Chapter 813 |
Ian’s eyes narrowed as he listened to Yog’s whisper.
A crease finally formed between Thesaya’s brows. "No way, Ian."
Mukapa's gaze on Ian had also grown heavy. The two were likely recalling Bukikia’s final moments in the inner sea.
After all, they already knew what could happen when an archdemon became a sacrifice.
"What kind of ominous nonsense is that all of a sudden?" Miguel frowned, a beat late.
Even Elia, petting Yog, paused and blinked in confusion.
—Hard to say. It was already spewing chaos, so it wouldn’t have lasted long anyway…
The whisper, tinged with amusement, slid into Ian’s mind. Yog flicked its tongue, as if savoring the pause.
—But if it died in that creature’s sea… then yes, it might’ve ended up like that. Though at best, all it would gain is a shell…
Ian clicked his tongue softly and picked up his glass. He had already suspected the true objective of the archipelago’s fleet back then.
Even if only a shell remained, the remains of an archdemon would still make a powerful offering.
"Maybe I should’ve made sure it died back then," he muttered.
A low, amused chuckle followed.
—You seem to have forgotten we were both at our limits, my friend. Push any further, and we’d have sunk along with it.
Ian only shrugged.
As always, he might have clawed his way out alive—but that was just a pointless assumption.
"Don’t tell me that you’re saying the ancient god those islanders worship might awaken?" Thesaya asked.
Elia’s eyes twitched. Miguel’s mouth fell open.
Ian lowered his glass and answered simply, "Maybe. Someday."
He didn't speak with certainty; there was no need to bring up foresight again, and it wasn't even certain yet whether he would go to the archipelago.
"Damn it… We just got through that mess up North, and now this?" Miguel muttered, shaking his head slowly. "And the South’s about to go to hell too. At this point, it really feels like everything’s falling apart."
"That’s exactly what the Round Table Parliament wants, Prosthetic," Thesaya said coldly.
As Ian clicked his tongue and resumed cutting his meat, she continued, "They knew what was happening with the archipelago and still left it alone. This whole disaster? It’s not just the collapse of the Black Wall. It’s them."
"Either way, it’s not something we can ignore. I’ll try to gather information about the archipelago as well," Elia added, already resuming her gentle strokes over Yog.
Ian nodded, lifting a chunk of meat. "Good. But don’t go digging too deeply. Even without that, we already stand out enough as a group."
His gaze swept over the party: a dwarf scholar with mismatched eyes, a striking silver-haired fairy, a gray-skinned orc, and a rugged Northern priest with a steel prosthetic arm. None of it had been intentional, but they were anything but inconspicuous.
"I doubt they’ll pick a fight, but it won’t do us any good if word reaches the duke. We’ll leave as soon as the fairies arrive, so keep your heads down until then."
As Ian added that, bringing the meat to his mouth, the group nodded one by one—though not all of them.
"Duke Veshur? Is there some kind of issue with him?" Elia asked, blinking.
Thesaya’s lips curled into a faint smile. "He’s practically a puppet of the Great Church. As you know, there are some who think that the great one should be held accountable. If we draw attention, it might just make things troublesome for Ian."
"I see…"
"And the Worm wants you to scratch a bit lower. Seems like its tail’s itching," Thesaya added casually.
Elia instinctively moved her fingers, nodding. "Got it… Oh—wait."
She suddenly looked back at Thesaya. "I understand how Sir Ian can communicate with it, but how can you talk to Yog, Elder?"
A meaningful smile spread across Thesaya’s face.
She tilted her glass toward Yog as she answered, "You just carve a mark with Ian’s blood. It’s one of the little tricks that thing can do."
"With Sir Ian’s blood?"
"Yeah. Think of it as a primitive incantation."
—Primitive? It’s a fundamental spell, you pointy-ears.
Yog protested with a flick of its tongue.
"That’s that." Thesaya scoffed lightly and took a sip.
Meanwhile, Elia, eyes sparkling as she stared at Yog, turned back to Ian.
"Sir Ian, then could I also—"
"No." Ian cut her off without even looking, calmly chewing another large piece of meat.
Elia hesitated, then lowered her voice. "It’s for research and documentation. You know I’ve already overcome the temptation of dark magic."
"I know that better than anyone. That’s not the reason."
Only then did Ian meet her eyes.
"People already know you’re studying that field. You’re a target for suspicion as it is. If they find the mark this thing leaves behind, suspicion will turn into certainty."
Elia’s lips parted, but no words came out.
Yog’s amused whisper slid in right after.
—You really do cherish this kid, don’t you, my friend.
Almost at the same time, Elia blurted out, "Th-then… what if I try casting a spell on it?"
"The Whisper?" Ian tilted his head slightly.
"Yes." Elia nodded immediately.
Yog’s laughter sharpened.
Ian shrugged. "That’s fine."
Relief bloomed across Elia’s face. Her eyes began to glow faintly with magic.
"Then excuse me for a moment, Yog. Don’t worry. It’s harmless."
Right after, magic began to shimmer like heat haze from her palm. She extended her other hand above Yog as well.
Then, her brow slowly furrowed.
Thesaya, who had been watching with interest, asked, "Not working?"
"Yes. The spell isn’t taking," answered Elia.
Yog’s mocking chuckle echoed in Ian’s mind.
—It’s more surprising that she thought such a trivial spell would work on me….
Ian, too, found himself looking at Yog coiled in Elia’s palm with renewed attention. It wasn’t just its resistance to divine power that had grown.
Then again, it had survived all manner of situations. It wouldn’t be surprising if ordinary magic no longer affected it at all.
"It completely reflects the magical resonance… It might be because it’s a fragment of a god," Elia murmured, staring at Yog.
There was more disappointment than surprise in her eyes; it was clear she had truly wanted to communicate with it.
"Don’t be too disappointed, Half-Pint." Thesaya smirked. "I’ll relay what it says for you. And if you want, I’ll even let you examine the mark it carves."
"Really? You would?" Elia’s face lit up instantly.
Thesaya nodded and leisurely raised her glass, as if showing off.
Meanwhile, Ian picked up the last piece of meat on his plate and turned to Mukapa. "I’ll give you the payment for the request before we leave, or at the very least, after we’re out of the city."
"That won’t be necessary. What you’ve already granted me is more than enough." Mukapa bowed slightly.
"The situation could change. I might need to make another request. Think of it as an advance for that," Ian replied, taking a bite.
Mukapa hesitated for a moment before nodding. "In that case, I accept."
"Good." Ian smiled faintly, then pushed his chair back. He exchanged a glance with Miguel before standing.
"Then eat well and get some rest."
He rolled his shoulders once, turning toward the door. "I’m going to take a bath."
***
The city, nearing noon, was overflowing with people.
"See? This is why I like crowds full of outsiders. No one pays us any attention." Thesaya said, weaving through the crowd in her hooded cloak as she glanced back at Ian.
"True enough." Ian, likewise hooded, gave a faint smile.
The armor gleaming beneath his cloak was polished almost as brightly as his face, thanks to Elia. The diligent dwarf had already settled back into her role.
"If we just don’t get careless, we might avoid any trouble with the duke altogether," said Ian.
Since early morning, everyone had gone their separate ways.
Elia and Mukapa had gone out into the streets, while Miguel, still suffering from a hangover, was checking the carriage and horses.
After helping Miguel, Ian found himself dragged out into the streets by Thesaya, who had emerged late with Lily in tow.
"Don’t worry. The pointy-ears will draw all the attention," said Thesaya.
The arrival of the Erenos fairies, led by Diana, was imminent.
Picking up her pace, Thesaya strode ahead. Ian simply followed, his gaze drifting toward the long docks stretching into view ahead.
Ships of all sizes were anchored in scattered rows.
"Finally back… thank you, Lu Solar."
"Feels like the ground’s still swaying."
"You only spent a day on a ship, and you’ve already got land sickness? Beer’s the cure. Let’s grab one."
A crowd was pouring off a ship that had just arrived. The return of those who had been stranded in the South was still ongoing.
However, Ian barely spared them a glance. His attention was fixed beyond the dock, on the massive sea wall stretching across the horizon, as if blocking the ocean itself.
"Could it be one of those?"
He tilted his chin toward two sailing ships passing through an open gate in the wall.
Thesaya slowed her steps and nodded. "Looks like it. We finally get to see the results of the training."
"Can you tell which one they’re on?"
"They’re probably split between both."
At her words, Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I thought there were around thirty of them. Why split up?"
Erenos wasn’t a large house to begin with. And since Diana had only brought those she personally trained, their numbers should have been even smaller. Of course, each of them would be far beyond ordinary humans in capability.
"Right. That’s why we got a little help from somewhere else." Thesaya stopped at the center of the dock.
Ian halted beside her, frowning slightly. "Somewhere else?"
"You’ll see." She turned to him with a playful smile. "Where’s the fun if you know everything in advance? Just look forward to it, genius."
"So that’s why you’ve been keeping it from me."
"If it’s not bad news, there’s no need to rush to tell you, right?" She shrugged shamelessly.
Ian didn’t press further. He already had a good guess, but chose to ignore it and look back toward the sea.
"Looks like they’re heading to the dock over there," said Thesaya.
The two ships, having passed through the gate, were approaching quickly, faster than their size would suggest.
"Let’s go. Greeting them there will draw less attention." With a nod, Thesaya stepped onto the dock.
Ian followed without hesitation.
Bwooo—
A horn blared from the deck, announcing their arrival.
"Throw the ropes! Ropes!"
Workers waiting on the dock shouted, raising their arms as the ship drew closer, its sails being lowered. The silhouettes of busy sailors moving along the deck flickered into view.
Clunk, clatter—
Soon, a gangplank fixed to the ship’s side dropped onto the dock. One of the workers securing the ropes hurried toward it.
Creak…
A single fairy, cloaked in a gray hood, appeared at the top.
Ian looked up at the dry platinum hair and pale face beneath it, and let out a quiet chuckle.
"You look worse than when you were beyond the Wall."
It was Diana, a returnee from the Black Lands, and the acting head of the Erenos family.