I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 602

"I’m so glad I followed you," Thesaya whispered with amusement.

Ian didn’t bother to respond, not even with a glance. His gaze was fixed on the boy, who had stopped before a crumbling house a short distance away.

"This way, Agent of the Saint." The boy slid aside what was barely more than a plank of wood serving as a door, then turned and bowed to Ian.

Ian finally looked his way. "Make sure no one comes inside."

As Thesaya and Declan nodded at his gaze, Ian stepped into the house.

Inside was just as bad as he’d expected. Sunlight leaked through the gaps in the roof, illuminating the filth within. The stench had already been assaulting his nose for a while.

If anyone’s healthy here, that’d be a real miracle.

Clicking his tongue, Ian approached the filthy bed where a gaunt, pale woman lay beneath a tattered sackcloth. Sensing his approach, her sunken eyelids fluttered open.

"Who… are you?"

"No need to know," Ian said, kneeling beside her.

The woman’s hazy gaze shifted past his shoulder to the boy standing against the wall.

"O Radiant Light. Save this woman," Ian murmured, placing his left hand on her forehead and bowing his head.

The room brightened in the very next instant. A soft glow spread from Ian’s hand.

Knew this would happen.

The divinity from Saint Damiel’s Ring was flowing out. Of course, it wasn’t something Ian intended. Just as it had with Shahin, Lu Solar had answered his prayer.

Ian watched the woman become enveloped in the light. Her eyes, wide with surprise, flickered with a faint glow.

"Light…" came the boy’s trembling voice from behind him, accompanied by the sound of something slumping to the ground.

He wasn’t the only one who had fallen to his knees.

"G-Glory to the Radiant Light…"

"Glory…"

The sounds of people collapsing and whispering prayers spread through the alley. They must have noticed the unusual brightness.

Swoosh—

Ian, of course, paid them no mind. He simply watched the woman enshrouded in the light. A serene smile touched her lips as she gazed at the ceiling, her eyes shimmering. A few seconds later, the light, which had twinkled like stardust, scattered and faded.

"It’s… warm," the woman whispered from the center of it all and closed her eyes. Her face was peaceful.

Ian’s eyes twitched the moment he lifted his hand from her forehead. A sudden heat was spreading through his left arm. The divinity of Karha was surging, as if trying to cast off the power of Lu Solar.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Ian’s expression twisted.

A searing heat, like a branding iron, spread from below his elbow and across his shoulder blade. He didn’t need to check to know that more battle tattoos were being etched onto his skin. Red divinity glimmered faintly between his collar.

Tsss…

The heat subsided after a few seconds. Exhaling the breath he’d been holding, Ian staggered to his feet.

Are they competing now?

In any case, the Blessing of Battle had clearly strengthened again. Rolling his left arm lightly, Ian turned back. The boy was still kneeling, head bowed low.

"You can lift your head. It’s over," said Ian.

"Th-thank you, Agent of the Saint!" the boy said, his voice choked with tears.

He seemed oblivious to the fact that another god had intervened.

Walking toward the entrance, Ian added, "She might only be better for a while, so take good care of her. And if you have the energy to cry, clean the house first. Make it spotless."

"Yes, I will!" the boy nodded.

Ian stepped outside to a sea of kneeling figures that stretched to the end of the alley. Only Thesaya and Declan remained standing.

Meeting Ian’s gaze, Thesaya smiled at him and murmured, "You sure you’ll be fine, Ian? They look ready to throw themselves at you any second."

Ian’s brow furrowed slightly as he surveyed the alley. He felt the gaze of the residents as they hesitantly raised their heads. They had the eyes of fanatics, just as Thesaya had implied.

Scowling, Ian said, "Instead of asking for prayers, go clean your homes and the streets. From now on, don’t throw your filth on the roads, and air out your bedding in the sun. At the very least, always keep your hands and face clean."

The residents, clearly not expecting such words, exchanged confused looks.

I can't stand them anymore.

Ian clicked his tongue before adding, "When the city and its devotees are clean, the Heavenly Goddesses will be pleased. Understood?"

Ian then looked at Declan.

Declan blinked, then nodded as if in sudden understanding. "I will make Orendel a city worthy of the heavens’ authority, Agent of the Saint."

That’s not what I meant.

Just as Ian’s brow twitched, a quest completion window appeared before him. Even though their tour wasn’t finished, the quest was marked complete.

Well, I’m not complaining.

He shrugged and closed the window.

Declan turned to the residents and announced, "A royal capital must be worthy of its name. Starting tomorrow, we will begin a major redevelopment of the shantytown."

"D-Do you mean you’ll rebuild our homes?" one of the blinking residents asked.

Declan nodded. "Yes. There’s no place for collapsing shacks in the new royal capital."

"By the heavens! Long live His Majesty!"

"Long live the King!"

Cheers erupted as the residents raised their arms high, the excitement spreading like wildfire down the alley. It was obvious they had been sick of their shacks.

So this is why the quest finished.

At a signal from Declan, Patton shouted to the crowd, "Do not tire the Agent of the Saint any further! All of you, go and finish your food and drink!"

"Enjoy today to the fullest! From tomorrow, you will all be very busy again!" Declan added.

The residents readily turned and left the alley, not forgetting to chant the names of the King, the heavens, and the Agent of the Saint.

"Rebuilding the capital, hm? A fine first task indeed, Your Majesty," Thesaya said leisurely.

Declan turned to her with a broad smile.

"It is thanks to the Agent of the Saint's guidance. I have postponed it for far too long, so this is for the best. Now then…" He gestured behind Ian and took a step forward. "Let us go. The southern district is nearby. It seems we will be able to finish our schedule early today."

Declan walked past Ian with Patton in tow. Ian turned to follow but paused. Shahin was staring into the house, his gaze fixed on the back of the boy, who was now embracing his sleeping mother.

Ian, remembering Shahin’s past, asked, "Are you okay?"

"How could I not be, sir?" Shahin replied, turning his head.

He looked up at Ian, his eyes twinkling like stars. "If I devote my entire heart to serving the Radiant Goddess, will I, too, one day be able to bring hope and miracles to people?"

"Well, perhaps," Ian said with a shrug. He looked down into Shahin’s eyes and added, "As long as you are not blinded by the light."

"I will keep that in mind!" Shahin nodded firmly.

Thesaya placed a hand on Shahin’s shoulder and smiled. "Our little sprout’s growing nicely, isn’t he?"

"So it seems." Ian gave a slight nod and started walking.

The rest of the tour continued smoothly, with no more troublesome requests for prayers. Of course, that was also thanks to the innkeeper in the southern shantytown, who knew Ian’s temperament all too well, and his niece, the maid, Sophie.

"We’ve heard the stories, Your Majesty. They say the Agent of the Saint performed another miracle?"

"Is it true that he instantly healed a sick person?"

Because of that, the group reached the western edge of the shantytown far faster than the day before—well before sundown, in fact.

"Seems word travels faster than we do," Declan said with a hearty laugh to the crowd gathered near the stalls.

Though most of the questions centered on Ian, Declan didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. It was only natural; Ian’s authority was, in turn, Declan’s authority, as he was the one who had crowned him.

"Then you must have also heard that we will redevelop the capital starting tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Majesty! But these new houses— will they be given to us?"

"Of course. Though you’ll need to put in the work yourselves. Don’t forget. The goddesses are watching. Do your best."

While Declan continued the conversation, Ian and Thesaya sipped their drinks behind him. This was sufficient, as the goal had been to strengthen Declan’s authority.

In the eyes of the people, it would look as though their king was leading the Agent of the Saint and an Elder Fairy.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a sunset.

Ian took a long sip of wine, his gaze fixed on the sky, now deepening into shades of crimson. At this pace, they’d be back at the castle before nightfall. After that, he had no intention of stepping outside again until Mev returned.

"Oh?" Thesaya murmured a short time later. Brushing aside the hair that covered her ears, she looked at Ian. "Looks like something’s happened."

Ian tilted his head, then caught the sound of approaching hoofbeats in the distance.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

A guard on horseback was galloping toward them from the northern road.

Thesaya smiled as she glanced at Ian. "Could it be that the Redhead has returned?"

"It’s a bit early for that," Ian muttered, though he didn’t take his eyes off the approaching rider.

The residents quickly stepped aside, and the guard dismounted before Declan.

"Do we have a visitor?" Declan asked.

Holding the reins, the guard nodded. "Yes. The imperial caravan has arrived."

The answer was enough to make Ian’s eyes twitch.

Declan smiled. "Excellent. They made it before the banquet ended. They must have been quite surprised to see the city. What did they say?"

"They asked several questions. When I informed them of the coronation, they requested an audience."

"Is that so?" Declan asked, glancing briefly at Ian before turning back to the guard. "Admit them into the inner city and provide them with a mansion. Tell the caravan master to wait in the castle’s reception room."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard bowed. As he wove through the crowd and leaped into the saddle, Declan gestured for the residents to wait and turned around.

"I’ve been meaning to ask…" Ian began, facing the approaching king. "The Imperial Caravan you’ve been mentioning—is it by any chance the Ark Caravan?"

A smile spread across Declan’s lips.

***

"I can’t believe it."

In the royal castle’s reception room, an Imperial man fidgeted in his chair.

He hadn’t even touched the cup of wine on the table before him. He rubbed his palms together nervously, then whipped his head around.

"Bor, what do you think? Do you think what they’re saying is true?"

"Of course," the heavily armed Northerner nodded. He was tapping a heavy metal box at his feet.

Unlike his usual sullen expression, his eyes shone with excitement and fervor. "Just look out the window. There’s no doubt this city’s been blessed. Who else but him could bring about such a miracle?"

"Well, yes, but it doesn’t make sense logically." The master turned in his chair completely and gestured with his hands. "How can someone who’s supposed to be in the South be performing miracles in this remote region? Especially with the sea routes blocked. You’ve heard the state of the inner sea yourself, haven’t you?"

"Because he is the Great Warrior of the North," Bor answered without a hint of hesitation, staring intently into his eyes. "Nothing is impossible for the Great Warrior. His return from beyond the Black Wall is proof enough."

"No, but still… Hey, why are you looking at me like that? Huh? I’m your employer. All that expensive magic equipment you’re wearing? I bought it all for you." The caravan master’s brow furrowed.

"Then watch your tongue if you don’t want it cut out by that expensive magic equipment. Daring to doubt the Great Warrior... There are some things I cannot forgive, even from you."

"Come on, I wasn’t doubting him to that degree. I meant it only out of concern, not disbelief. You know as well as I do. For the time being, it’d be better if the Agent of the Saint was in the South—" He cut himself off.

Footsteps echoed just beyond the closed door. They exchanged quick, wordless looks, pretending nothing had happened.

"His Majesty the King enters."

With the chamberlain’s announcement, the closed doors slowly swung open. The master shot to his feet and turned around. Bor also turned, picking up the box at his feet.

"You have come at a wonderful time. It has been a while," King Declan, wearing his crown, said as he entered.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Allow me to congratulate you on your coron—" the master began, bowing reflexively, but he froze.

Another man was entering the room behind the king. There was something strangely familiar about his gait.

"Seems like I really am running into every familiar face these days."

At that low voice, the master’s eyes widened almost to the point of tearing.

"Agent of the Saint!" he gasped.

Looking back at him, Ian smiled. "It’s been a while, Fael of Borta."