<h4>Chapter 69</h4>


    In the silence punctuated only by the sound of horse hooves, Ian suddenly felt the absence of the talkative mercenary and the curious girl. He experienced a subtle sense of void. But he harbored no regrets. They had found a new ce for themselves, seizing the opportunity to lead a more meaningful life. Staying with him would have only increased their skills in fighting and killing. Death would have been waiting in the end.


    <i>...Or perhaps something worse.</i>


    Continuing on this journey seemed sufficient only for those without a choice or for those like Charlotte, who made life-threatening battles their life''s goal. So, it was better to forget them. It would be better if they never met again. Muttering the same conclusion to himself, Ian turned his gaze away.


    The destendscape stretched along the road with traces of frozen snow in every shadow. It was the typical weather of the north. However, he felt no cold at the moment, thanks to the divine power within him. Unlike in the game, Cherwyn had said the blessing wouldst about ten days. Lu Entre might have bestowed more divinity, so it mightst even longer.


    <i>...If I infuse a bit of chaos power, maybe it willst even longer.</i>


    It was a feasible assumption. However, Ian decided to experiment only when the blessing was about to end. There was a risk of disrupting the blessing and wasting the precious chaos power.


    The rate of recovery for chaos power was significantly slower than that of magic power. The need to either erge the shard of chaos or to speed up its recovery was bing gradually apparent. There was a clear limit to how much magic power could increase one''s stats, and in terms of versatility, chaos power was far superior.


    The fact that it was a power of the void was somewhat troubling. However, there was no room to be choosy since one had to keep getting stronger, especially now when the distribution of stats was even more crucial.


    <i>...At least my defense has definitely increased.</i>


    The new armor he had acquired was mostly made of chainmail and thin steel tes. He had noticed no significant difference in movementpared to wearing leather armor. At least now, no one would mistake him for a mage. Even if he cast spells right in front of them, unless they looked him in the eye, they would assume he had some magical artifact or relic.


    <i>...Maybe I should have bought a helmet with a visor in the vige.</i>


    Someday, he might find himself d in full te armor, wielding a two-handed sword. A bitter smile crossed Ian''s lips at that moment.


    "...Ian." The main culprit who made him stronger and faster looked back.


    "Why,” Ian responded calmly. But since he didn''t hide his gaze, Charlotte flinched and trembled her shoulders.


    "Th—that is..."


    Ian''s brow furrowed slightly. It had be moremon for Charlotte to be anxious and watchful of him. It seemed like a process of bing dependent on him, but separately, she seemed to inherently despise being in debt or appearing needy, likely due to the pride typical of her beastfolk heritage.


    "Come to think of it, we''ve missed mealtime," said Ian, throwing a chunk of jerky he had next to him to her.


    ording to the merchant, it was bear meat, but he wouldn''t be surprised if it was actually rat meat, given its taste.


    "Let me know if you need more."


    Charlotte was to take on the most dangerous role in battle. Naturally, she had to be attentive to her condition on a daily basis. If her state was not intact, it would be he who would find it bothersome and tiresome.


    "Uh... no, um. Alright. I''ll eat well, but." Charlotte, having received the jerky, babbled as if flustered.


    Ian''s brow eventually furrowed, "Anything else? Just say it if you have something to say. Don''t make it frustrating."


    "That... I wanted to ask if we''re on the right path, and when we should set up camp... I''ve... never lived as a coachman...."


    It seemed she too felt the absence of Miguel, who was always nagging whenever he had the chance. Even so, to ask such basic questions. Ian pulled out a map from his belongings. It was an item received from the Temple of Brazier. It wasn''t enchanted, nor was its scale urate or detailed, but it at least allowed one to recognize the nearby geography.


    "We''lle across a fork in the road with a rock rising shortly. Go left there. I''ll tell you when it''s time to camp, so don''t bother me."


    "...Okay. Got it." Charlotte looked forward again.


    Her tail was drooping sadly. Ian, smirking, took another look at the map. Far to the north from the Temple of Brazier, beyond the western edge of the Ahigorn mountain range that stretches like a barrier, was a mark left by Cherwyn.


    It was the location of the ice forest that extended from the abandonednds. The fact that nothing else was drawn around or inside it was, of course, because nothing was known about it. Cherwyn''s voice, pushing a thick history book along with the map, came to mind.


    — What is engraved in your hand might be a mark from one of the ancient northern kingdoms. However, the patterns of the ancient northern kingdoms vary slightly not only by the state but also by the ruler.


    — So, you found the same thing?


    — Something simr


    What she showed was the emblem of the northern giant kingdom. It definitely resembled what was engraved on Ian''s hand.


    — No one knows the exact name of the giant kingdom now. It is only known that thest queen of the giant kingdom was one of the early rulers who delved into the power of the void. She sought the legion of the undying and the power of immortality. Needless to say, the oue doesn''t need to be stated.


    — Immortality and undying. Typical.


    — She devoted herself to research in her private pce. Records about her and the kingdom''s end are vague. Some say that the legion of undying giants still sleeps somewhere in the Ahigorn mountains.


    That was true. Ian had explored the ruins of the ancient giant kingdom buried deep in the mountains in the game. It was where the giant warlords and their legion, having lost their intelligence and memory,y sealed.


    — Given that resurrected giant warriors with the madness of the ck Wall are asionally found near the mountains, it might not be entirely unfounded. And the forest you mentioned...


    — It stretches alongside the mountain. I see. It''s a bit far, but notpletely unrted.


    — Nothing is known about what lies within that cursed forest. Thanks to you, it''s been revealed that something rted to the ancient giant kingdom lurks there.


    The nature of that something remained unknown. It was something he had not experienced in the game, nor had he read about it in any walkthrough. He could only ruminate once more on the futile thought that he should have read the walkthroughs from beginning to end, not just skimmed the necessary parts.


    <i>...I can only be thankful that I at least know its location.</i>


    With that thought, Ian sunk deeper into his chair. He had to enjoy this quiet calm while itsted, for the nights in the north were notoriously harsh. When or where something would disturb the peace was an unpredictable aspect.


    ***


    "Damn..."


    As Charlotte clumsily prepared the camp, Ian''s brow twitched suddenly. He exhaled a breath mixed with a sigh and looked down at his left hand. The pattern on his palm was resonating. A faint wave of magic power spread from his grip as if sending a signal. He knew exactly what this meant through experience.


    "Get ready."


    At Ian''s words, Charlotte, who was on her third attempt to start a fire, looked at him.


    "What preparation?"


    "Prepare for something you like." Ian dusted off his hands.


    The me that leaped from his fingertips instantly lit the firewood. Charlotte, who had been staring at the fire pit in disbelief for a moment, quickly turned her head again.


    "A fight? Is a fight happening?" Her orange eyes sparkled.


    Her face was lit with the anticipation of proving her worth. Soon, with her ears perked up, she turned to look beyond the darkness.


    "That''s right...! They''reing...!"


    "...You already feel it?” As Ian asked, Charlotte stood erect, her head held high.


    "It''s not that surprising. The senses of the beastfolk are among the most superior across all races of the continent. Plus, I''m particrly keen among them."


    "Ah, I see," Ian smirked and gestured with his chin.


    "Start by blocking the carriage wheels with stones. Unless you want to chase after a carriage that''s run away on its own."


    "...Ah, right." Charlotte hurried into action, seemingly without realizing she was readily following Ian''s orders.


    Meanwhile, Ian stretched and looked around the darkness. All he could see was the dense darkness. The north he remembered was a paradise for all sorts of monsters. Most people in the northern territories lived around strongholds like the Temple of Brazier or Travelga. ording to Miguel, the madness of the ck Wall had awakened ancient beings, making an already tough neighborhood even more dangerous.


    Whistling through the deste darkness, the creatures revealed themselves, as if to prove Miguel''s words, were numerous. Ian, who had climbed to the edge of the carriage, widened his eyes like an owl. The undead draped in rags. It must have been the resurrected legion of the ancient dead of the north.


    <i>It can''t be like this every night.</i>


    Thinking this, Ian drew his sword and, as Mev had done before, gripped the lower part of the de andunched himself forward.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    The wind roared with his sprinting steps. A skeleton, ttering towards him, closed the distance in an instant. Unlike those he had seen in Agel Lan, this one took a defensive stance upon seeing Ian.


    Meaning, it was not just a mere puppet undead. However, the oue was no different.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The Sword of Judgment shattered the undead''s worn sword along with its skull. As the ghost within shed and dissipated, Ian was already striking down another undead''s skull.


    <i>Crack! Crunch!</i>


    Next to him, themotion continued. Charlotte, who had rushed over like a shot, was rampaging. Clutching her twin swords, she seemed to prove her wild nature intact, hacking at the resurrected dead. It was a different fighting style than before. More ferocious but much less efficient.


    <i>She''ll definitely pull the aggro.</i>


    But considering the role she was to y in the future, it wasn''t a bad change. It only took about ten minutes for the undead squad to turn back into a pile of bones.


    "...Phew."


    Ian sheathed his sword, taking short breaths. Feeling refreshed suggested he hadpletely immersed himself in this world. Though the pulsing in his grip had subsided, it felt like a definite sign of repetition toe.


    <i>Isn''t it contradictory to ask me toe and then gather monsters, making it harder? Was it some trial for the chosen?</i>


    Thinking this, Ian sat in front of the campfire, realizing Charlotte was still wandering in the darkness. Throughout the battle, she had nced at Ian, and now she was looking around the fallen undead.


    "What are you doing?"


    "...Nothing. It''s nothing."


    Charlotte returned to the campfire but couldn''t hide her shocked gaze. Staring nkly at the fire, she suddenly asked, "How did you do it?"


    "Do what?"


    "How did you... defeat more monsters than me? I thought I was slightly better at closebat..."


    <i>Shocked by that? </i>Ian slightly raised an eyebrow, but Charlotte was serious.


    "How...?"


    After looking at her for a moment, Ian said, "In my opinion, you seem more suited to be an assassin than a warrior."


    "What...? I was born a warrior, and I am a warrior," Charlotte said, wounded in her pride.


    <i>Well, if that''s what she thinks,</i> Ian shrugged.


    "Then keep fighting that way. I don''t mind."


    ***


    Charlotte eagerly awaited the night. However, the next night did not bring an attack on the scale of the previous evening. Only a few monsters that roamed around attacked. The day after and the day following that were the same. Finally, on the next day, they were attacked by an undead squad. Charlotte fought with all her might as if she had been waiting for this.


    "Why...?"


    But nothing changed. She only managed to achieve a feat simr to Ian''s.


    "I don''t see why you care so much about that."


    Ian seemed unfazed, but she couldn''t afford to be. Her skills were limited to fighting alone. Their progress was often slowed because she did not rest the horse enough, and she struggled to find suitable spots for camping. Lighting a campfire remained a challenge, and burning their jerky was amon mishap.


    She knew that to rightfully demand her share of the spoils, she needed to contribute more than her fair share as a warrior. Yet, as time passed, her mistakes and feelings of indebtedness piled up, unbeknownst to her, her wild instincts were dimming at an even faster rate. All she could think of was making amends. It wasn''t long before a suitable opportunity finally presented itself, her senses honed to the brink


    As Charlotte stood watch, her ears perked up suddenly. Her gaze shifted beyond the carriage into the darkness. Her pupils nearly rounded, and her fur bristled. A faint scent of blood tinged her now-sensitive nose.


    The presence was unmistakable. She first felt it three days ago. Initially, it was more tant. Breath mixed with desperation and fear. A stronger stench of decay. It resembled the presence of a wounded monster, and it soon vanished, so she didn''t pay much attention at first.


    But the next day, when she felt that presence again, things changed. The creature approached close enough for even Charlotte to faintly sense it before disappearing again. The same happened just now. Charlotte was convinced the presence was following them. It was clear why it kept its distance, waiting for an opportunity to attack, thinking they hadn''t noticed. After all, sensing such a stealthy presence was almost impossible unless one was an exceptionally talented beastfolk like her.


    "Do you not feel it?"


    "Feel what?" Ian asked indifferently, unsurprisingly unaware.


    Charlotte''s lips curled, revealing her fangs. If she could eliminate the threat lurking behind his unawareness, it would be a considerable achievement.


    "Then, I''ll be back shortly."