I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 595

"Yes, it’s me. I didn’t think you’d still remember." Ian replied, a smile naturally forming on his lips.

"How could I for— No," The maid, who had been answering in a daze, snapped out of it with a shake of her head.

Blinking, she looked at Ian again and let out a gasp. "My goodness. You really came back…"

"It’s been a while. I didn’t expect to see you here."

"Me neither. Oh, where are my manners? I’m sorry." The maid blinked and gestured to an empty table. "W-Would you mind sitting and waiting for just a moment?"

"Sure. But could you bring us something to drink first? For my friends, too."

"Of course! Just, just a moment! Oh, and feel free to use the tables however you like!" She spun around and hurried to the kitchen.

Watching her retreating figure, far more mature than he remembered, Ian smiled silently.

"You seem to have been close with that maid," Simon’s cautious whisper came from behind.

Ian, frowning faintly as if his earlier smile had never been, looked back.

Thesaya, stepping up beside Simon with a faint smile at her lips, said, "That’s not surprising. All the maids who know Ian are probably like that."

"Words like that are how rumors start," Ian said with a sigh, nodding toward the tables. "Let’s sit down."

Mukapa immediately moved forward and pushed three square tables together. In the meantime, Ian sat down in the nearest chair. Thesaya quickly took the seat opposite him, and at her wave, Simon hesitantly sat one space over.

"By Lu Solar…" a low gasp came from the kitchen. A large, middle-aged man with a potbelly was standing there, staring at Ian.

When their eyes met, he said, "It really is you, sir."

Ian studied his face, the beard now streaked with more gray, the features marked with scars he had not seen before, and at last, the corner of his mouth curled again.

"It’s been a while, innkeeper."

"Indeed, it has," the innkeeper replied, a wrinkled smile finally spreading across his face. As the maid passed by with a tray of cups, he asked, "Will you be staying the night?"

"Just for one night, for now. Might be longer."

"Understood. Please wait just a moment and quench your thirst." The innkeeper nodded and turned away.

As the maid placed cups of lukewarm beer in front of the party, the innkeeper walked toward the other patrons. "Everyone, get up and get out now."

His gaze swept over the customers who had been glancing at their party. As they looked back at him, he crossed his arms.

"No business for a while. The food’s on the house, so spread the word."

Only then did the patrons stumble to their feet. As Simon and Thesaya cast curious looks at the innkeeper, the maid suddenly whirled around and bolted up the stairs by the wall.

"Everyone, pack your things and get out! Right now!" Even before she reached the top, her shouts echoed.

Ian’s lips curled into a slight smile. As he shook his head gently and drank his beer, the patrons filed out one by one.

"What in the—"

"What’s going on all of a sudden?"

They just grumbled a little, probably because of Mukapa rather than the innkeeper. The orc, his battle hammer slung over his back, had moved a chair aside and seated himself directly on the floor. Even so, his height sitting there was hardly less than Ian’s at the table. He had chosen the floor, no doubt because no chair could bear his weight.

"You seem to have a rather special relationship with the owner as well," Simon whispered, after taking a sip of beer with a strange expression.

Ian, who had taken the cup from his lips, readily shrugged. "We go way back."

"Before your fame had spread across the continent, I presume," the innkeeper said from the side.

He was approaching their table, his gaze on the stairs where the maid was still shouting. "Pack your things and get out! Now!"

Patrons, who had clearly only had time to grab their luggage, were appearing one by one.

One of them looked back at the innkeeper with a disgruntled expression. "What do you mean, you’re suddenly not open for business—"

"You don’t need to know. Get out. I won’t charge you for what you owe," the innkeeper cut him off.

The customers, though frowning, obediently walked away, glancing at Ian’s group, who were sitting at the joined tables.

Having a conspicuous party is actually beneficial at times like this.

Ian sipped his beer. All eyes were drawn to Mukapa or Thesaya; not a single patron paid him direct attention.

The innkeeper, his eyes still on the people coming down the stairs, asked, "Do you have more companions?"

"Four. Three are at the stables."

The innkeeper nodded at Ian’s answer and looked at the maid who was descending the stairs. "Sophie. Go to the stables and help his companions."

"Of course. Hurry it up, all of you. Don’t dawdle," Sophie, the maid, urged the customers on.

Ian, whose eyes had been on her as she was the last to leave, finally said, "You didn’t have to kick everyone out."

"You don’t like noisy places," the innkeeper replied.

Ian’s smile deepened slightly. "You have a good memory."

"There are many in this city who remember you, sir. If someone were to recognize you, they would all swarm here in an instant."

"Seems you know my reputation well, too."

The innkeeper let out a laugh at Ian’s words. "How could I not be? There are more than a few fellows in this town who claim to have a connection to you. In any case, it is good to see you again. I heard a rumor that you had gone missing beyond the Black Wall, but it seems that was just nonsense."

"It wasn’t nonsense, I crossed the Wall and came back," Ian said with a shrug, bringing the cup to his lips again.

"Huh… So it is possible to come back from there." The innkeeper had clearly not yet heard the news that the Black Wall had fallen. Then again, this was a relatively remote part of the frontier. With chaos and madness seeping in everywhere, it was only natural that information would travel slowly.

"In any case, it’s good to see you again, too," Ian said, setting down his cup and glancing at the decorations on the wall. "The axe is broken, I see. You must have gone through some trouble."

"It didn’t take long to break, truth be told. Still, I cannot say that I have not. But thanks to that, I survived. And I’ve settled down again," the innkeeper said with a hearty laugh.

"So you brought the townsfolk with you when you moved?"

"Only a few came. The rest stayed behind, thinking the rebellion would be crushed quickly. Or perhaps they feared the monsters too much." The innkeeper’s smile turned bitter. "I heard the place was laid to waste within a year."

Ian clicked his tongue and nodded. Unless it was by force, abandoning one’s home was not an easy decision. Moving to a city that had declared independence through rebellion, even more so.

"For having moved, you seem to be living on the outskirts."

"It’s not so bad. Besides, there’s no good that comes from standing out. A quiet life is enough for us."

The innkeeper smiled as if to shake off his thoughts, then added carefully, "By the way, how did you come here? Outsiders usually enter from the north or the east. This is where they end up only after the other routes are filled."

"We came from the south. We crossed the inner sea."

"My goodness. So you passed through the monster land," the innkeeper murmured in hushed astonishment.

His eyes shifted back to Ian, carrying a weight of meaning, as he carefully added, "If you came all this way through them… you must have business with His Majesty or the Red Knight. Or perhaps, with both of them."

As Ian just shrugged and drank his beer, Simon, who had been listening with interest, widened his eyes.

Screech—

Just then, the tavern door opened. Brennen and Shahin, who were supporting the limping Edward, stepped inside. The innkeeper, looking at Sophie, who had come in last, cleared his throat.

"I have been talking for too long. I will prepare your meal first. And you will be wanting to bathe as well, I presume?"

"Let’s fill our stomachs first."

He even remembers that I enjoy bathing.

Ian set his mug down, hiding the thought behind a faint smile.

The innkeeper nodded and turned away. "Should you need anything, tell her. Ah, and of course…" Passing by Simon’s back, he looked at Ian. "Your lodging is free."

"I’ve put up a closed sign on the door. No one will disturb you. I’ll bring more liquor. Please wait just a moment!" Sophie added quickly and headed for the kitchen.

As Ian’s smile deepened, Brennen, sitting down beside Simon, said, "You seem well acquainted with the owner, Agent of the Saint."

"That’s not what’s important right now, sir," said Simon, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes shining.

He looked at Ian with glittering eyes and asked, "When they say the Red Knight, are they referring to the Red Knight of the frontier? The Agent of Vengeance?"

"Oh, so you knew about Redhead?" Thesaya, holding her cup in one hand, looked at him and asked.

Simon’s eyes widened. "Redhead was her?"

"That’s right."

"By Lu Solar…." Simon covered his forehead with his palm and let out a gasp.

Shahin, who had been blinking beside Mukapa, asked, "Is she famous?"

"Of course! She accomplished all sorts of deeds in the west alongside the Agent of the Saint, and yet she chose the penance of returning to the frontier instead of the capital." Simon, nodding, said without taking a breath, and looked back at Ian. "I don’t know why I didn’t think of her until now, even after entering the frontier."

"Well, you weren’t exactly in your right mind," Ian said.

In many ways.

Simon suddenly gasped. "My goodness, then she is the priestess’s relative and the Agent of the Saint’s…"

"My what?" Ian asked coldly.

Simon, who had met his eyes, blinked as if snapping back to his senses. "Ah, it’s nothing. I know nothing!"

"So what is it that you don’t know?"

Just as Ian’s voice was about to grow colder, Sophie came running out with a tray.

As Simon quickly pulled his chair back, she placed cups on the table. "Your meal will be ready shortly. Do you need anything else? More drink, perhaps?"

"This is enough for now. Thank you," Ian replied.

Sophie placed a small keg in front of him and smiled. "You’re welcome. I’m so happy to see you again."

"Yes, it’s good to see you, too."

"I’ll prepare your bathwater as soon as you’re finished with your meal."

"Just don’t boil it enough to cook me."

"Of course. And please feel free to use all the rooms upstairs." Sophie added, looking at the rest of the party, and turned toward the stairs again. "Well then, I’ll go and tidy up upstairs. Please call if you need anything."

"No need to rush. Take your time."

"No. That way, I can talk with you a little sooner, Fixer. I have a mountain of things I want to ask you."

"Leave that mountain be."

"Ah, you must be tired today. Then, tomorrow morning."

"Leave it, I said." Ian clicked his tongue softly as Sophie flew up the stairs with a bright smile.

In the meantime, Thesaya, who had been staring at Simon, asked, "Redhead is so famous. Why aren’t I?"

"Pardon?" Simon asked a beat later, glancing at Ian.

Thesaya swirled her cup and added, "I fought alongside Ian and Redhead, too. Yet all they say of me is that I became an elder thanks to him. Why is that?"

So that’s what was bothering her.

As Ian let out a soft laugh, Simon scratched his cheek, looking troubled. "Well, as I said before, the affairs of fairy society are not known to the outside world. And the nobles are also careful about mentioning fairies. O-Of course, that’s why there are many who are more curious. I am one of them. Haha."

He glanced at Thesaya. "If you wish, when I return to the capital, I will let people know how beautiful the Elder is, and what a great mage you are."

"Yes. Make me at least as famous as Redhead or Freckles," Thesaya added and brought the cup to her lips.

Ian gently shook his head. She was acting like this even though she knew there might not be time for that.

"I… I’ll do my best," Simon stammered.

"Of course, you will. By the way, why is everyone just watching?" Thesaya raised her cup, looking at the others sitting around the table. "Let’s drink. Even if this liquor tastes like crap."

The party members each took a sip of their drinks. Only Shahin, whose cup had been taken by Mukapa, repeatedly licked his lips.

By now, the savory smell of cooking food was filling the room, and Ian leaned back leisurely and drank his liquor. In any case, running into an old acquaintance alive and well was always a pleasant experience, no matter how many times it happened—especially when it was unexpected.

"Thank you for waiting."

Before long, the innkeeper came out with a tray full of plates of food. Roasted potatoes and stew, meat and eggs, were piled high on each plate.

"You’ve overdone it. I doubt your pantry is that well-stocked." A smile naturally formed on Ian’s lips. They were all things he had enjoyed eating when he had stayed here.

"This much is fine. We have enough to serve you for several days," the innkeeper said nonchalantly, setting down the plates and utensils one by one.

Ian, who had let out a chuckle, took out a money pouch.

The innkeeper’s brow furrowed. "You should know that it’s free for you, for life."

"I have a large group now. Just take it. Don’t refuse." Ian flicked a gold coin with his finger.

The innkeeper instinctively caught it, clicked his tongue, and shrugged. "I’ll have to buy more meat when the day breaks."

"Well, that’s up to you." Ian shrugged and picked up his fork.

The innkeeper bowed and turned away as Ian took a bite of egg.

Just then, Thesaya’s gaze shifted to the door. "Looks like they’ve arrived just in time."

"So it seems," Ian replied, his mouth full.

The sound of approaching hoofbeats had just reached his ears. His brow twitched slightly; it was not just one horse.

As if realizing the same thing, a smile spread across Thesaya’s face. "As I thought. They’ve come running."

Simon’s eyes shone as he looked back. The other party members, though silent, also glanced at the door with a mixture of anticipation. A few minutes later, Lucia, her hood pulled low, opened the door.

"It seems you’ve rented out the entire inn. Good. That makes things better," she said as she stepped inside.

Thesaya nodded and tilted her chin. "Why did you come in alone? Where’s the Redhead?"

"Well, she didn’t come with me." A hesitant smile appeared on Lucia’s lips.

"Then?"

As Thesaya blinked, Lucia looked at Ian. "His Majesty, the King, has come in person, Sir Ian."