Chapter 90

# Chapter 090

With a noticeably lighter step, Ian checked his status window and skill window in turn.

Additional points had come in.

The fact that he had gained points through leveling up rather than a quest brought a small joy that he hadn't felt yesterday bubbling up.

Of course, as always, it was a fleeting moment of excitement.

“......”

After closing all the windows, he passed by the legion leader's corpse and began to examine the chair where the legion leader had been sitting.

Like the queen's throne, it was just an ordinary chair.

The only thing special about it was the ancient spell circuit intricately carved with hieroglyphs, symbols, and geometric shapes.

He could still faintly feel the magic power emanating from within.

‘Is the power source the same as the underground palace...?’

Ian felt a renewed curiosity about the almost infinite source of magic power.

Whatever secret it held, it was almost miraculous.

Especially in this twilight of magic.

‘They said they used the power of dragons... Could it really be that dragons are the power source?’

It seemed impossible, but that was the only guess that came to mind.

Dragons were like living masses of magic. If they were extracting magic power from the remains of an old dragon, it could sustain such a ruin for over a thousand years.

‘If I ever defeat a dragon... I must find the source of its magic power.’

If he could use magic without the constraints of magic power, surviving until the end of the world would no longer be a vague goal.

Whether he would still be alive by then or if he could use the dragon's power even if he obtained it was unknown.

After confirming there was nothing more to gain from the chair, Ian looked around and approached the legion leader's corpse.

The legion leader, having lost all his soul and magic power, had turned into something like a very old mummy.

“Hmm...”

Ian separated the twin swords from the legion leader's waist.

They were almost as tall as he was.

A single-edged sword that curved slightly at the tip.

He could even check the information.

The legion leader's greatsword.

‘For humans, it’s a two-handed sword, right?’

It was a unique-grade item with several stat bonuses and the ability to use the Frost Blade skill.

He pulled the broad blade out of the scabbard and held it, then shrugged and put it back.

If he were forced to use it, it wouldn't be impossible, but it would be impossible to wield it like an extension of his body.

If he hit someone with this, it would be more like bludgeoning them to death rather than slicing them.

‘I think I’ve seen something similar in some manga...’

Thinking this, Ian forced one of the swords into the subspace.

He couldn't fit both.

Considering the size of the swords, it was a miracle that even one fit.

Next was the battle hammer.

This was definitely not something a human could use.

Even the legion leader had to wield it with both hands, so there was no need to explain further.

‘I can check the information on this too...?’

Ian let out a hollow laugh.

The legion leader's battle hammer. It was a unique-grade item, and the Shockwave skill was a notable option.

‘Who could possibly use this? It seems impossible unless it’s a giant.’

The loot he could obtain was limited to that. The armor couldn't be checked for information and wouldn't be usable even if he stripped it off.

If there were any essence, it would be nice, but there was none to be seen.

‘It’s not a waste. The crown, the dagger, the greatsword, the skill points...’

Moreover, the fragment of chaos had grown, and his cold resistance had increased slightly as a reward for killing the legion leader.

Additional resistance was a rare reward, even more so than skill points.

“And this... I should take it too.”

Ian looked down at the legion leader's severed head.

It was smaller than expected due to its emaciated state, but it was still too large to carry around.

“If I fold it into the seal box, it should fit somehow...”

Just as Ian muttered this while holding the head in both hands,

“Huh...!”

Tessia suddenly sat up, gasping for breath.

Her expression, blinking her eyes, looked bewildered.

She moved her hands around and looked around, then her gaze finally stopped on Ian.

“You look fine.”

Ian said.

Even though he didn't speak loudly, his voice resonated and spread.

“Yeah. I don’t remember anything. It feels like I died and came back to life.”

If she hadn't been a vampire, she would have died instantly, so it wasn't an entirely wrong statement.

After looking at Ian, who shrugged, Tessia added,

“Why are you holding that head, Ian?”

“I’m taking it as loot.”

Ian answered calmly.

Tessia's expression twisted.

“Don’t tell me you learned that from Charlotte?”

“......”

***

“Well, at least you’re not a completely ungrateful beast.”

Tessia said as she put on the clothes Ian had taken out of the seal box.

She had been shouting about what had happened as soon as she opened her eyes, and eventually got the whole story out of Ian.

Of course, it was a very simplified version.

Tessia talked about it for a long time even with just that.

Since it was better than complete silence, Ian nodded or shrugged to respond to her.

While cleaning the blade of the Sword of Judgment with a dirty cloth.

If the followers of Tir En saw this, they would have been devastated, but Ian didn't care.

“Really, if I have to travel with you, I’d need a dozen lives, Ian.”

Tessia said suddenly.

Ian looked at her.

Her face was free of malice.

“Yeah. Fallen ones, monsters, demons... Now you’ve even killed ancient giants with your own hands.”

“The demon was the one who followed you, not me.”

“Of course, but... If this continues, I might really die someday. Not me, but this little one.”

Tessia tapped Charlotte's calf with her toe. Charlotte only smacked her lips and didn't move.

Ian, looking at Tessia, said bluntly,

“So, do you regret it?”

“What do you mean, regret?”

“Following me.”

“No, I don’t. If I hadn’t, I would have been taken to Ru Sadr a long time ago.”

“......”

Ian didn't mention that if she hadn't followed him, she could have grown strong enough to defeat the Inquisitor on her own.

Or that she would have become a being stronger than him in some ways.

It was her choice, and it was already in the past.

Moreover, if that had happened, she would have ended up dying at his hands eventually.

So, by having a slim chance of survival, she had avoided the worst possible outcome.

Of course, whether it would end that way was still uncertain.

Tessia's voice continued,

“Actually, the more time passes, the more I think I can’t leave you, Ian. A warrior who can face such giants alone... or a mage... or whatever. I doubt there’s anyone stronger than you on the continent.”

“There are. A lot.”

“Really? Well, as long as I stick close to you, it should be fine.”

Ian let out a short hollow laugh.

“You’re optimistic. Who knows what worst-case scenario might be waiting.”

“The worst future I can think of now is not being captured by Ru Sadr again, but you targeting my life.”

Tessia looked at Ian with calm eyes.

“I’m most afraid of you. Of course, you also look the most delicious. Thanks to that, I can easily suppress my desires.”

Good to know the medicine is working well.

Ian nodded slightly.

“You should be more afraid of the things outside that door. We haven’t left the ruins yet.”

“...Outside the door?”

Tessia's expression turned puzzled.

“Is there something else out there?”

“Look and you’ll see. This guy was the leader of an army. He wouldn’t be buried here alone.”

“......”

Tessia's mouth opened wide.

Her face looked like she had been hit from behind when she least expected it.

“...Then, we might have to fight for our lives again.”

A low voice spread at that moment. Charlotte stirred and sat up.

“It hasn’t been half a day yet.”

Ian said, and Charlotte shook her head.

“I’ve rested enough.”

“What do you mean? You look like you’ve lost weight.”

Tessia said mockingly. Charlotte glanced at her and stretched, as if it wasn’t worth responding to.

Tessia's eyes narrowed.

“Oh, Charlotte. Is that all? I saved your life again?”

“Think about whose blood is on the corner of your mouth. I think I’ve paid off my debt.”

Ian put the legion leader's head in the seal box and stored it in the subspace.

The preparations to move were quickly finished.

The group stood in front of the tall door.

Tessia looked up at the door, as if tired of it, and muttered,

“I’m sick of giants. I don’t want to see them ever again.”

“I agree.”

Saying this, Ian pushed the door hard.

Thanks to Tessia's wish, none of the stone coffins in the following rooms moved or opened.

The giant army, having lost their leader, never awoke.

“...This feels off.”

Muttering this, Ian didn’t stop and continued forward.

A few hours later.

Creak...

The door slowly opened, and sunlight seeped through.

A cold chill that could freeze the lungs.

“I never thought I’d be glad to see sunlight.”

Tessia muttered, pulling her hood over her head.

Charlotte smirked as she stepped outside.

“Unbecoming words for a demon.”

“Shut up.”

Ian cut her off.

Looking at Charlotte and Tessia, he added,

“To get down safely, we need to save our strength for speaking.”

Ian took out the Seryo cloak from the subspace and wrapped it around his neck, then stepped out of the ruins.

A rugged mountain, covered in white and dark blue, greeted them with harsh winds and bitter cold.

***

“Phew...”

The boy, Askel, stopped and caught his breath for a moment.

It was time to be careful about his breathing. If he didn’t want to scare away all the animals with keen ears and timid hearts.

Taking out the bow he had slung over his shoulder, Askel looked back.

The boy didn’t even glance at the barren trees, rocks, or the snow-covered mountainside, but looked up at the sky.

“...I need to hurry.”

He muttered, clenching his fist.

Despite leaving the village early in the morning,

The sun was already climbing toward the sky.

He didn’t have much time left.

‘Since I had a good dream last night. It won’t be a wasted trip today...’

Askel’s head snapped back to the valley above.

Because he heard rustling footsteps. They were definitely not made by animals.

Askel moved and judged simultaneously.

He ran behind a nearby rock, quickly checked his escape route, and hid while watching the valley.

Soon, the unwelcome guests appeared.

‘What...?’

Askel’s eyes widened.

The creatures were walking on two legs. They wore cloaks made of wolf fur, and under that, armor like humans.

But their faces, with their lush manes, were clearly those of carnivores.

This wasn’t a mask.

Askel recalled the stories of creatures that walked on two legs and spoke like humans and sighed inwardly.

‘Demons...!’

The woman with gray hair walking beside them was just as strange. Pale, bloodless skin. Pointed ears. She was even walking barefoot in the mountains.

The black-haired man leading them looked human, but his face was completely expressionless.

Like he was just wearing human skin.

Most importantly, they were from the mountains.

People from the mountains couldn’t be ordinary humans.

‘How can they walk around in broad daylight...?’

Askel crouched behind the rock, trying to make as little noise as possible.

Thud... Thud...