<h4>Chapter 224</h4>


    Mev and Philip''s eyes widened simultaneously.


    "Could it be... the great...?" Philip stammered.


    Ian nodded as he looked at the stuttering Philip. "Yes. As a saint of the church, he might be able to resolve this easily."


    "Lu Sr, my goodness...!"


    Philip gasped while Mev, after a short groan, spoke.


    "Meeting the tinum Dragon would be a once-in-a-lifetime honor... but even so...."


    "Please, make it happen!" Philip interrupted quickly, cing his hand on his chest. "My heart feels like it''s going to burst. Not only meeting the Great tinum Dragon but also possibly being recognized as a pdin by him...," he continued excitedly.


    "As I said, it might not work out. He can''t intervene in worldly affairs without a reason. This is just something to try," Ian added nonchntly, hoping Philip would calm down.


    Philip nodded vigorously, almost as if his head would fall off. "Don''t worry, I won''t be disappointed. Just meeting him would be an honor. When I was a child, I even dreamed I might be a Dragon''s Child."


    Ian tilted his head. "Dragon''s Child?"


    "... You don''t know what a Dragon''s Child is?" Philip asked, looking bewildered.


    Ian shrugged, and Philip blinked, muttering, "Really, I just can''t figure you out, my lord. You''re so knowledgeable about most things, yet sometimes you don''t know the simplest things even children understand."


    <i>Well, I never cared about lore that deep.</i>


    Ian nodded. "Just exin it briefly."


    "It''s kind of like a legend. During the era of wars, there were many orphans. There was a story that among the orphans who lost their parents to the war, the good and smart ones would be taken in by the tinum Dragon."


    Philip exined with a faint smile.


    "The story goes that these children would be taken to the dragon''s nest, a ce no one knows the location of, where they would live with warm beds and delicious food. They''d spend their lives tending to the nest and serving the tinum Dragon, living peacefully and happily."


    <i>... Living your entire life serving a dragon in a cave doesn''t sound happy to me.</i>


    Ian snorted inwardly, nodding slightly. "A trivial story."


    "It''s also a nonsensical one. Someone probably made it up to give hope to orphans like me. Or maybe it was to make us easier to manage. To be good and smart, you''d have to be obedient," Philip said, his smile reflecting on his past.


    Ian nced at Mev, who seemed deep in thought, and added, "Anyway. If he refuses, we''ll have to go to the capital, Philip."


    Philip''s smile faded immediately, and he mumbled disappointedly. “Why are you also saying that, my lord?”


    "Because Sir Riurel is right."


    Mev looked at Ian, clearly not expecting him to support her like this.


    Ian chuckled and said, "There''s an order to everything. Being recognized as a pdin by the church is the essential first step."


    "...."


    "After that, it''s up to you. Who knows? You might find yourself heading to the frontier after taking a few more steps."


    "...!" Philip, who had been looking down, suddenly looked up at him.


    "As you know, the frontier is chaotic and will need the help of a capable pdin."


    Ian shrugged and added, "Of course, it would require effort and luck. But if that happens, I''m sure you won''t be able to refuse, right?"


    "... Yes, that''s true." Mev, staring into space as if contemting something, eventually nodded. "How could I block the path the Radiant Goddess has guided?"


    From her tone, it was clear that Mev thought the chances of Philip returning to the frontier were slim. It was a natural thought. In an era where free knights were rare, pdins from free knights were even rarer. Philip would undoubtedly attract a lot of attention from the church, the royal family, and the influential noble families of the Empire. Refusing all their offers would be difficult. However, ?Philip didn''t seem to think the same.


    "You are absolutely right... If that timees, I will join as a fellow knight, not as a squire. Perhaps with new squires."


    Ian chuckled. "Already thinking about having squires under you?"


    Philip smiled. "But it would be great if the tinum Dragon appointed me. It would make things much easier."


    "We''ll see. The old dragon is surprisingly talkative, so it might at least give some helpful advice," Ian replied nonchntly.


    "And what about us?" came Thesaya''s voice from the side. She sat up and added, "You''re not nning to leave us behind, are you? Ian?"


    <i>When did she wake up?</i>


    Ian shrugged as he looked at her. "You and Charlotte need to leave together. I''ve already discussed it with her, so ask her for the details."


    "No, why are you having such an important conversation without me? I also want to meet the tinum Dragon. The only dragon we''ve seen is that raggedy skeleton in the north."


    Thesaya pouted and raised her index finger. "Besides, who knows? The tinum Dragon might be able to tell me my real name."


    "How could he possibly...?" Ian trailed off. He realized that Archeas might have a way.


    "He''s lived a long time and must have seen many fairies. He might be able to help. Maybe even use magic to restore your memory. Dragon magic is said to rival divine miracles," Philip added.


    Thesaya quickly nodded. "Well said, freckles. Pdins are different, after all. Though all I want is my name. And she might have something to ask too, right, kitty? ... Kitty?"


    Thesaya turned to look at Charlotte, who was still lying down. She raised an eyebrow.


    "How can she sleep through all this noise? Wake up."


    "Hmm...? What is it? An enemy?"


    As Thesaya shook her arm, Charlotte jumped up and asked.


    <i>Now she''s even waking people up.</i>


    As she nced back at Ian, who wasughing, Thesaya added, "Ian says he''s going to meet the tinum Dragon with redhead and freckles, leaving you and me behind. Does that make any sense?"


    "Really...? Then that''s what we''ll do," Charlotte responded.


    "What do you mean, that''s what we''ll do? Aren''t you even curious? It''s a chance to talk to a dragon!"


    "... You woke me up just to say this?" Charlotte grumbled, still half-asleep. "I''d never miss the chance to fight the tinum Dragon, but if it''s just talking, I don''t care. I''ll do as Ian says."


    "You''re like a crazy cat... Aren''t you a follower of Lu Sr? Aren''t you curious about the saint of the church?"


    "Why should I be? While he''s certainly a significant figure, I serve the Radiant Goddess, not the tinum Dragon."


    "Then you can stay behind. I''ll persuade Ian to—"


    "... I don’t recall saying no," Ian interjected.


    Thesaya, who had been ring at Charlotte, turned back to Ian with a bright expression. "Really? You''ll let me meet him?"


    "As long as you behave respectfully. After all, I''m the one taking you there."


    "Of course! Don''t worry. I''ll meet him as the face of Tensia. Or is that too arrogant? Anyway, I''ll be polite." Thesaya grinned.


    Mev and Philip also had slight smiles on their faces. Ian muttered as he held up a bottle of liquor. "I already had a lot to ask. Looks like I''ll be held up until dawn...."


    Ian had nned to make full use of the tinum Dragon when he met him again. Sipping his drink, Ian mulled over his thoughts before adding, "I hope the Duke is a member of the Council. Otherwise, everything we''ve discussed is pointless."


    "I agree," Mev nodded, taking the bottle from Ian.


    Philip and Thesaya, seemingly oblivious to their conversation, continued talking excitedly about the tinum Dragon.


    Charlotte yawned and added, "So, why is everyone awake? Did I oversleep?"


    "No, it''s not that. Go back to sleep. I don''t know the exact time, but it looks like the sun is just rising."


    "Yeah, go back to sleep, kitty. You were supposed to be third," Thesaya, who had gotten up, approached the campfire and spoke.


    Philip naturally took a seat next to Ian. The campfire was now down to embers, but no one paid any attention to it.


    "... No." Charlotte, smacking her lips as she looked around at the group, stood up.


    "I''m fine. I guess I should go get more firewood."


    "If you''re going to get up, just sit here."


    Ian gestured to an empty spot.


    "It might be better to finish eating and then get ready to leave."


    "... Ah, I see." Charlotte approached the campfire awkwardly.


    Philip handed her some jerky. Soon, a leisurely meal began.


    ***


    The group was preparing to leave. Thanks to finishing his meal quickly, Ian was the first to be ready and stepped outside the ruined house. He wanted to check if his steel boots fit well. From now on, they would have to travel on foot, so it was essential to adjust his footwear for a perfect fit.


    The boots weren''t the only new items he had. In fact, all the gear he wore was new. Fortunately, he had prepared chain mail, a te cuirass, and greaves, just in case. If not for that, he would have been left with mismatched equipment, like Philip and Thesaya.


    "Hmm...."


    Fortunately, the boots fit perfectly. After making a round around the ruins, Ian approached Mev, who was already outside. She was still wearing her battered and broken armor.


    As she turned to face Ian approaching, she remarked, "The atmosphere changed again overnight."


    She was referring to the city. Ian, standing next to her, nodded in agreement. "You could almost believe it’s a frontier town."


    Mev’s gaze darkened. "Yes. Perhaps the frontier towns are in a simr state."


    <i>She really does worry unnecessarily</i>


    Looking at Mev, Ian clicked his tongue inwardly and spoke up. "Not everyone is dying."


    "...?"


    "There will be those who fight to survive or band together. Humans are incredibly weak, but at the same time, stronger than anything else."


    "... Right. Even if the madness of the ck Wall has spread to the entire frontier, there will be those who survive and ovee it. It can''tst forever." Mev murmured.


    It seemed she was really nning to head straight to the frontier once her revenge wasplete. Ian couldn’t guess what kind of guilt or responsibility she was carrying.


    For him, it was just about survival. He wasn’t fighting for any sense of justice or duty. Somewhere deep inside him, there was still the true self of an office worker struggling with a meager sry, although it was growing smaller and fainter.


    "Just don’t forget you still owe me my fee." Ian’s blunt remark drew Mev’s attention.


    As he turned his gaze away, he added, "I’m saying, don’t do anything reckless. Philip probably won’t be around then either."


    She blinked for a moment, then a faint smile crossed her lips. "Yes. I''ll be careful. Thank you for worrying about me."


    "Worry, my foot—"


    Just as Ian was about to mutter, Philip strode out and interrupted.


    "However, you see..."


    He looked at Ian and added, "How will you meet the tinum Dragon? It''s the most crucial part, and we haven’t actually asked you about it. I’ve heard he spends most of his time sleeping in his nest."


    "That’s none of your concern. I’ll handle it, so don’t get excited and stay alert."


    "Don’t worry. I have no intention of dying before meeting such a great being."


    "Keep your word. Don’t throw your life away again," Mev added sternly.


    Philip was about to respond when Charlotte and Thesaya emerged.


    "Let’s go, Ian. We’re ready," Thesaya said.


    Ian stored all their gear in his pocket dimension, including the sealed box Thesaya carried, Charlotte’s battle ax, and the bag Philip had slung over his back. The pocket dimension was now full again, leaving Charlotte to carry her bag.


    "I could carry it, you know. Charlotte, you’re still not fully recovered," Philip offered.


    "It’s fine. It’s lighter than the ax," Charlotte responded.


    "Then can you carry me, freckles? I don’t feel like walking," Thesaya teased.


    As Ian led the way toward the opposite gate, Philip, Charlotte, and Thesaya chattered away. But their conversation was cut short within a few minutes.


    "...?" Ian had stopped walking. They were in the middle of the main road, not far from the gate. While Philip and Mev looked at him in confusion, Thesaya and Charlotte were already staring beyond the gate.


    "What is it?" Philip asked Thesaya, frowning.


    "Hoofbeats. Sounds like two horses. They’re heading this way," Thesaya replied.


    "What? But...ing from that direction means they passed through that cursed mountain."


    Turning to look at the gate, Philip added, "They’re no ordinary folks. Even if all the monsters were drawn here, the mountain’s poison would have remained. To ride through it and keep their horses alive...."


    "I’m curious about that too," Ian said, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword as he listened to the approaching hoofbeats.


    "We’ll find out soon enough whether they’vee to save the city or if they’re minions of the corrupted one," he added.


    Mev nodded, putting on her battered helmet. As they formed a loose formation, the hoofbeats drew nearer.


    <i>Clip-clop, clip-clop. </i>


    The sound of murmuring voices apanied the hoofbeats approaching the gate. Soon, two white horses in silver armor appeared through the open gate.


    Upon seeing the riders, Philip’s eyes widened. "Is that... the Great Church''s...?"


    The riders wore tattered robes that covered them entirely like cloaks. However, the golden circle emzoned in the center shone brightly, as if it was illuminated on its own.