<h4>Chapter 52</h4>


    In the heart of darkness, Ian swung his sword down like an ax.


    <i>Crack! Crunch!</i>


    Following the arc of his de, green fluids sttered in all directions, and the thick neck of a gray troll waspletely severed. Its head, grotesquely protruding forehead and hideous teeth bared, rolled powerlessly across the ground.


    "<i>Phew...</i> sigh." Ian straightened his bent back.


    Not far from himy another gray troll corpse. It was slightly over 160 cm tall, with abnormally long muscr arms andrge hands. These creatures were particrly annoying because they tended to move in pairs. However, the narrowing of Ian''s eyes wasn''t due to this annoyance.


    "...This feeling again." His eyes, darkened as if he were a nocturnal creature, scanned the darkness.


    For the past few days, he had asionally felt as though he was being watched. Despite heightening his senses to their fullest, he couldn''t find any being that might be observing him. It was the same at this moment. This sensation seemed more spiritual, or perhaps magical, simr to the feeling he sometimes got from the essence bead of Conrad.


    "...Tch." Ian clicked his tongue.


    <i>Whatever it is, if you get caught by me</i>,<i> I''m going to kill you, and I mean it,</i> thought Ian.


    Ian turned around clicking his tongue, the campsite was getting closer.


    "Is it all over? The screams were quite something." Miguel, sitting in front of the fire, remarked. He was shielding Lucy with his body, a crossbow clutched in his hand.


    "Yeah. Put away the crossbow." Ian responded nonchntly as he approached the fire.


    Miguel, letting out a sigh of relief, tossed him a cloth he had prepared earlier, and asked, “What is it”


    Ian, ustomed to wiping off troll fluids from his face, answered Miguel''s question, "Trolls."


    "Again? It was the same a few days ago... Though, it might just be me,” Miguel hesitated before continuing his sentence, “But doesn''t it feel like only the more vicious ones are attacking us? It''d be one thing in the North, but Bel Ronde is hardly different from Agel Lan."


    <i>He is sharply observant,</i> thought Ian.


    Ian shrugged his shoulders. Thanks to his heightened senses, Ian was able to feel the presence of creatures lurking around much more clearly than before. Thus, he knew that only rtively strong beings like trolls, night stalkers, or cave spiders dared approach them. Why this change had urred, he had no exnation. It could be due to a quest, some change within Ian himself, or perhaps even rted to that magical sensation he felt earlier.


    "Think of it this way. At least we won''t be attacked anymore tonight," said Ian.


    Miguel grumbled, still dissatisfied. "It''s all because thend is unnecessarilyrge. Dividing it up without the capability to manage it, now we''re paying the price."


    "Didn’t you say that was the reason why mercenaries like you get a job and live on?" said Ian.


    "Still, there should be a limit... But then again, even that grand empire has its share of demonic realm and contaminatednds. What can these kingdoms do, manage the entire region? It''s the era to me," said Miguel.


    <i>So muchining from this dude today, </i>thought Ian.


    Ian smirked as he chewed on some jerky. After all, Miguel wasn''t entirely wrong. Given the vastness of the continent, the human poption was indeed too small. If only it were double its current size, things might not have been so dire. Yet, as soon as there was a slight increase in numbers, they prepared for war, leaving no hope for improvement.


    <i>Who knows what might happen if the war continues</i>, Ian shook his head.


    It was a flow that no individual could stop. Even if he predicted the future, no one would believe him since there were too many discontented and ambitious people. From experience, whatever was destined to happen, would happen in one way or another. Avoiding the worst scenarios he had faced in the game was the best he could do.


    "I''d like to ask you a favor." It was then that Lucy suddenly spoke up.


    Both Ian and Miguel turned to look at her as she continued, "Swordsmanship. I''d like to learn it."


    "What...?" Ian asked.


    "I want to be able to defend myself at the very least. Not just be a burden," Lucy answered.


    "We''re here so you don''t have to do anything." Ian cut her off sharply.


    Lucy shook her head, "There could be an if situation."


    "No. You''re too young to wield a sword. Even younger to kill something.” Ian was resolute.


    Despite adapting to this world, there were things that remained unchanged. One of those was not allowing a child to wield a de.


    Lucy added, "I''m already twelve years old."


    "...So, you''re saying you''re all grown up?" Ian let out a hollowugh.


    <i>At twelve, at best</i>, <i>you''re no older than a middle schooler, </i>thought Ian.


    Miguel''s eyebrows furrowed, "Twelve already? You look no more than ten at most. ...Maybe it''s because you''re from the West, slower development?"


    Ian looked back at Miguel in disbelief, <i>That is what you are surprised about?</i>


    "Well, twelve is about the age one should at least know how to protect themselves," said Miguel, idly scratching his beard.


    Miguel’sment made Ian’s eyebrows furrow.


    Looking at Ian’s expression, Miguel shrugged, "What? I had my first sessful hunt and kill at twelve. It''s not even considered early in the North. The truly gifted ones had already taken a life by that age."


    "...Ah, I see. Of course, it is," said Ian.


    <i>They say in a realm where having one eye is the norm, the individual with two eyes is seen as an oddity</i>, Ian thought.


    And this was precisely such a scenario.


    "Learning self-defense wouldn''t hurt, right? With the blood of a knight''s lineage, she''ll likely learn quickly," said Miguel.


    Lucy nodded in agreement as Miguel''s gaze upon her warmed.


    <i>Nonsense, what a ridiculous situation to be heartwarming,</i> thought Ian.


    Ian opened his mouth as if sighing, "You don''t need to learn how to wield a sword, Lucy. You can protect yourself well enough without it."


    "...How?" Lucy blinked in confusion, asking as if she truly didn''t know.


    "You have a natural talent," Ian replied.


    "My curse... Are you talking about that?" Lucy asked, blinking her eyes in confusion.


    <i>Is she asking this because she really doesn’t know?</i> thought Ian.


    Only then did Ian narrow his eyes, "Hasn''t Sir Riurel told you anything?"


    "I don''t understand what you''re talking about," Lucy replied.


    "Then why did you agree to go to the Temple of Brazier?" Ian asked.


    "She said it was safe there and that I could learn a lot more there than I can now," said Lucy.


    <i>So she agreed just because she was told to go</i>, Ianughed hollowly.


    Mev must have thought it sufficient that Ian knew the truth. Perhaps she thought there was nothing to be gained by Lucy knowing in advance.


    However, Ian did not agree with that thought.


    "You have a special talent. Going to the Temple of Brazier is to nurture that talent," said Ian.


    "What... kind of talent is it?" Lucy asked.


    Not just Lucy, but Miguel too looked on with sparkling eyes. Instead of answering directly, Ian spread his hand. A ball of fire blossomed above his palm.


    "...!" Lucy''s eyes widened dramatically. She alternated her gaze between the fireball and Ian before finally speaking.


    "You''re a... mage?" Lucy asked again.


    Considering her usual demeanor, this was the utmost astonishment.


    <i>She didn''t know about this either?</i> thought Ian.


    Miguel shrugged under Ian''s gaze, "It''s a secret, isn''t it? Why act so surprised now?"


    <i>Everyone here seemed to be particrly tight-lipped</i>, Ian mused.


    With a snort, Ian turned back to Lucy, "Yes, I''m a mage. A half, though."


    "Now, Lady Lucy is in on the secret too. That''s good. Feels like we''re closer now," said Miguel.


    "Lucifer," said Lucy.


    "Right, not Lady Lucy, Lucifer," said Miguel.


    Even as her attention waspletely captured by the fireball, Lucy corrected Miguel.


    Ian moved the me up and down as he continued, "Your talent is far greater than mine. Turning someone into a pile of ash wouldn''t be hard at all if you set your mind to it. So don''t think youck ways to protect yourself."


    "...Sorry to interrupt, but does Lucy really have such incredible abilities?" Miguel asked.


    "Yes. The talent of a grand mage," Ian replied.


    "Good heavens. These days, finding one mage is hard enough, and now there are two beside me," said Miguel.


    Lucy looked down at her own hand. She spread her palm wide open, just like Ian had. But that was all. When nothing happened, she looked back up at Ian, her eyes asking for an exnation. Ian dispersed the fireball in his hand with a flick and shrugged.


    "Just boost your magical power. You won''t need any magical forms or spells," said Ian.


    "Boost my magical power... how do I do that?" Lucy asked.


    It was a question Ian hadn''t anticipated. Magic power was something that could be concealed from others but always felt by oneself, much like one doesn''t need to learn how to move their fingers; they just do.


    Beyond this, Ian found himself at a loss for words. Unlike other mages in this world, he had learned and used magic simply by raising his skills.


    As Lucy looked up into Ian''s eyes, she eventually murmured, "Maybe my sister has misunderstood something."


    "That can''t be it. You''re blessed. If I can''t exin it to you, it''s because I wasn''t born with a special talent like yours." Ian shook his head.


    It was a deration Ian could make because he had received a quest. At least he knew that the quest does not lie. And considering what was to be of the Temple of Brazier in the future, everything clicked into ce.


    "You''ve just forgotten the existence of your talent for too long. You just need some time to reawaken it," said Ian.


    Lucy, who had been flexing and unflexing her fist, replied in a slightly deted voice, "...Still, I want to learn how to use a sword, like you, Sir Ian."


    <i>Her thirst for knowledge is immense,</i> Ian chuckled and casually added, "Once you can produce mes, I''ll teach you from then on."


    Lucy nodded seriously, though Ian thought to himself that by the time she could, she probably wouldn''t be interested in swordsmanship anymore. Musing to himself, Ian gnawed on a piece of jerky again. Lucy looked down at her own hands, concentrating so hard she barely moved.


    Soon, Miguel began to snore. He had fallen asleep unexpectedly, which was no surprise. Guiding the carriage all day, keeping watch, and navigating was far more exhausting than it seemed. Unlike Ian or Lucy, who could rest while on the move, Miguel couldn''t catch a wink of sleep during the day. Not long after, Lucy also began to doze off, her hands still spread out before her.


    <i>From this view, it''s quite a pastoral scene</i>, thought Ian.


    Ian reminisced about his time in the game. Back then, he rarelypleted quests that involved escorting or guarding someone for a certain period. Upon receiving a quest, enemies would inevitably start swarming, and the artificial intelligence of the person he was supposed to protect wasn''t exactly top-notch.


    Crucially, the game didn''t end even if the protectee died. In fact, collecting the corpse or belongings of the deceased could still some rewards. It was a system that seemed to encourage failure. Thinking about it now, it was not surprising. Such tragedies were probably what the developers had intended. But now, that it had be reality, it was different.


    <i>Once I ept a quest, I won''t fail it,</i> thought Ian.


    After tucking Lucy in and covering her with a robe, Ian leaned back against the hilt of his sword, nted in the ground. Another night was safely passing by.


    ***


    "Hm. Another fork in the road." Miguel muttered, choosing a direction without much hesitation.


    Ian, leaning against the carriage, quipped, "Are we even going the right way?"


    "I can''t be sure. But we''re roughly on track," said Miguel.


    "Brutally honest, I see." Ian let out a chuckle.


    Bel Ronde bordered not only Agel Lan but also Menere, Lu Sard, and even a small part of the Empire. However, not all borders were as cleanly divided as if cut with a knife. Like the swamps of Agel Lan, the areas near the borders were riddled with contaminated or cursednds.


    These were ces where the madness of the ck Wall could seep in at any time, making it unsurprising if they eventually turned into demonic realms. They nned to navigate along these blighted boundaries to make their way north. Of course, Ian had a backup n, though Ian hadn''t bothered exining all that to Miguel.


    "Do you see those mountains ahead? There are rumors of a beast dwelling in the valley between them. Looks like it''s still true. This path is narrower and less maintained." said Miguel.


    He then pointed to the mountains with his chin, and continued, "Crossing the valley would be the fastest route, but we''re going to circle around the ridge. It''ll start getting colder once we pass here, so be prepared."


    <i>Maybe guiding was his true calling. </i>Thinking this, Ian nodded in agreement.


    They couldn''t pinpoint their exact location, but they had already traversed more than half of Bel Ronde. The only confrontations so far had been routine attacks by the monsters, making their journey quite sessful thus far.


    <i>If we can keep this up for another week.... </i>As Ian pondered, his gaze suddenly shifted to the back of the carriage.


    <i>Speak of the devil, fuck.</i> Ian’s brow furrowed.


    "Here theye," said Ian.


    "What''sing?" Miguel asked.


    "The sound of hooves. ...Now I see them." Ian''s eyes narrowed as he spotted the approaching riders.


    Miguel turned with his face tense, "Shit, I did get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Are those that imperial bastards?"


    "It doesn''t seem so. Unless they''ve ditched all their good gear," Ian replied.


    The attire of the approaching groupcked uniformity. They were typical of bandits or mercenaries. As a faint magical glow danced in Ian''s eyes,


    "If you don''t want to die, stop!"


    The group, having caught up with the carriage, quickly formed a semi-circle at a safe distance. There were five men in total.


    "I had a feeling, and now it seems like we''ve found the right ones," murmured the gruff-looking guy, having eyed Ian, Miguel, and the hooded Lucy.


    He seemed to be the head of the group. The others had already aimed their crossbows at Ian and Miguel.


    Ian asked calmly, "What''s the matter?"


    "Are you Ian Hope? You might be, but that coachman there is definitely Miguel and that little one looks like thedy," said the leader.


    <i>They even know our names. </i>Contrary to his inner thoughts, Ian shook his head.


    "You''ve got the wrong person. Are they criminals?” said Ian.


    The leader smirked,ughing softly, "Well, that''s exactly what I wanted to ask. What did you do to have a bounty issued? From what I see, even if you might be one thing, that guy over there is definitely Miguel."


    Ian turned his head, and his brow furrowed immediately. It was because he saw the beads of cold sweat streaming down Miguel''s face.