago and thought it was just a drunken hallucination."

You've gone above and beyond.

Ian nodded approvingly. "Good work."

He had already guessed that Thesaya had left the city. Escaping was her specialty, and causing a commotion in the city would have been a blunder. She was likely still on the run, avoiding capture.

Though it's a slim chance...

Even so, it didn’t change the plan. In fact, leaving the city would make it easier for her to catch his scent and follow.

"...Was that silver bird Thesaya?"

Ian stared at Trude, who quickly smiled in response.

"I was just worried, considering the situation. It seemed likely."

"There are those pursuing her. Which are the demons lurking in Lu Sard."

"D-demons...?" Trude's eyes widened, as did those of the surrounding mercenaries. They held their breath, looking at each other.

I thought they wouldn’t ask more questions.

Trude swallowed and lowered his voice. "Was she kidnapped by demons, then?"

"Most likely."

"But why...? Were you planning to go to Lu Sard because of that? To kill the demons?"

"Something like that."

“...Of course...”

Sighs and murmurs of awe spread among the mercenaries. Their gazes on Ian grew more reverent and intense. These were all survivors of the Bellium Fortress.

Some had even witnessed Ian’s battle. It was natural for them to see him as a savior fighting against the continent’s darkness. Ian clicked his tongue.

"Stop looking at me like that. It’s creepy."

Trude quickly averted his gaze and spoke.

"Then you should leave soon. If you stay in the city, you’ll be stuck for at least a month. I heard the archduke wants to meet you, and both the Temple of Brazier and the Great Church of the Empire have sent people."

The archduke is understandable. But,

"The Temple of Brazier and the Great Church?"

"Rumors are spreading. They praise your achievements, probably wanting to make you a saint or an apostle of their order."

I’ve become disgustingly famous.

Ian let out a short laugh, thinking of Lucy and Miguel. Meeting them again would be pleasant, but now wasn’t the right time. A simple reunion wouldn’t suffice. If they were alive, there would surely be a time to meet again.

"...I need to leave before it gets any more complicated."

"Don’t worry about keeping it quiet. We’re the Dragon Slayer’s warriors, after all. We wouldn’t hold you back."

"That Dragon Slayer title..." Ian chuckled dryly.

Trude and the mercenaries had formed a mercenary group called the Dragon Slayer's Warriors. They were currently the only mercenary group in Travelga.

They maintained ties with the barbarian warriors and the defense forces they had fought with in Bellium and quickly absorbed the remaining mercenaries, solidifying their position. A new great northern mercenary group was born.

Trude spoke quickly. "Following you would require more than ten lives, so we decided against it. But rest assured, we won't be an obstacle in your path. If you ever need our help, we'll gladly follow. That’s an unchanging fact, as long as we are the Dragon Slayer's warriors."

"...You're still awake, Ian."

It was Charlotte. She had come down the stairs fully equipped. Ian, watching her more composed face, soon noticed the item around her neck.

"That looks like Thesaya’s eyepatch."

"Yes, it is," she answered sheepishly, sitting across from him.

Ian gave a faint smile. "So sentimental. Thesa would be pleased to know."

"...It's not about sentiment. It's for revenge against those crazy bitches."

"...?"

Pouring herself a glass of water, Charlotte muttered.

"No matter how much I think about it, I reach the same conclusion. I fell under their spell the moment I made eye contact. It was brief, but enough. So if I cover my eyes completely... I can avoid becoming their puppet."

Ian was about to dismiss it as nonsense, but then he furrowed his brows, thinking of Thesaya from the game. In her final phase, there was indeed a random pattern that caused any character who looked at her to fall under mind control.

Hypnosis was a skill all vampires possessed, but... If she absorbed the twins’ true blood and became even stronger...

Nodding, Ian spoke. "But they won't be easy to deal with, especially with your eyes covered."

"It won’t be easy. But I have senses as sharp as Thesa’s. With enough practice, it won’t be much different from having my eyes open. I'll make sure of it."

Charlotte's voice was calm, not sounding like a boast.

...It's not something I can talk her out of.

Ian shrugged and asked, "How’s your body?"

"I feel very light."

"Good."

"I'm ready to move whenever you are."

Ian looked at her, narrowing his eyes slightly. Charlotte met his gaze steadily. She clearly wanted to leave immediately.

"You seem to have forgotten something."

Ian chuckled and put down his glass.

"I slept for an entire week."

***

The sky was beginning to lighten with dawn. The sound of hoofbeats broke the quiet of the main road.

Leaning casually against the watchtower of the closed gate, the gate captain smirked as he saw the approaching carriage.

"In quite a hurry, aren't we?"

He gestured to the soldiers to open the gate. Descending the stairs along the wall, he walked up to the carriage. Charlotte, sitting in the driver's seat, nodded at him in recognition. As the soldiers opened the gate, the gate captain approached the carriage.

"Leaving so soon? I thought you'd rest for at least another day."

Ian smirked and looked at him.

"If I rest another day, I'll be stuck here for a month."

"If anyone asks, I'll say I opened the gate on the Dragon Slayer's request. I don't know anything else. Will that do?"

Ian shrugged. "Tell them I threatened you with a sword if you like. I'm leaving anyway; just pass the blame onto me."

The gate captain's smile widened. "I’ll handle it. Stay safe out there, Dragon Slayer of the North."

"You too. Thanks for everything."

The gate swung open. With a polite bow, the gate captain stepped aside. Ian, with a faint smile on his lips, watched as the carriage moved out.

The gate captain watched the carriage disappear before heading back up to the watchtower. Watching the carriage make its way down the road, he finally murmured.

"Every time, he leaves without a trace of regret."

The gate captain realized Ian's premonition was accurate that very afternoon when a group of barbarian warriors arrived in the city looking for him.

The Dragon Slayer's disappearance was confirmed the next day when priests of the Radiant Goddess arrived. Archduke Olaf only learned of his whereabouts from an urgent message from a border post a few days later.

Ian Hope had left the north.