Chapter 58

Ian, who was about to frown, finally realized that he couldn't move.

Here we go again.

If this were a game, it would have been nothing more than a cutscene event. But now that it had become reality, he couldn't accept it so easily.

Especially not after his mind had nearly collapsed in a state of vulnerability.

'How is it ignoring my resistance and taking over my consciousness? Is it that strong...?'

It was then that the darkness began to ripple like waves.

Ian's thoughts abruptly stopped.

He felt as if something was watching him from beyond the darkness.

That same feeling he had occasionally sensed for some time now.

So, it's you.

Ian muttered to himself and glared at the rippling darkness.

-...Come.

A whisper echoed like an echo.

A strange voice, a mix of a young girl's voice and an old woman's raspy voice.

-Come to me... chosen one.

With the whisper, Ian felt regret again for not being able to react.

He wanted to scoff.

Chosen one? How cliché.

-Immortality awaits you...

Even immortality?

It felt more like a desperate attempt to charm him rather than a temptation.

Ian glared at the darkness and muttered.

So, where should I go?

If you reveal yourself, I'll find you—

"...myself."

...? Did my voice just come out?

Ian was momentarily confused.

The rippling darkness suddenly became still.

The silence was brief.

-Destiny awaits you...

The whisper continued as if nothing had happened.

You seemed surprised just now.

Thinking this, Ian tried to speak again.

But the scenery around him began to fade faster.

All his senses dissipated.

And once again, darkness.

"..."

Ian finally opened his eyes.

A pitch-black sky.

The vision he had just seen naturally overlapped with it.

He had no idea what the clumsy thing's true identity was.

It was an event he had never experienced in the game.

Perhaps he had unknowingly met a specific condition, or maybe it was an event exclusive to the Fallen.

In any case, the chaos power that only the Fallen could possess was clearly present within him.

It was a pity there was no quest window to clarify everything, but such methods weren't uncommon in the game.

If it was like before, the cutscene event wouldn't end with just one.

It would start again as he approached a place shrouded in mysterious darkness.

The quest window would only appear after the thing's true identity was fully revealed.

'...So, did it start just now?'

Ian's eyebrows slightly raised.

A snow-covered forest. Since they were heading north, it was a reasonable inference.

If so, if they continued north, he would likely see that cliché vision again.

...I hope it reveals itself next time.

While thinking this, Ian noticed the green eyes staring at him from across and frowned.

"Didn't you sleep?"

"I couldn't fall asleep."

Lucy calmly replied and then added,

"What was that just now?"

You felt something too?

Ian blinked and asked.

"What did it look like?"

"I have no idea. It just felt eerie. It seemed like something was flickering around Ian-sama. Then Ian-sama released mana... but that's just a feeling. I can't explain it any other way."

Lucy's explanation sounded almost incoherent.

She seemed unable to express what she had felt.

Ironically, it made her sound like a typical mage.

It seemed like you opened your eyes...

Ian muttered to himself and then spoke.

"I saw a vision."

"A vision...?"

"Unknown, but probably an ancient spirit with lingering regrets. It called me, a common dark whisper."

"! I've read about this in books. Mages, who break the boundaries of consciousness, are often exposed to the temptations of darkness and madness."

"...What kind of books have you been reading?"

"From Vernon's library. He started collecting books related to magic and mysteries at some point. I don't know if he read them all."

"Aha..."

After learning about the darkness that had settled over the kingdom, he must have conducted his own investigation.

Given that he had gathered information related to Lucy, Vernon must have been more meticulous than Ian thought.

Of course, being sandwiched between a holy knight sister and a cousin blessed by the gods, he would have had to try his hardest in some way.

He probably didn't realize that his efforts would pay off in this way.

"...Anyway, you're not entirely wrong. Mages are a breed that will cross lines they shouldn't for greater power and knowledge."

"Do you, Ian-sama?"

"I don't want to admit it, but to some extent, yes."

Ian shrugged and added,

"However, I'm not stupid enough to sell my soul to demons or the void."

He had experienced the fates of such people through the game, and it was tiresome.

"Will I also face such moments of temptation?"

"Likely. The greater your talent, the greater the temptation you will feel."

In this world, the more your talent shines, the deeper the shadow of corruption will fall.

"Remember that falling to the darkness of temptation will make you lose what is precious. That way, you can avoid making the worst decisions. Like Jing."

"Becoming a mage... might be more terrifying than I thought."

"Everything is the same. Even if you serve Ru Enter, there will be other temptations."

Lucy's eyes widened.

"Can I become a priestess?"

"You can become anything you want. You might even become a holy knight. You have the blood of a knightly family in you."

"..."

Lucy's mouth opened slightly.

It was hard to believe she had so many options.

But to Ian, it was a plausible story.

Lucy was young, and her talent would catch the attention of priests.

Perhaps what Maeve wanted was for Lucy to become a priestess, not a mage.

The decision was Lucy's.

"It's not something to worry about right now. We can start after this journey ends safely."

"...Right. We might end up in the empire."

Ian's face stiffened.

Turning to Lucy, he said,

"That won't happen. Never."

"..."

Lucy blinked, confused.

It was a natural reaction.

She had no idea what would happen if she were taken to the empire.

"I must have said something silly. Shall we go back to talking about the vision?"