I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 612

"Let’s." With that, Ian tossed the bracers toward the larger pile of treasure. Tempting as they were, they wouldn’t be of use in this battle.

"What standard did you use to sort them?" Archeas asked, glancing between the two piles while Ian resumed walking along the edge.

Ian shrugged. "The smaller pile has things useful against the Heaven Defier."

"You really identified them all in that short a time. Not even I can read spells that quickly,"

Unable to hide its surprise, Archeas watched Ian pick up a pair of leather greaves reinforced with chain.

"Do you have a special method?"

"No. Mostly, I can just tell by looking at it like this," Ian replied, staring at the leather greaves in his hand.

Archeas blinked and asked again. "You can tell just by looking?"

"Not everything. As I said, most of them, but not always."

After Ian answered, he tossed the greaves with his Willful Grasp. Archeas, letting out a faint hum, turned to the smaller pile.

As Ian continued his steady harvest of treasure, the dragon murmured again, "You're right. These are all indeed items that would be helpful against it."

Archeas finally sighed. It had been picking up, examining, and setting down the stacked equipment one by one. "An eye that sees the essence of things. You were born with a very special talent, Ian. I didn't think you had any more surprises left for me."

Casting him a smile, Archeas nodded toward the pair of plate boots Ian had just tossed away.

"I always found it odd that you were a mage. I think I've finally figured out one of the reasons."

You’re quite the storyteller, aren’t you?

Ian let out a soft laugh. Being vague about things that were difficult to explain was always effective. Even more so when the other person was knowledgeable.

"I did have something I wanted to ask you about regarding that, though."

Of course, that wasn't all this time. Archeas’s eyes widened. "Oh? You have a question about magic? That is also unexpected. What are you curious about?"

"Let's talk again after we finish the task at hand."

"Yes, let's. But why did you make a separate pile for the items you won't use? You could have just left them." Archeas glanced back at the pile of treasures behind it.

Ian, picking up a set of plate armor that was fused with its pauldrons, said, "Just in case."

As Archeas tilted its head, Ian looked at the information window and added, "After this is all over, I might have a chance to take them, you know?"

Archeas finally let out a chuckle. It almost looked dumbfounded.

Ian shrugged, tucked the armor under his arm, and walked toward Archeas. The harvest was finally over.

Archeas, shaking its head slightly, added, the smile never leaving its lips, "Already thinking about what comes after slaying the Heaven Defier… my agent truly has the heart of a lion."

"Well, if we die, that’s the end. Seems only natural to plan for coming back alive, doesn’t it?" Ian said calmly and tossed the armor he was holding onto the smaller pile.

He didn't stop, walking right up to Archeas as he added, "We will kill that dragon and return. Both of us. Safely."

"Yes," Archeas replied, watching Ian with a curious expression for a moment before its lips curled up again. "The time has come to finish what I left undone long ago. I’m glad it’s you who’ll be at my side, Ian."

"It's nothing." Ian stopped and shrugged.

Archeas smiled and turned around. "Well, then. Let’s try some on. We should pick out what fits you best first."

"Let’s." Ian nodded readily.

This was the tedious part. The equipment he had gathered was all of different materials and sizes. Most were fitted for Archeas, but a good number were not.

"It's fortunate our height difference isn't that great. Here. Try this first." Archeas handed him a breastplate of reddish-tinted truesilver.

Ian accepted it, undid the clasps, and pulled it over his torso. It was a little big, but not so much that he couldn't wear it.

The stats are excellent, too.

With a layer of leather or quilted armor underneath, it would easily serve in actual combat.

"Then this one next."

Before Ian had even finished putting on the cuirass, Archeas placed a set of plate pauldrons in front of him.

"I vaguely recall the dwarven master who made this. He said he begged a red dragon to temper it with its breath."

Ian just nodded, his hands still busy. Archeas had already turned back to the equipment pile.

"This pair of bracers and gauntlets should be good. I vaguely remember these, too. A dragon made them. Back then, I thought it was a peculiar hobby. Whenever a fine piece was finished, it shared it freely with those around—"

Archeas continued to place its chosen pieces of armor in front of Ian. It cheerfully added explanations that Ian wasn't particularly curious about. It seemed less about informing Ian and more about reminiscing, lost in nostalgia for the distant past.

"They’re all excellent pieces, but," said Ian, who had been equipping the pieces without pause.

Archeas, who was picking up a pair of plate boots with particularly intricate joints, looked back.

"Why are you only giving me thick plate armor? There are many items here that look much more flexible."

Archeas froze for a second, then smiled as if nothing was wrong, placing the pair of plate boots in front of him.

"All the treasures I’ve gathered are exceptional enough to defy even time itself. So it’s best to wear the sturdiest of them, don’t you think?"

"The only reason these are in good condition is because you cast a preservation spell on this treasury." Ian snorted, fastening the greaves before picking up the boots. "You must be quite worried about me facing that thing head-on."

"Of course I am. I don't mean to underestimate you. But that dragon could snuff out your life with ease."

"Have you forgotten this isn't my first time getting involved in a dragon fight?"

"That’s exactly why I’m saying this. Think back to what happened to you then."

Fair point.

Ian smacked his lips and continued strapping the greaves to his shins. He finally straightened his back.

A faint smile crossed Archeas’s lips as it scanned him up and down. "You look quite impressive. Like a knight straight out of a legend."

It probably wasn’t an empty compliment. The pieces of plate armor Ian wore all bore different names and grades, yet each one was exquisitely crafted and adorned with intricate designs.

"I've always felt this, but ancient techniques seem superior to what we have now," Ian murmured, moving his arms and legs.

"There were just too many wars. It's tragic how many skills were lost or regressed in the process." Archeas’s smile turned bitter as it nodded. "The Empire has rebuilt a brilliant civilization, that’s true. But it still relies heavily on the legacy of the past. And even that is only a fragment of what once was."

It lowered its voice, carefully watching Ian move his wrists and ankles. "That is why peace is needed all the more. Civilization will only be able to move beyond mimicking the past after at least a few centuries of peace."

"That’s a wish easier said than fulfilled…"

Ian let out a low, dry laugh.

Achieving the level of peace the Platinum Dragon desired was practically impossible. Even in his original world, which was far more advanced, war hadn't disappeared. In this world, where all sorts of mysteries and miracles were real, it was an even more distant prospect.

"In any case, I can't fight wearing this. I’ll have to swap out a few pieces." Ian said, taking a step.

Archeas’s eyes widened. "Why?"

"The balance is off." Ian retorted flatly and bent over. The gear was excellent, but its resistances were far too skewed toward one element.

"This looks better than these gauntlets." Ian rummaged through the treasure pile and pulled out a pair of leather gloves reinforced with fine, dark chains.

Stacking a single resistance wouldn’t grant complete immunity anyway. It was just a relative effect; a human body couldn't become truly invincible. Besides, the efficiency dropped as the number increased.

"These pauldrons seem better, too."

Therefore, it was far more effective to balance resistances for various things, including heat, fire, and status effects like burns and suffocation. Besides, every piece here offered more than enough protection, even with that balance. They also came with various skills, though he doubted he would use them.

"You’re starting to look less like a knight and more like a mercenary."

Archeas muttered, unable to hide its disappointment. It clearly wanted to say the mismatched set lacked uniformity. Of course, Ian didn't even blink.

"I am simply choosing the much more practical option."

Archeas was always worried he’d act recklessly, but Ian had no desire to die either. If it meant improving his odds of surviving against that insane ancient dragon, he didn’t care how he looked.

Besides, it wasn’t nearly as bad as Archeas’s reaction suggested. These were all incredible treasures. Maybe it looked messy to a dragon’s eye, but to him, it still looked impressive.

"This should be enough for now," said Ian.

He clenched his fists, feeling a strange surge of power course through him. It wasn’t just his imagination. He was fully equipped with gear he’d never even had in the game. Of course, it still wasn’t perfect.

"I'll have to make the final decision after I take these items and think it over a bit more. I need to pack spares, too," he added, looking back at the remaining items.

Considering who their opponent was, he had to prepare for equipment breaking mid-fight. He planned to pack extras tightly into his pocket dimension.

Archeas nodded, as if in resignation. "Very well. That’s a wise idea."

"I’ll need something to carry them in."

"Wait just a moment." Turning away, Archeas sank into the golden surface as if sinking into the ground. Like before, the movement was fast and natural.

Shhh...

Within minutes, a large, lidded chest floated to the surface. It was covered in intricate golden patterns and was even larger than the storage container Ian used.

Archeas rose again, opened the lid with effortless ease, and asked, "Will this be enough?"

"I won't know for sure until I pack it, but it looks big enough." Kneeling, Ian pulled the chest toward him with his Willful Grasp. The treasure chest was quite heavy, even though it was empty.

Clank... Clatter—

He then began neatly packing the equipment inside, choosing only the pieces that seemed to fit roughly and leaving out those that looked too large or too small. But that wasn’t all.

Shhrrr...

Ian stuffed gold pieces into the gauntlets and boots before placing them in the chest. Then he scooped up handfuls of coins and poured them into the gaps between the equipment.

"How very... thorough," Archeas, which had been watching in amusement, finally murmured.

Ian just shrugged and continued his work. He had already been given permission, after all.

"Once I return you to the room, I’ll revert to my true form and enter a meditative state."

"Understood."

"It is just a process to prepare for battle, so it won't take long. It’ll be a few days at most. During that time, you will not be able to leave the room."

Ian's hand paused for a second. "You’re saying you’ll lock me in?"

"I simply don’t wish to be seen while I’m asleep. I… tend to talk in my sleep quite a bit," Archeas said with a faint smile, making it hard to tell if it was joking or serious. "I have already shown you more than enough unsightly things, haven't I?"

"You must have been quite embarrassed," Ian replied and went back to his work, shaking his head slightly.

"Do not worry. I will be blocking only the exit to the passage. The space you will be in is as large as a respectable castle, so you will not feel cooped up."

Archeas continued in a placating, offhand tone.

"You are free to move around inside as much as you like. There is even a bath in the deepest part. Hot underground water wells up into the tub."

That was enough to make Ian's head snap up. "There's a hot spring here?"

"I drew it from quite a distance. They said it cools to the perfect temperature. And it has not dried up."

Ian shut the lid of the chest, now full of treasures and gold. "In that case, feel free to take as much time as you need to prepare."

Gripping the ringed handles on either side of the chest, Ian lifted it with a strained grunt. Veins stood out on his neck as he turned to Archeas.

"Let's go."

"Are you that eager to get into hot water? Very well. Let us go." Archeas said with a light laugh and turned.

Unlike Ian, who occasionally glanced back at the treasure-filled cavern, it never once looked back, as if it truly had no lingering attachments left.