Chapter 16

# Episode 016

Misinterpreting Ian's gaze, the priest curled his lips into a smile.

"Long ago, the Empire's Apostle visited us. It was only then that Lord Solara bestowed such a radiant divine presence."

"Lord Solara, personally?"

Ian's gaze returned to the statue.

"……?!"

His eyebrows shot up.

Beyond the light, he faintly sensed something transcendent, truly beyond the divine.

"So, please tell me your business. I am willing to help."

The priest added politely.

The light of the statue brightened, as if to urge Ian to speak.

"Unfortunately."

Ian abruptly turned his gaze from the statue.

"I am a mercenary, not an Apostle."

"Not an Apostle...?"

"That's right. I'm not even a believer."

Under normal circumstances, he would have taken advantage of the misunderstanding.

But Ian deliberately corrected it because it felt as if the Goddess of Light was watching him through the statue.

'Why is she watching? She's not a voyeur or anything.'

Even he couldn't pretend to be an Apostle with a goddess watching.

Who knew what divine punishment might befall him if he did.

"If that's true...," the priest, who had been tilting his head in confusion, finally turned to the statue and added, "Do you have no intention of serving the Radiant Goddess now?"

Suddenly, he was trying to convert him.

Ian swallowed a hollow laugh and countered, "Are you serious?"

"Unless the Goddess specially favors you, there's no reason for her to bestow such a great divine presence and watch over you."

With a serious expression, the priest looked directly at Ian.

"If you serve Lord Solara, you will surely be chosen as an Apostle. There is no greater honor or glory for a mortal."

"......"

The light of the statue shone even more brightly, as if responding to the priest's words, urging Ian to answer.

But Ian's smile stiffened, not because of that.

'Really an Apostle quest, huh?'

A quest acceptance window appeared before his eyes.

Apostle of Solara.

In the game, certain classes could receive quests to become an Apostle of a god once they reached a specific level.

But as far as Ian knew, mages were not included.

Mages had enlightenment quests or quests to glimpse fundamental truths, and Ian hadn't even reached that level yet.

'...Maybe now there are no such restrictions.'

Regaining his composure, Ian refused the quest and spoke.

"This isn't something I can decide on the spot. I'll think about it."

In reality, he was speaking to Solara, who was watching, not the priest.

Of course, he had no intention of serving her, but he needed to leave the door open to use her power.

If he outright refused and she withdrew her divine presence, it would be a disaster.

The priest's eyes flickered, as if he had been caught.

"I hope you make the right decision. The Radiant Goddess is merciful to her believers. And...," the priest's voice became subtle as he smiled, "If that glorious moment comes, remember this devoted Edward. I will serve you faithfully."

Well, now he's even trying to sell himself.

Ian's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Understood, Edward. I will remember."

Ian replied in the same subtle tone. He thought he might be able to take advantage of the situation instead of being taken advantage of.

This wasn't a lie, so he had nothing to fear.

"Speaking of which, I happen to need your help with something."

"Tell me."

Edward nodded eagerly.

"Using the Radiant Goddess's divine power, I would like you to purify the corrupted magic."

Ian said solemnly, pulling out the contaminated essence from his subspace.

One large orb and three small ones.

The corrupted magic writhed like tar.

"Such heavily corrupted magic. The monsters that possessed this essence must have been quite degenerate."

Edward sighed, looking down at his hand with unease.

"Only now do I understand why the Goddess favors you."

"If you purify the corrupted magic, she will favor you too. So...," Ian wiggled the hand holding the essence, "How many can you handle? I need to leave by noon tomorrow."

Edward, who had been contemplating the essence, replied.

"Although the Goddess has bestowed more divine power than usual, my physical limits for praying are reached. It would be difficult to purify more than one."

"One...," Ian clicked his tongue.

He hadn't expected to purify a high-level essence in a day, but one was too few.

"However, if you provide a sufficient donation for the temple's maintenance...," Edward's subtle voice continued, "I could pray for purification all night, even if it strains my body. In that case, I might be able to purify one more."

This guy...

Ian raised an eyebrow and looked at Edward.

Edward smiled.

A smile that seemed friendly but wouldn't bleed a drop if stabbed.

Ian's gaze shifted between the statue behind him and Edward.

His eyes asked, 'You're still thinking about money?'

Edward's eyes narrowed.

But he didn't speak first.

He's really going to push this.

Ian finally chuckled and reached into his pocket.

"How much do you want? You'll need a lot of money to serve Solara..."

The mocking addition made Edward's smile falter.

"I will... not accept it..."

He mumbled.

Ian, who had stopped moving, glared at him.

"What did you say?"

"I said I will not accept it. I misspoke. If I can help someone the Goddess favors, that alone is an honor..."

His tone was filled with regret.

His eyes, which made even a hint of regret disappear.

"Then I will gladly ask for your help. The Goddess will surely recognize your devotion."

Ian smiled, picking out two of the essences and holding them out.

"......"

Edward's lips curled up.

A forced smile.

***

Ian arrived at the inn about an hour later.

'It's been a while since my subspace was this full.'

It was the last chance to stock up before reaching the Tomb Forest, so he had raided the blacksmith's.

The necromancer wasn't threatening, but he knew accidents often start from complacency.

Of course, the unexpected event had left him with some extra money.

'To be so openly greedy even with a goddess watching...'

Ian chuckled again, thinking of Edward, and opened the inn door.

"Ooh! The dragon hunter has finally returned!"

Miguel's voice, slightly drunk, greeted him.

"Sir! Tell us! Did you really hunt the swamp dragon?"

Philip's shout followed.

His face was as red as a tomato.

They must have been drinking enthusiastically.

Ian clicked his tongue and entered the room.

The drunkards, who had been eyeing him, turned away one by one.

He could guess what kind of conversation had taken place.

"I'm a bit late. There was a lot to see."

Pretending not to know, Ian spoke to Mev and sat down.

The waitress, who had been watching, quickly served the food.

A steaming stew, some unidentifiable meat, and a mug of beer.

While Ian was picking up his fork,

"So, did you really kill the dragon? The one rumored to live in the swamp?"

Philip couldn't hold back and asked again.

Ian turned to Miguel instead of answering.

Miguel's smile froze under Ian's cold gaze.

"No, I, didn't say much. This friend was just curious about your past, a little bit..."

"A little bit, huh?"

"No, no! Just, how you met, how many people lost their hands to you, what kind of quests you completed, and what they called you..."

"......"

You told them everything.

A bitter smile appeared on Ian's lips.

Miguel had probably thought he was telling heroic tales.

But to Ian, they weren't particularly good memories. In fact, finding good memories in this world was harder.

"Good heavens. So it was true. Well, considering the abilities you've shown, it's not surprising-."

"So, the reward?"

Ian cut him off, taking a sip of beer. Philip quickly pulled out silver coins from his pocket.

"I included the money left over from buying the horse, sir."

Ian checked the money by eye and put it in his pocket.

With that, he had finished everything he needed to do in this village.

"How did you hunt the dragon?"

Now he could eat and rest in peace.

"...It wasn't a dragon."

Unable to ignore the relentless questions, Ian finally spoke.

"It was a swamp drake, not long out of its larval stage. It was just a winged lizard."

In the game, it was a boss in the tutorial area, a predator that had made its lair on the outskirts of the swamp.

It would hide when well-armed soldiers passed by and target lone travelers. Being underdeveloped, it had chosen this method and naturally made its lair in a valley near the path the swamp residents used as an escape route.

It was also the main reason he had been trapped in the swamp for over half a year.

High levels and stats didn't mean much when faced with a giant, roaring lizard.

It had even seemed to find Ian special and became particularly fixated on him.

"But isn't that a dragon? Just an underdeveloped one."

"A lizard is still a lizard. A real dragon is in a different league."

So, get lost already.

Reading the hint, the table fell silent.

Philip's dazed voice followed.

"Have you... ever seen a real dragon?"

It was a slip of the tongue.

Ian replied indifferently.

"Well, in a dream."

Actually, it was in the game.

If he continued living in this world, he would eventually meet one.

'And it will be a one-shot kill.'

Just thinking about it made him feel like a dog.

Ian took another sip of beer.

Then he turned to Philip, who was still staring at him.

"Still curious? Do you really want to lose your tongue?"

"I have a fundamental question. Why were you in the swamp? It's a cursed land where exiles and outcasts live."

"I've been curious about that too. How did a gentleman like you end up in the swamp?"

Miguel chimed in subtly.

They're really persistent.

Ian clicked his tongue and spat out.

"Think what you want. Just say I'm from the swamp."

Of course, it was the truth.

"Did you come from exile from the Empire?"

"I don't know. Maybe I came from the jungle beyond the swamp."

The two, who were drunk, didn't seem to believe him.

"That place is cursed by ancient magic. Only those with the blood of the ancients can enter without dying."

"True. Someone said the forest moves and eats people alive."

Maybe I should just cut their tongues.

Ian suddenly stiffened, remembering the character description mentioning the blood of the ancients.

That's why he wasn't affected by the madness of the black wall.

But that didn't mean the jungle had spared him.

While Ian was lost in thought about his body, Philip and Miguel continued to chatter.

"Let's stop there."

Mev spoke when the conversation turned to the possibility of Ian being from a fallen royal family.

"You've said too much, Philip. Miguel."

Her voice was colder than usual, making Philip and Miguel bow their heads.

"Yes, I'm sorry, sir."

"I, I'm sorry..."

Mev gestured to the upper floor.

"Finish your drinks and go to bed. Both of you."

"...Yes, I understand."

The two men stood up reluctantly but with regret.

Miguel turned to Philip as they moved.

"Because of you, this happened."

"Because of me? You were the one talking enthusiastically."

"Speak clearly. You were the one who asked while buying drinks."

"That's true, but you were the one who tried to get free drinks by baiting me."

"Tsk. Now you're even trying to trap people."

"What are you saying...?"

Their bickering voices faded up the stairs.

They're having a falling out.

While Ian chuckled, Mev spoke.

"I'll apologize for them. I should have stopped them from drinking so much."

Ian raised his beer mug.

"It's fine. They were just drunk."

Of course, he planned to make them keep quiet for a while after they sobered up.

While sipping his beer, Ian suddenly felt a gaze and turned his head.

Mev was staring at him intently.

With an unreadable expression.

He noticed she had taken off her helmet.

Her red hair and green eyes, and the scar on her jaw, were fully visible.

She still wore the rest of her armor, but revealing her face made her seem like a completely different person.

"Seems like you lost your appetite?"

Mev suddenly said, meeting Ian's gaze.

Ian shrugged one shoulder.

"Considering what I just heard, it's understandable."

"Then, would you like to take a walk with me?"

Ian's eyebrows furrowed.

What's this about?

"Are you... drunk, too?"

Mev's lips curled up slightly.

"A little."

So, that wasn't water.

Ian finally looked at the glass in front of Mev. Given Philip and Miguel's state, it wasn't her first drink.

"I have something to say. But I don't want to say it here."

She added casually.

Too many ears, she meant.

Surely not for the reason I'm thinking.

Ian put down his glass.

"Alright. Let's go."