Chapter 23

# Chapter 023

The bones were laid out in a row on the ground.

Even before the excavation was complete, the number had already surpassed ten, and various relics were also being unearthed one after another.

“……”

Meb's face had stiffened as she gazed at them.

The muddy skull overlapped with Vernon's face, her younger brother.

‘…No. It can't be. It's impossible.’

She immediately denied it, but it was hard to shake the thought that had already surfaced.

If he had died a glorious death fighting against the darkness, it would be one thing.

But to become nourishment for nameless monsters, without even receiving salvation.

Or to be abandoned in the darkness, where even his body could not be found.

‘If that's the case….’

Crack, the sound of metal scraping came from her clenched fist.

‘I’ll risk everything—’

Just as her eyes began to darken like a swamp, distorted and gloomy.

“Ian’s voice echoed.

“The more I look, the more it seems this isn’t the work of the one we’re looking for.”

Meb, who had suddenly come to her senses, turned her gaze.

Ian, with his usual indifferent expression, was examining something in his hand.

Philip blinked and asked.

“You mean it’s not the work of a black mage?”

“First, the method is different. He uses magic, not sacrifices.”

“…And?”

“These bodies. About half are criminals, as you know, but the rest are soldiers. Probably the guards escorting the criminals.”

Ian’s gaze swept over the bones.

“I wouldn’t sacrifice a regular army of this size, even if I were in his shoes. Especially if they were Orandel’s troops, I wouldn’t even look at them.”

“Orandel… you said?”

“Yes.”

Ian held out what he was holding.

It was a nameplate found while searching the bodies.

Though half-rotten, the inscription at the bottom was still legible.

Dave. Orandel.

Philip, who had carefully examined it, murmured.

“It’s true. This is an identity card issued only to regular troops.”

“A hermit black mage wouldn’t risk such a dangerous target.”

Meb, who had been listening silently, spoke with a calmer face.

“That’s a convincing argument.”

“It’s just a guess, though. For now.”

The moment Ian saw the nameplate, he easily thought of a suitable culprit.

His reasoning was merely fitting all the clues together.

‘What’s the big deal about a targeted investigation anyway.’

Since they were going to be killed anyway, it wouldn’t really matter if he was wrong.

“So….”

Ian calmly brought up the main topic.

“I plan to verify it myself. Whether this is an accident or the result of someone’s plot.”

“Verify it yourself?”

“You haven’t decided on the next contract’s destination yet, have you?”

“……!”

Meb’s eyes finally widened.

“What do you mean? The next contract?”

Ignoring the bewildered Philip, Ian continued.

“There must be someone in Orandel who knows these people. If we trace back, we might find something.”

“…Alright. I agree.”

Meb nodded.

Always so decisive.

Thanks to that, the next destination was decided.

While Ian was satisfied, putting the nameplate in his pocket.

“Did you make another contract, sir?”

Philip asked in a lowered voice.

“It was necessary, Philip. There’s a possibility that there are more traitors besides the black mage.”

“But, sir….”

“Stop complaining and go check the horses, Philip.”

Ian cut him off.

“If the horses die, you’ll have to ride them.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes, sir.”

“……”

“It’s not a joke. I understand.”

When will he ever learn?

While Ian was thinking this, looking at Philip’s back.

“…It seems you’ve finished your conversation.”

A panting voice echoed.

Below the pit, Miguel, drenched in sweat, spoke.

“Can we stop digging? It doesn’t seem like anything else will come up.”

Beside him, a pile of bones had accumulated.

The result of his continuous digging while the group was talking.

Ian glanced at Meb.

She was staring at the bones again, her eyes filled with a pained expression.

“Lady.”

“……?”

Ian added, looking at Meb, who had just turned to him.

“Can you offer a prayer?”

Meb’s eyes widened.

“You mean a prayer?”

“It wouldn’t be strange if they were to rise as monsters. It would be better if you grant them rest.”

“An excellent decision. I will do it gladly.”

Meb stepped forward, pleased.

Kneeling on one knee in front of the pit, she began to whisper a prayer.

Ian watched her back, filled with blue holy power, pensively.

Recalling her distorted eyes as she stared at the bones earlier.

‘At least it’s fortunate that it’s easy to recognize.’

To Ian, it was undoubtedly a sign of madness.

That’s why he asked for the prayer.

To try to quell the madness with holy power.

Of course, it was only a temporary measure.

Once a crack had appeared, it could easily start again with the slightest trigger.

Considering the tasks ahead, such triggers would be abundant.

After a moment of contemplation, Ian’s eyes returned to their usual coldness.

‘…But I can’t let this carefully crafted quest end in failure.’

***

After leaving the contaminated forest, the journey became eerily peaceful.

For days, they hadn’t even encountered a monster, let alone an attack.

But not everyone was enjoying the peace.

“……!”

Meb jolted awake.

On her retina, Vernon’s severed head, weeping blood, lingered.

She gasped for breath for a moment.

‘Now I’m even having nightmares.’

Meb wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with a bitter smile.

The sky was overcast.

The carriage’s jolts were finally noticeable.

‘To feel uneasy in peace. What foolish anxiety is this?’

Meb’s bitter smile deepened.

Her gaze suddenly turned to the driver’s seat beyond the backrest.

The familiar back, with a mace slung over it.

‘If there’s anything, Ian would have noticed it first.’

Lately, she had come to trust Ian’s judgment more than her own.

It was only natural.

She could never have come this far on her own.

She would have made the wrong decisions, driven by anxiety and doubt.

As she had done many times before.

But on the other hand, Ian had continuously proven himself to be right.

Even this carriage was a testament to that.

This carriage, which was more like a cart, had been abandoned on the road.

Miguel said it was the remains of an inn.

A kind of tombstone left after a raid or robbery.

Ian, of course, ignored Miguel’s warning to leave it alone.

It was more efficient, he said.

In the end, Ian was right again.

The burden on the horses was reduced, the journey sped up, and the group could take turns resting and recovering their strength.

Meb had almost fully recovered from her injuries.

‘I fear I might be swayed by personal feelings and abandon the greater cause. So, I should rely on Ian….’

“Are you awake?”

Ian suddenly spoke.

Meb was startled but didn’t show it, replying.

“…How long was I asleep?”

“About a couple of hours. You woke up at the right time.”

Ian turned to her.

“We’re about to reach the Graveyard Forest.”

“……!”

Meb reflexively sat up.

Bare trees and a gray fog covering the ground.

“Since when…? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Well, you see….”

Miguel stammered, looking awkward.

“I told him not to.”

Ian answered instead.

“If you had known, you wouldn’t have rested like this.”

Meb’s raised eyebrows fell again.

“…I see. I understand.”

She awkwardly turned her gaze.

Meanwhile, Ian, feeling Miguel’s gaze again, narrowed his eyes.

“Stop staring and get in. Brat.”

Before he popped his eyes out.

Ian jumped off the carriage, and Miguel shook his head.

“I didn’t look to switch places.”

“Then what for?”

Miguel, hesitating but climbing into the driver’s seat, continued.

“Well, technically. My commission is now complete, isn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

Ian’s face showed surprise.

To bring it up now.

“To guide you here was the commission. So from here on….”

“It’s technically a failure.”

“An additional…? A failure?”

“You’ve passed the agreed time, haven’t you?”

Miguel, who had stiffened, shifted in his seat.

“That’s because we lost a day in that damned forest! You should take that into account.”

“So you’re still alive. And you haven’t vomited up the money.”

“……”

“Well, anyway. You’re not entirely wrong.”

Ian gestured behind him.

“Go if you want. We’re going in. You can get off here and go back.”

Miguel turned his head.

The gray fog covering the eerie forest.

It had been fine when they came in with four, but there was no guarantee it would be the same going back alone.

After a moment, Miguel adjusted the reins and looked ahead again.

“I just wanted to say that I completed my commission faithfully. From now on, it’s a matter of honor.”

“Sure.”

Knowing he wouldn’t go anyway.

Ian turned his gaze, chuckling.

Mercenaries, after all, were all the same, with their shallow minds.

Meb also stood up.

“Get in, Philip. I want to stretch my legs while walking.”

“…Thank you, sir.”

Philip, who had been trembling, climbed into the cargo area.

Meb, walking alongside Ian, fixed her gaze on the fog that brushed against her knees.

A dry, desolate fog, unlike the damp fog of a crematorium.

Through the unpleasant, rustling sensation, the polluted magic power was transmitted.

A familiar feeling.

The same as the one emanating from the contaminated essence she possessed.

“It’s the mage’s magic….”

Meb wasn’t surprised.

Not only because she trusted Ian, but also because she had a hunch from the black mage’s warning.

“Yes, it’s the mage’s magic.”

Ian replied calmly.

Miguel suddenly sighed.

“Looks like I should have left the forest alone, even if it meant going alone.”

“Your heart’s changed? What a great sense of honor.”

Ian chuckled.

Miguel shook his head.

“It seems too big a game for a lowly grunt like me. From experience, the ones who don’t know their place always die.”

Ian’s smile deepened.

A clear understanding of his place, and even helpful advice.

“I might not, but the lady will definitely protect you and Philip.”

It gave him a reason to offload the burdens.

Meb nodded naively.

“I will protect you both. I swear it to the goddess.”

“You swear…?”

Miguel’s face, initially bewildered, soon showed gratitude.

“You, sir, are the most honorable knight I know.”

“You don’t need to be grateful. I have my reasons.”

“Huh…? Reasons?”

Ian suddenly stopped walking, just as Meb was about to say something.

The carriage also came to a halt.

“Ouch. …Why did we stop suddenly?”

Philip, who had hit his head on the backrest, rubbed his scalp and stood up.

Miguel, looking confused, said.

“I didn’t stop.”

“What do you mean…?”

“What’s wrong with these things.”

Miguel snapped the reins.

But the horses only snorted, refusing to move.

“It won’t work.”

Ian, looking far ahead, said.

Meb, who had been looking in the same direction, frowned.

“I feel ominous magic power.”

Philip blinked.

“Ominous… magic power?”

“From here on, it’s a magic realm.”

Ian answered.

“Where no one who enters can come out. They can’t come out at all.”

A corrupted or cursed land.

Places completely tainted by darkness, where even the laws of the world are twisted, are called magic realms in this world.

“We’ll have to leave the carriage behind.”

Meb, making the decision, looked at Philip and Miguel.

“Gather what you need.”

Miguel’s eyes widened.

“Can’t we get an explanation first, sir? You just said no one can come out.”

“It’s not a concern.”

Ian cut him off indifferently.

“It will disappear when the black mage is killed. Probably.”

“That’s such an irresponsible….”

“Want me to take responsibility and kill him for you?”

Miguel quickly turned around.

Meanwhile, Philip, who had put a bag on his back, got off the carriage with a determined face.

“I’m prepared, but it’s more nerve-wracking than I expected.”

“Better than being complacent. You’ll be leading the way.”

Philip, who had hesitated, turned to Ian.

“Leading the way? What do you….”

His voice trailed off.

The memory of the first day they met flashed through his mind.

Ian’s eyes, promising to let him lead the way in the forest.

“Do you… still remember that?”

“How could I forget?”

Philip’s face turned pale, and he looked to Meb for help.

Meb said firmly.

“Since you said it, I can’t interfere, Philip. I hope this experience will teach you a lesson.”

Miguel, who had jumped off the carriage, gestured toward the fog.

“What are you waiting for? Get moving.”