<h4>Chapter 111</h4>


    "It’s been about an hour," Askel said politely.


    Ian reached out and tousled the boy''s hair lightly. Even though he hadst seen him not too long ago, Ian noticed that Askel''s face looked a bit more mature. Come to think of it, he seemed to have grown bigger too.


    <i>He''ll probably bulk up soon, just like the others</i>, Ian thought as he spoke. “How is the relocation?”


    "The relocation went well. They had set up a space for us at the settlement. We also heard that you had visited," Askel replied.


    "Really? That''s good to hear."


    "The warriors at the settlement challenged Ian. Of course, they all got beaten up," Charlotte added, who were exchanging weing nces with the warriors.


    Askel chuckled, exchanging nces with Valeri. "We heard about that too. Sometimes, you have to experience things for yourself to believe them. Anyway..."


    Askel looked up at Ian as he continued. "Our vige people are all safe."


    "All of them?"


    "Yes. We hardly encountered any monsters while crossing the snowy ins. Everyone thinks it was Karha protecting us, but I believe it was because you all cleared the way for us. Regardless, everyone is grateful."


    Askel shrugged and added, "If we hadn''t moved or had been a little slower, we might not all be here."


    Ian''s eyes twitched for a moment.


    "Why? Did something happen?" Thesaya asked, tilting her head.


    Askel nodded.


    Just as Askel was about to speak, Ian cut in, ncing around.


    "I don’t think this is the ce to discuss it."


    The mercenaries, who had been eavesdropping with perked ears, quickly avoided his gaze. Ian looked at Charlotte.


    "Clear out everyone upstairs."


    "Understood." Nodding, Charlotte strode away.


    Ian turned his gaze to the remaining four barbarian warriors beside Askel.


    "I''d like to have a private conversation with Askel. Could you guard the stairs and make sure no onees up?"


    "Yes...!"


    The warriors nodded eagerly.


    When Ian''s eyes met Valeri''s, he nodded firmly as if to say, "Leave it to me."


    <i>This kid, now I can''t see any cunning in his eyes anymore</i>, Ian thought with a faint chuckle.


    <i>Crash!</i>


    Soon, themotion started near the stairs, as theirrades helped injured mercenaries down.


    "...?"


    The barbarian warriors nced back at Ian, noticing an unusually high number of wounded.


    "Those are Charlotte and Thesa’s handiwork. I was just a bystander. Let''s go up." Ian shrugged and started walking.


    As he passed, the waitress hurriedly asked, "Shall I bring up a bottle of liquor?"


    "That''d be great."


    Ian flicked a gold coin from his pocket to her and nced around the bustling tavern before saying, "Make sure our barbarian friends are fed and give everyone here a drink."


    ***


    "All clear. The big guys are guarding the stairs," Thesaya said as she followed the waitress into the room, leaping onto the bed.


    Charlotte took a seat between Ian and Askel while the waitress skillfully ced the bottle and sses on the table. Ian took the ss Askel was about to grab, filled it with water instead, and ced it back down.


    Pouring himself a drink, Ian looked at Askel, who was smacking his lips, and said, "Go ahead with what you were saying."


    "...Yes."


    Askel nodded and began speaking in his usual calm voice.


    "We started moving about a week after you left, Ian. So initially, there was a lot of grumbling because we had to leave many belongings behind. But our old man didn''t pay any attention to it."


    <i>The old man must have been pushing hard,</i> Ian thought, picturing Urd as he shrugged and took a sip from his ss.


    "So?"


    "By the time we were close to the barrier fortress, even those who had beenining became grateful to our old man."


    Askel looked up at the flickering shadows of Ian and Charlotte on the ceiling, following themplight.


    "There were pitch-ck storm clouds far in the North. We knew a blizzard wasing, but it wasn''t just that. It was unnaturally dark beneath those clouds as if the night was falling."


    "...?"


    "It didn''t seem like a natural phenomenon. That darkness would have definitely swallowed our vige up. If we''d stayed there, it wouldn''t have ended well."


    Ian brought the ss to his lips, his brows furrowing. He couldn''t recall anything like this from the game.


    <i>It must be the dragon''s magic.</i>


    He had suspected as much since hearing that the wraiths were gathering in the mountains. With the queen and the demon both dead, only the nameless ancient dragon could control the wraiths of the Giant Kingdom.


    However, Ian had paid little attention to the dragon''s presence, as he believed he wouldn''t encounter it in the near future. Such a colossal monster shouldn''t appear this early.


    In the game, he fought another dragon near the end of Chapter Three. It was subjected to a seal that was akin to punishment, rendering it unable to move properly and exposing its weaknesses clearly. Yet, even in that state, it was terrifyingly strong. It was one boss that gave Ian the most game-over screens.


    Apart from its weaknesses, it was nearly impossible to damage. It had incredibly high physical and elemental resistances. So, unless it was tied to a specific quest, a dragon in Chapter Two seemed unbnced.


    After all, the Giant Queen was undeniably a boss that existed in the game. However, it seemed entirely usible for a dragon to support the wraith legion through some form of magic. Of course, this was different from Ian’s expectations. Having killed the Giant Queen, Ian thought the butterfly effect would benefit him.


    <i>Who would have thought that killing a conditional boss would make the main quest even harder...</i>


    If this is how it was in the game, the developers must have been an evil asshole. They must have taken pleasure in catching yers off guard.


    <i>Well, there were more than a few of those elements in the game, but... this is a bit much.</i>


    Pouring himself another drink, Ian mused, and Askel resumed speaking.


    "And at the fortress, we met someone who said he knew you, Ian."


    "...Sir Lucas?"


    "Yes. You know him."


    "Thest time I saw him, he said he was heading to Karlingion."


    "He mentioned that too. He said we were lucky. When we arrived, he was getting ready to leave. Anyway, he asked me to ry a message to you. It seemed like your warning hade true. And that he has prepared as much as possible, so there''s no need to worry."


    "...Hmm." Ian took a sip, thinking.


    Ian had warned Lucas about the insane wraith army, not about one backed by unknown magic.


    "...This doesn''t feel right," Charlotte murmured, having listened quietly.


    Askel looked at her and nodded in agreement.


    "I''m uneasy about it too. By now, those storm clouds might have reached the fortress. Of course, the fortress won''t fall, but...."


    "Well, that''s uncertain," Ian said, bringing his ss to his lips. His tone was calm, but Askel and Charlotte held their breath, staring at him.


    "Do you think the barrier fortress could fall?" Askel finally asked.


    Ian shrugged and wiped the alcohol from his lips.


    "Maybe. Perhaps."


    "If that''s the case, shouldn''t we do something...."


    "Why should I?"


    “...?"


    Askel''s bewildered gaze made Ian chuckle softly.


    "I''m just a mercenary. The dominion should deal with problems that big."


    "...You''re not wrong. If even half the legion stationed at Karlingion is deployed, the wraith army shouldn''t be a problem. If the North is truly in danger, the Empire won''t sit idly by," Charlotte said, nodding.


    She seemed to want to reassure Askel, but it didn''t appear to be working.


    "Even if help arrives, wouldn’t the North probably be in chaos before then?"


    "If you''re worried, prepare for it. So you can protect your base."


    Ian filled his ss again as he added, "Of course, if you give me the request, I won''t refuse. I''ll do my best to protect you."


    He ced the bottle down with a thud and looked directly at Askel.


    "So, what will you do?"


    “...."


    Askel met Ian''s gaze, opening and closing his mouth before finally bowing his head.


    "It''s shameful. We owe you our lives, yet here I am expecting you to help us again... But we can''t leave our new home as soon as we''ve settled in."


    Askel murmured as if to himself, then looked back up at Ian.


    "We''ll prepare for the worst in our own way. If that''s still not enough, we''ll reconsider asking for your help."


    <i>I thought I''d get a quest out of this... guess I was wrong.</i>


    Contrary to his thoughts, a faint smile crossed Ian''s lips.


    Of course, Ian intended to fight the wraith army. However, he didn''t want to attach any lofty reasons, like a sense of justice or duty, to it. The reason he wanted to fight was simply for quests and experience points.


    <i>Something wille my way if I wait long enough. It always has,</i> Ian thought as he finished his drink and stood up.


    "I''m hungry. Let''s go down."


    "...Yes."


    Askel and the barbarian warriors returned to the settlement early the next morning. The urgent-faced messenger rode across Travelga in less than two days after that.


    ***


    The merchants were the first to react. Even before it became clear what news the messenger had brought to the inner city, they were already packing up and leaving town.


    This was enough to unsettle the residents since merchants are as quick to detect danger as they are to catch the scent of money. Ian didn''t particrly feel surprised. The merchants'' intentions were obvious.


    They wanted to avoid getting swept up in the fire and nned to return once everything had burned down to make a profit from the aftermath. Following the merchants, the mercenaries also began leaving Travelga. This, too, was unsurprising. If they stayed, they''d be facing mysterious monsters. Joining the border war would be safer and more profitable.


    The shifts rippling through Travelga also affected the Snowy Toad Inn, where Ian''s group was staying.


    "Well, well...."


    Around noon, Ian walked out of his room to see a group of mercenaries with their gear slung over their shoulders. Many had fled during the night, sneaking away quietly, and now others were packing up and clearing out their rooms in broad daylight.


    "Hey, Gollon, are you really leaving me behind?"


    "Sorry, but we can''t carry you all that way when you can''t even walk. Don''t worry. The defense forces won''t use anyone with broken limbs."


    "You ungrateful bastard...! Fine, just go! I''ll pray to Lu Sr that you get gutted by some peasant''s stray de!"


    "Thanks for the blessing. Live well."


    <i>Such camaraderie.</i>


    Ian listened to theical exchanges echoing through the hallway as he made his way downstairs. Mercenaries were already crowding the tavern, preparing to leave.


    "Leader, are you really noting with us? If you don''t decide now, we''ll join Joseph''s band instead."


    "Quit fooling around ande with us. If you don''t leave now, you might not be able to leave starting tomorrow."


    A few mercenaries tried to persuade Trude, who was seated at a corner table. Surprisingly, he was just drinking as usual. Snorting, Trude red at them.


    "Quit your bullshit and get out of here already. I''m pissed off enough as it is."


    "And why are you so pissed off?" Ian asked, sitting across from Trude.


    The mercenary sitting at the table next to them sprang up and hurriedly vacated his seat. Trude also flinched.


    Since the barbarian warriors had visited, Trude''s gaze toward Ian had changed again, almost reverently, as if he were some historical figure. He hadn''t exined why, but Ian could guess easily enough. Trude probably had heard that Ian was the Great Warrior of the North.


    "Well... everyone has learned what the messenger brought," Trude hesitated before bringing his ss to his lips.


    Ian poured a drink into the fresh ss the waitress had brought and asked bluntly, "Did the barrier fall?"


    "...?!" Trude put down his ss and looked at Ian in shock.


    "How did you know?"