I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 812

As Mukapa lowered his head slightly while chewing, Ian looked back at Elia and added, "As I said, the central region is about to turn into a complete mess. Don’t stay by my side and get dragged into it. Go take refuge with Thesaya’s family instead."

"I-I can’t do that!" Elia burst out.

Her shoulders jerked upward as she leaned forward urgently. "I came out under the pretext of investigating how the collapse of the Black Wall is affecting the mainland. And I’ve actually been documenting everything. If I flee to the South, I’d not only be abandoning my responsibilities—I’d be expelled from the academy!"

"The desert ruins surfacing would also be an aftereffect. You could investigate that instead," Ian replied, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Elia hesitated, then nodded carefully. "That’s a good alternative, but since it hasn’t happened yet, to convince the academy officials, I’d have no choice but to mention your foresight."

That was enough to make Ian’s eyes twitch faintly.

Clasping her glass with both hands, Elia said, "Otherwise, I can’t explain why I went south ahead of time. There are already clear phenomena on the mainland caused by the collapse, like what’s happening in the Black Sea and the inner sea right now."

So she’s appealing with logic, not emotion...

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly and picked up his glass.

"Wouldn’t it be better if your foresight remained unknown, Ian? Sounds like it’d only cause trouble." Thesaya interjected lightly.

She turned her gaze toward Elia with a smile. "And your goddaughter’s reputation would take a hit too. Even if she’s not expelled, it’ll still look like she ran away from her colleagues to avoid the chaos."

"Though as long as I can continue my studies and receive support, I don’t really care about my reputation," Elia replied softly, dipping her head in thanks.

Then she turned back to Ian, eyes narrowing with determination. "Even if I continue my research in the South, I’ll eventually have to head toward the front lines anyway. Wouldn’t it be safer to stay with you than to travel alone?"

"Hard to say," said Ian. "If you stay with me, you’ll run into even worse dangers. The Round Table’s agents, for one. Or His Highness Hyked and his army."

"Those are all things I need to investigate anyway, in a broader sense," Elia shot back, leaning even further forward.

Gripping her glass as if it were a lifeline, she pleaded, "I know I won’t be much help in a fight, Godfather. But there are other ways I can contribute. Even if it’s something difficult or insignificant, I’ll do my best not to be a burden."

Ian let out a long sigh through his nose and looked down at the table.

There was no need to think about how she could contribute. Her cooking alone was impressive enough to surprise him, and her cleaning and organizing skills were exceptional. Just looking at the spotless room made that obvious.

On top of that, she was a capable arcane mage.

"I can’t turn my goddaughter into a coward," Ian finally muttered, pulling a piece of seasoned meat onto his plate.

Elia’s face lit up instantly.

Picking up his fork and knife, he continued, "But if things start to look dangerous, you pull back immediately. Can you promise me that?"

"Of course! I promise!" Elia nodded so hard it looked like her neck might snap.

Watching her, Ian let out another quiet sigh. "Don’t even step outside the carriage in those situations."

"Yes. I will, Godfather."

At her immediate reply, Ian smacked his lips, shook his head, and turned his attention back to his plate.

They’re all so quick to agree...

As he resumed cutting his meat, Thesaya asked, "By the way, what were you saying about the Black Sea and the inner sea?"

While Elia looked at her and took a sip, Thesaya simply shrugged her shoulders. "I’ll be crossing the inner sea soon. The fairies and beastfolk of my family are already on their way."

"Lately, many sailors have reported sightings of sea monsters in the inner sea, which was almost unheard of before," Elia said, lowering her glass after a sip.

Ian frowned slightly as he bit into his food, and Thesaya asked, "You’re saying the inner sea is still crawling with monsters?"

"They’re not attacking ships. They just pass by, continuing farther across the inner sea."

At that, Thesaya’s eyes narrowed. "Are they heading back toward the sea that was isolated beyond the Wall?"

She looked toward Ian. "The archdemon that ruled them is dead, but that corrupted sea wouldn’t have been purified, right?"

"Most likely. With their focal point gone, the stagnant chaos would start leaking toward the inner sea." Ian nodded as he chewed.

Thesaya rubbed her chin lightly. "Is that what’s drawing the sea monsters? Well, as long as they’re not attacking ships, that’s fine. Almost drowning once was more than enough for me." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

She shrugged before lifting her glass again.

Elia nodded and added, "That’s my guess as well, but you should still be careful. There have been cases where ships were damaged just from collisions as they passed by."

"Figures. Smart minds think alike. Still, let’s hope luck’s on our side. Say a prayer to Lu Logis, Snub-Nose." Thesaya said with a grin, glancing at Mukapa.

She then tilted her head toward Lily. "Pup and I are mages, so I doubt our prayers would be answered."

Lily quietly chewed her food, staring back at her.

Mukapa nodded. "I am not a believer, but understood."

"Don’t expect too much from it," Miguel added with a shrug. "Luck tends to show up when you least expect it. Of course, that’s the hard part."

"Either way, it looks like the Black Isles aren’t doing their job," said Ian.

It was their duty to prevent the creatures of the Black Sea from flowing into the inner sea.

Elia nodded. "That seems to be the case. It’s been quite a while since ships from the archipelago have docked. While we’re here, should I investigate further?"

"I’d appreciate that. Just until we depart." Ian replied.

Part of the reason was that a fragment of his foresight had just surfaced in his mind, suggesting he might be able to find a clue about that time.

"After their fleet got smashed by the archdemon, it’s no surprise they’re nowhere to be seen. They’re probably hiding like rats and rebuilding their ships." Thesaya scoffed.

Ian glanced at her as he resumed cutting his meat. "You know they didn’t deploy their entire fleet. Half of it should remain in the Isles."

"Doesn’t change the fact that a huge portion got sunk. That kind of loss takes time to recover from. Who knows? They might even be fighting among themselves by now." She shrugged again.

Ian nodded. Her guess was plausible.

Each island of the Black Isles had its own ruler, after all. And if they were all pirates at heart, it wouldn’t be strange for them to turn on each other the moment the balance of power collapsed.

—Then the one sealed beneath the sea must be having a great time.

A low, amused whisper echoed in his mind.

Thesaya raised a brow mid-drink when Ian suddenly paused and turned his head.

Beyond the dimming window, flickering lights from the streets below came into view. At some point, night had fully fallen.

"Why would it be having a good time?" Thesaya turned toward Ian as she asked.

As Elia blinked in confusion, a whisper echoed in Ian’s mind.

—Because it’ll be able to claim the souls of the dead.

The creature coiled around Ian’s arm began to stir slowly, prompting him to glance down at his right wrist.

"So you’re saying the archipelago bastards are using the defeated as sacrifices?" Thesaya added, frowning slightly.

A quiet, eerie chuckle followed.

—Whether they intend it or not, the ones who sink will end up that way. That area is likely already the sea of the one sealed below. It’s been exerting influence outward for a while now... hasn’t it?

Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Thesaya nodded.

"True. There are probably plenty who’ve already become its thralls. That might really be the case."

"Who are you talking to?" Elia asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Thesaya tilted her head toward Ian. "Him."

Almost at the same time, Yog lifted its head from Ian’s wrist.

Elia’s eyes widened.

"Say hello, Yog. I call it Worm, though."

"Is that... your familiar, Sir Ian?"

"Yep." At Thesaya’s casual confirmation, Elia blinked blankly.

"I remember it being much smaller..."

Yog continued crawling across Ian’s hand and onto the table, turning its gaze toward her, its violet tongue flicking.

"But how are you able to communicate with your familiar?" Elia asked, looking back at Ian. "Is that also a change from crossing the Black Wall?"

With Thesaya watching with interest and Miguel quietly swallowing, Ian shrugged. "Something like that. A fragment of an ancient god ended up lodging inside of it."

Elia’s eyes widened dramatically.

She stared at Yog, now on the table, and muttered, "A fragment of an... ancient god?"

"Yeah. It’s completely under my control now, though." Ian answered casually, clicking his tongue.

He knew exactly how she’d react, but said it anyway, knowing it was something she’d eventually find out.

"Lu Solar... my goodness..." Elia let out a breathless exclamation. Her eyes shone as if she had discovered a treasure, a smile forming on her lips.

—Why is she looking at me like that?

Yog paused, clearly confused. As it slowly coiled up, Elia fidgeted with the hand holding her glass and looked at Ian.

"May I... touch—no, observe it?"

Yog immediately turned its head toward Ian.

—Don’t tell me this short one is your goddaughter, my friend.

Ian popped another piece of meat into his mouth and answered flatly, "She is. So behave yourself and don’t do anything unnecessary. And Elie, don’t go overboard either."

"Yes! T-Then..." Elia sprang up onto her chair and carefully extended both hands toward Yog.

"E-Excuse me..." Breathing a little faster, she gently lifted it.

Yog flicked its tongue, lowering its head slightly—unusually compliant.

—This kind of treatment feels strange.

At that whisper, Ian’s lips curled faintly. Thesaya let out a quiet snort as well.

Holding Yog in her hands, Elia added in awe, "I expected to feel some kind of curse or chaotic energy, but there’s nothing like that. It’s slightly cold, smooth, and beautiful."

She couldn’t take her eyes off its black, scaled body.

Yog curled defensively, tongue flicking again.

Elia murmured once more, "What kind of god is this a fragment of?"

"No idea. I don’t even know its name. I’ve never properly seen its true form either," Ian replied casually while chewing. He noted that it didn’t even appear in his dreams anymore.

Elia nodded absentmindedly, now gently stroking Yog with a finger.

After watching Yog flick its tongue rather weakly, Ian swallowed his bite and said, "Do you think Bukikia ended up as a sacrifice too?"

Thesaya, who had been grinning at Yog, turned to him.

Ian shrugged. "That thing swam off toward the Black Sea at the end, didn’t it?"