I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 292

Asme looked up sharply and glanced at Philip, then soon bit her lip and lowered her head.

"No. It’s actually worse than the frontier. At least when the frontier falls, the Empire remains. But without the Empire, there will be nothing remaining." Philip finished speaking resolutely, letting out a sigh, as if relieved.

Ian held back a smile.

He must be reminded of Agel Lan...

Philip knew all too well what had happened to Agel Lan, so the current state of the capital probably seemed even less appealing to him. Ian, too, shared that sentiment. So, instead of scolding him, he just passed over the bottle.

As Philip was about to grab the bottle, Seras spoke calmly, "That’s one way to see it."

Philip, who was drinking, flinched and lowered the bottle. Of course, Seras didn’t look angry at all. She rather appeared quite serious.

"However, the Empire must be ruled by the most exceptional individual, chosen by the gods. That’s the way to ensure both the continent's peace and the Empire's prosperity. Hence, the succession dispute in the royal family is necessary."

"Of course..." Philip replied with a twitch of his nose, clearly suppressing a scoff.

Ian’s lip curled up even more, as he casually remarked, "But His Majesty didn’t exactly take the throne because he was the most exceptional, did he?"

The current Emperor had ascended the throne only because the Black Wall had swallowed the former Crown Prince and his legion. That was why he was indulging in farcical crusades. Asme pulled her hood lower, looking uncomfortable, unable to bear looking at Philip and Ian, her saviors.

The current Emperor had only ascended the throne because the Black Wall had swallowed up the former Crown Prince and his entire legion. That was why he indulged in farcical crusades like the so-called Martyrdom Expedition.

Asme tugged his hood down further, clearly uncomfortable. It seemed she couldn’t bring herself to glare at Philip and Ian, who had saved her life.

"Ironically, it ended up proving that Father was chosen by the gods. I understand there are still absurd rumors about that. Even within the Order, there are quite a few dissenters."

Yet, Seras remained calm. In fact, she seemed oddly pleased to talk about this.

"That’s probably because His Late Majesty was such an exceptional figure. I hear he was once called the Son of Light. Of course, no one dares utter that name aloud anymore..."

She caught Ian’s disinterested gaze and gave him a faint smile. "Perhaps that’s why Father hasn’t designated a successor and instead fosters rivalry and competition. He must hope there will be no noise next time. He likely wants to end the Order’s grip on the royal family in this generation."

So ‌the root of all these issues is again the Black Wall.

Accepting the bottle from Philip, Ian snorted softly. After all, it seemed impossible to fully align the Order and the royal family or put a stop to the succession dispute in this generation.

"Before all of that is resolved, Your Highness, the world might be enveloped in darkness and chaos," Philip sighed as he spoke.

Looking at Seras, he continued in a subdued tone, "Do you know the state of the frontier right now? Or what has happened in the West? Unimaginable things are happening out there, things you can’t even picture from this peaceful center. No report could ever fully capture the reality."

Seras’s smile softened. "You truly are concerned for the continent’s future, Sir. As expected, you’re different from those who merely pay lip service to honor and justice. We need more knights like you."

Philip, however, didn’t look pleased at all. He seemed even more worried, as if he thought she didn’t understand the reality.

"The continent is in a far more precarious state than it appears, Your Highness. And I hear that the condition of the Black Wall is equally unsettling. If we’re not careful, we could face an irreversible situation."

"We’re aware of that. My father, more than anyone, pays keen attention to such matters. He is especially sensitive about anything concerning the Black Wall. Even now, new legions continue to assemble and reinforce the fronts. And if my intuition is correct..."

Seras’s calm but earnest gaze shifted to Ian, who was sitting across from her.

"The reason that His Majesty wishes to meet with Sir Ian is likely related."

"What do you mean, related...?" Philip asked, frowning as he pressed for clarity.

Meanwhile, Ian, locking eyes with Seras, simply brought the bottle back to his lips. It wasn’t exactly a surprise to him.

Sure, unlike the game, the invasions and erosion hadn’t begun yet, but there were still plenty of reasons to send him to the front lines. What was more surprising was that Seras had predicted it.

"Are you saying His Majesty intends to send my lord to the front lines?" Philip asked, still frowning.

Seras, who had been watching Ian, turned to Philip. "It’s just my assumption. Whether it’s true will only become clear after Sir Ian meets with my father. But it seems... Sir Ian had a similar guess."

Philip glanced at Ian, clearly seeking confirmation.

Ian responded with a casual tone, "What other way would there be to effectively and symbolically announce my relationship with the royal family?"

"Ah...!" Philip sighed, finally understanding.

If the North's Dragon Slayer, also known as the Agent of the Platinum Dragon, were to march to the front as ordered by the Emperor, it would cause a commotion throughout the Empire. The news would travel far and wide, just like when Ian defeated the dragon.

"It would instantly change the restless mood caused by the news from the frontier and the West. It would also boost morale at the front."

Also, the people’s loyalty to the imperial family would grow even stronger.

Ian mentioned it nonchalantly, but Philip’s face remained tense.

"Maybe he intends to appoint you as a general and grant you command of the legion."

"I doubt he trusts me that much. If he grants me any authority, it’ll probably be nominal at best."

Just by sending Ian to the front, the Emperor would achieve his purpose. It was better that way for Ian, too. More responsibilities meant a heavier burden. If the Emperor granted him more authority than expected, Ian planned to decline. He was too busy safeguarding his own life to be burdened with others.

Not that I could prevent the front lines from breaking even if I went...

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly. Just the thought of what was to come left his head and heart out of sync.

When the erosion began, the front line would turn into the worst potential nightmare. Now that this was reality, things would undoubtedly be worse than in the game. Of course, that also meant countless quests and a massive amount of experience points awaited him.

Now, leveling up meant risking his life, literally.

The assassins gave some experience, but it was insignificant compared to the amount needed to level up. His mind told him to be cautious since he had only one life. His heart, however, whispered that he should seek the most dangerous places precisely because of that.

Either way, neither of them told him to run away. Not that there was anywhere to run., anyway.

"Sir Ian, you never cease to amaze me. Not only did you expect this, but you also seem to have such a clear grasp of the situation," Seras said in amazement, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"You are someone who can never be judged by appearance alone."

You're saying that like it's a compliment, that I look like I think little.

Ian responded with a low scoff instead of words, bringing the bottle back to his lips.

"But no matter what, it’s far too dangerous. Out there, you won’t be able to fully reveal your true self." Philip, sounding worried, added his thoughts then.

Seras turned her curious gaze toward him. "What do you mean by true self? Is there another side to Sir Ian that I don’t know about?"

Philip’s eyes widened as he realized he’d misspoken.

He quickly stammered to explain, "I-I was just saying that anyone assigned to accompany him would probably just weigh him down. Sir Ian prefers to fight alone, after all, and his tactics and combat style are... difficult to follow—"

Are you trying to make it even more obvious?

Ian glanced at Philip with a hint of amusement, holding back a chuckle. Of course, Ian understood what Philip really meant. With so many eyes on him at the front, using chaos power—or even magic—would be challenging. To Philip, it must have appeared that Ian would fight in the most dangerous place on earth with his hands and feet tied.

"Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that part myself." Ian finally added.

Philip, who had been babbling, gave a sheepish smile. "Yes, of course... I suppose you will. I just tend to worry about all sorts of things. Ha ha."

... Still, he’s the only one who cares enough to worry about me.

Ian mused internally as he turned his gaze back to the window. In truth, he didn’t have a solid plan for the issues Philip worried about. The only solution would be to rely on spells that seemed like magical tools or artifacts. He had no intention of leveling up his lower-tier skills, either.

Skill points were precious, especially when he wasn’t far from the maximum level. If he wanted to master at least one transcendental spell, he would need every point he could save. Instead, it was more practical to acquire the best possible gear. His wallet was, after all, as full as it had ever been.

"Still, I feel somewhat relieved. To know you’ve already expected so much, Sir Ian." Seras smiled, looking more composed. "If my father offers a worthy reward, I doubt you’ll refuse."

"You’re finally starting to understand how I operate," Ian smirked.

He had no intention of refusing the Emperor’s orders. He could, of course, but doing so wouldn’t prevent the events from unfolding. It was more productive to negotiate for a hefty reward. Preferably, something that would help him survive.

"It was a painful lesson, but I learned it well." She smiled faintly as she turned her gaze away.

"The royal family is working harder for the stability of the continent than people think. After all, without the continent, the Empire couldn’t exist. It’s just that our strength isn’t enough to address every corner. As you know, the royal family and the church aren’t perfectly aligned, either. So, Sir Philip, I trust you’ll be a great help in the future." She added, her eyes fixed on Philip.

"My apologies for my rude and thoughtless words, Your Highness." Philip bowed his head respectfully, now seeming to have cooled down from their earlier exchange.

Seras smiled. "I assure you, I wasn’t offended. If anything, I’m even more eager now. Why not join me in realizing your ideals of justice? I could offer you considerable support."

Philip hesitated and bowed deeper. "I am honored, Your Highness, but I must decline. My resolve remains unchanged."

He really is quite stubborn, isn’t he?

While Ian snorted internally, Seras sighed heavily and nodded. "That’s unfortunate. However, think it over, Sir Philip. Many others will reach out to you even if I don’t."

"It won’t be that many... after all, it’s the capital."

"You’re more innocent than you look. A free paladin is a rare thing, especially one who’s fought alongside the Agent of the Platinum Dragon for so long. Your name is well known here, and everyone will want you. No matter how difficult you may be to handle, they’ll want to secure you. And without a doubt..."

Seras’s voice became as ominously heavy as her gaze. "Not everyone will be as honest in their approach as I am. Some will look for ways to bind you, presenting motives you can’t refuse."

"... Then I suppose I should leave the capital before that happens," Philip muttered with a hardened expression, while Seras’s smile only deepened.

"Leaving the capital is as difficult as entering it—especially for someone as talented as you. I can guarantee that even the Great Church won’t let you go. They, too, need exceptional paladins, and they have a weapon you can’t refuse: doctrine and law."

"Oh, Lu Solar..." Philip muttered under his breath, beginning to realize that Seras’s words weren’t empty.

"But I’m different. I won’t try to bind you, nor will I wield rules as a weapon against you. I will respect your autonomy as much as possible." Seras whispered gently, leaning forward slightly.

Philip’s eyes narrowed, reflecting a new inner conflict.

"Sir. Please, take off your boots." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

It was then that Elia spoke, having finished cleaning Ian’s gear. She likely hadn’t intended it, but it was enough to snap Philip back to reality.

"...! Ah, yes. Of course." Blinking in surprise, Philip bent down and began removing his boots.

Seras silently clicked her tongue in disappointment.

Honestly, it wouldn’t be so bad to be knighted by the Princess, Ian thought.

However, he held his tongue. Mev's words came to mind, as she had wanted Philip to stand on his own. In truth, Ian felt the same way. He would offer advice and support, but he wanted Philip to come to his own conclusions about his life as a paladin.

Philip already had the skill and qualifications, so he wouldn’t make a foolish choice. And if he did, Ian would still respect it—Philip deserved that.

"... I appreciate your words, Your Highness." As he handed his boots to Elia, Philip looked back at Seras. "But I don’t think I can. I’m sorry, Your Highness. But I will take your advice to heart and reflect on it."

"... I see. So, you won’t come to me in the end. That’s fine. Even that integrity of yours is something I admire." Seras smiled, while Philip lowered his gaze and turned to look out the window, lost in thought.

Just as he was about to drift into contemplation,

"However, in that case... you might not need to look far for your answer," Seras added suddenly.

Philip glanced back at her, and she shrugged with a smile. "Sometimes, the breakthrough is surprisingly close by."

"...? Yes. I’ll keep that in mind." Philip replied, tilting his head in confusion as he turned his gaze back out the window.

It was then that Seras turned her gaze to Ian.

The subtle smile that spread across her face made Ian’s brow twitch, but it was only for a moment. Seras blinked innocently, then extended her hand.

"May I have a sip as well?"