Chapter 9

# Chapter 009

Tap, tap—

In the silent surroundings, the sound of the wood burning echoed dryly.

It was the bonfire that Philip had reignited.

The flickering flames vaguely outlined the surrounding scenery.

A scene that could only be found in a nightmare, with countless wolf corpses scattered, cut and mangled, their entrails intertwined.

But right in the middle of it, Mev stood like a statue, her gaze slightly anxious.

Fortunately, the silence did not last long.

"Ian? Is that you?"

Mev, who suddenly furrowed her brow, glared into the darkness and asked.

“...!”

Philip, who had been turning the logs, abruptly turned his head.

From beyond the darkness, a vague silhouette slowly emerged.

"Right. You're safe."

A sluggish response followed.

To those who had been waiting, it was a voice that could have made one's blood boil.

Mev took a step forward.

"You, what was that just now—"

"Have all the wolves retreated?"

Ian cut her off, and Mev finally frowned.

Taking a deep breath, she said,

"Yes. They scattered not long after you entered the forest. But more importantly, you need to properly explain what you meant just now—"

She couldn't finish her sentence again.

Because she finally noticed Ian's appearance.

"There's no need to explain."

Ian replied as he moved.

"Because it was exactly what I said."

He threw something he was holding toward the bonfire.

It landed near the bonfire in a faint parabola and rolled to where Philip was crouching.

It was Andolf's head, with his tongue hanging out.

"Rus Solara, my God!"

Philip fell on his buttocks at the sight of the horrific, non-human, non-wolf creature.

"What, what is this?!"

"Werewolf. He was leading the wolves."

Ian, who had stopped, answered.

Mev, who had been staring at Andolf's head, turned to him blankly.

Ian's lips curled up slightly when their eyes met.

"You look terrible."

"..."

That wasn't something he should say.

Ian looked as if he had swum through a sea of blood and flesh.

But it also meant that he had fought a desperate battle alone in that dark forest.

"How did you know? That such a monster was leading the wolves."

So instead of pointing out Ian's words, Mev returned to the main topic.

"I didn't know."

"What...?"

"Instead, I heard a rumor. A rumor about a pack of wolves that only hunted humans. Haven't you heard it?"

"...No."

To believe a mere rumor and act on it.

It was absurd, but she didn't say it.

After all, she was also acting on rumors now.

But she couldn't hide the look in her eyes.

Ian continued slowly.

"Even the most absurd rumors often contain a grain of truth, especially in these times."

Ian shrugged one shoulder.

"But these mongrels, while numerous, weren't particularly formidable. So I decided to take out their leader. I only found out it was such a monster after the fact."

His tone suggested it was a minor variable.

But to Mev, it didn't feel like boasting at all.

Ian had really returned after killing the werewolf alone.

"..."

Thinking about it, Mev looked at Ian with a renewed gaze.

She finally realized that the claim about him wiping out the Kobold lair wasn't an exaggeration or just luck.

For the first time, she thought,

Maybe this guy really could find the Black Mage.

But.

"The recklessness remains unchanged."

Mev's voice was still stern.

"You could have died if it was a more formidable monster. You should have moved with me."

Regardless of personal wishes, Ian must not die.

He had to survive and reach the castle with her.

Such reckless actions must not happen again.

"Hmm. Well..."

Ian, scratching his chin, glanced at her and said,

"Your appearance wouldn't have helped much in pursuing the creature."

...This guy?

Mev's eyebrows arched.

Her voice naturally gained strength.

"I'm faster than you think. Even in this state."

Of course, Ian replied, adding,

"The creature would have felt threatened. It attacked because I moved alone; otherwise, it would have fled. We might have lost it, and it could have chased us again. I couldn't let it go."

"That's still a guess."

"Then why was it hiding and watching? It was ready to run at any moment. It wasn't as strong as it looked. That's why I went alone. Do you understand now?"

Mev was momentarily speechless.

Ian continued calmly,

"I understand your concern, but my life is the most important to me. I'm not so loyal or noble that I'd risk my life for someone else. That's a virtue of knights like you, not a mere mercenary like me."

"..."

Mev had to admit that she couldn't win an argument with Ian.

She couldn't force him to follow her by force either.

Ian had just declared that he wasn't loyal or noble.

Almost all mercenaries were like that, but Ian was the first to say it so openly.

Especially in front of a knight like her.

It didn't feel like empty words.

Ian had proven his abilities in just one day.

If Mev drew her sword, he would surely fight or flee.

Neither was a desirable outcome.

After some thought, Mev made the decision she least wanted to make.

"Understood. But in the future, if you have a plan, please let me know in advance. Don't keep it to yourself."

She decided to simply ask politely.

She was worried about being at the mercy of a rude mercenary, but this was the only method she could think of.

Unexpectedly, Ian's reaction was different.

"Understood. I'll do that."

He nodded readily.

Without adding anything more.

Mev, feeling a bit awkward, slightly avoided his gaze and replied,

"...Alright."

Maybe I was too distrustful.

While she swallowed a dry cough, breaking the silence.

"Sir. Then, how about you tell us about your heroic battle with that monster while we eat?"

Philip interjected, as if he had been waiting.

He couldn't touch Andolf's head, but his eyes were bright.

Ian shook his head with a smile.

"Later. Philip."

"…Do you still have something to do?"

"I don't want to eat here. I don't want to sleep here even more."

Ian pointed around, as if it was obvious.

"Ah."

Philip's expression showed understanding.

The area was filled with wolf corpses.

It was a grim scene, and the smell of blood and decay was strong.

"There's a stream in the center of the forest. It would be better to set up camp there. What do you think, Sir?"

Mev, who had been startled by Ian's question, nodded.

"Good idea. Let's do that."

"Bring the horses. Philip."

Ian gestured.

It was a very natural command.

Even Philip and Mev didn't notice anything unusual.

Philip ran to the three tied horses.

The two warhorses, with armor on their necks and heads, were one thing, but Ian had managed to protect his old horse as well.

To Ian, it was the most inexplicable part of the day's events.

When Philip grabbed the reins, the horses seemed to be excited.

"Are they scared now? Come on, be good."

Philip pulled the reins.

Philip's and Mev's horses followed relatively obediently, but Ian's horse reared and was dragged along.

After a few steps,

Neigh!

Ian's horse, which had been snorting, finally fell to the side.

"What...?"

Philip tilted his head.

In the focused gaze of Ian and Mev,

"Sir, it... it's..."

Philip, checking the horse, hesitated and said,

"...dead?"

"..."

Ian's eyebrows shot up.

Mev, looking confused, turned to Ian.

Ian, staring at the suddenly deceased horse, suddenly realized,

'This must be because of the blood on me.'

The old horse, already under extreme stress, couldn't handle the smell of the werewolf's blood on Ian.

But Ian didn't say this out loud.

"This is just... sigh. Sir, I'm sorry. I must have made a mistake."

It was amusing to see Philip's crestfallen expression.

"How did you protect it, only to lose it like this?"

"Be more careful, Philip. With so many wolf corpses around."

Mev, scolding him sternly, turned to Ian.

"I'm sorry. I'll pay for the horse."

Ian shrugged.

"Well, it wasn't intentional. I understand. It was a miracle that it survived in the first place."

"Thank you, Sir. You're very generous."

Philip bowed.

"But."

Ian's calm voice descended on Philip's head.

"I don't want to walk."

"Y-Yes...?"

Philip, lifting his head, asked.

"I'm tired."

Ian, adding this, looked at him steadily.

The initial confusion quickly turned to resignation.

Philip, alternating his gaze between the horses and Ian, sighed.

"Of course, I'll walk. Yes..."

***

A couple of hours later.

The group set up camp by a stream that cut through the center of the forest.

While Philip prepared the bonfire, Ian dismounted leisurely.

Philip's horse was much more comfortable than Ian's old horse.

When Ian dismounted, Andolf's head, tied to the saddle, dangled.

It was Philip's work.

Ian wondered why he had brought it but soon turned his gaze to the stream.

What was important now wasn't that head.

"It'll reach my calves..."

He had only known how to wash his face.

It was a stream that mimicked a river.

Sitting on a nearby rock, Ian began to untie his armor.

"What are you doing?"

Mev, tilting her head, asked.

"Obviously, I'm taking off my armor."

"What if you're attacked again?"

"Didn't you notice on the way? There's probably not even a deer left in the forest."

Ian shrugged.

"The werewolf had taken over the forest. They all fled."

Even if there was something, I have to wash.

Ian, muttering to himself, continued to unfasten his armor.

Sweat and blood had made his body sticky.

"Ah. Right... I see."

While Mev nodded.

"Sir, are you going to wash now?"

Philip, who had already set up the fire and the camp, asked.

Ian, struggling to remove his shirt and the armor that was stuck to it, replied,

"Yes."

"Is that so...?"

Philip, with a look like a dog that needed to go to the bathroom, asked.

Ian, putting down his armor and looking at him with a displeased expression, reluctantly took out a bundle from a subspace and unfolded it.

Pressed ham, cheese, and wheat bread were revealed under the moonlight.

Philip's face lit up.

Ian, putting down the bundle, said coldly,

"Take out half and prepare it. We need it for tomorrow."

"Yes! I'll prepare it right away."

"First, wash your hands. When the food is ready, clean my armor too."

"Of course!"

Philip ran to the stream.

What a manageable guy.

Ian, curling his lips, brought his hands to his leggings, then suddenly added,

"Let me apologize in advance. I'm going to take off my clothes. I plan to wash my body too."

"Fine, I won't look."

Mev, nodding calmly, naturally took off her helmet.

She then removed her steel gloves one by one and inserted her hands between the elbow armor.

The clinking sounds continued.

She inserted her hands under the shoulder armor and, after a few touches, the armor protecting her elbow and upper arm fell off.

Watching Mev, who was skillfully disassembling her shoulder armor, Ian said,

"I thought you would wear it even while sleeping."

"I plan to wash my body too."

Mev replied calmly.

Ian's head tilted.

"You mean now?"

Mev looked at him.

"I plan to. Is there a problem?"

...Would there be?

Rarely, Ian's face showed a hint of embarrassment.