I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 821

"Which one are you talking about?" Miguel asked from below the carriage

"The one who’ll guide us to the Black Sea," Ian answered casually, finally lowering his gaze to him. "There’ll be some new faces too. I’ll introduce them one by one, so get ready to head out and greet them."

Miguel stood up from the wheel, dusting off his cloak. "You’ll probably have to do the same with Charlotte. I only met her briefly a long time ago, remember?"

"Maybe... if it’s necessary."

Though I doubt she’d forget your face that easily.

Ian only shrugged and turned toward the campfire. His eyes met Elia, who had been watching him with visible tension.

He tilted his chin. "What are you staring at? Get ready."

"Ah—yes! Right away!" Elia sprang to her feet at once, relief finally showing in her smile.

Were you worried I’d tell you to stay behind?

Suppressing a chuckle, Ian turned to Mukapa, who was also rising.

"If you lift the seat behind the carriage, there’s a small case tucked inside on the left. Bring that with you."

"Understood," Mukapa replied immediately, turning to carry out the task.

Ian’s gaze swept over Lily, who rose at Elia’s gesture with a small nod.

Suddenly, his eyes shifted to the rear. He had just realized that the fairy encampment was strangely quiet.

The scouts gathered around the campfires, along with the unmasked sentries, were all sneaking glances toward the sea.

And not one of them looked particularly pleased. They knew what would follow once the smuggling ships arrived.

"Excuse me," Mukapa murmured as he opened the carriage door and leaned halfway inside.

While he did, Ian turned his head and took in the dock.

It stretched long and wide along the shoreline, rising high enough that they had to climb a set of stairs to reach it.

He’d noticed it at first glance, but it was even larger than he’d expected. It was obvious it had been expanded and reinforced over a long period of time.

At this scale, the duke must know about it and is just turning a blind eye.

The central dock, jutting straight out toward the sea, was equally broad and lengthy. After taking in even Thesaya and Diana, who had just stepped into view, Ian finally leaped lightly down from the opposite side of the carriage.

He landed softly on the sand and began striding forward.

"The hell... we were way closer than I thought," Miguel muttered as he trudged around the front of the carriage.

His already rough expression deepened into a scowl as he stared out at the sea. Only now had he noticed the smuggling ships, swaying like shadows beyond the rolling waves.

"Even without lights, to get this close without noticing... that’s something."

"Right? It can’t just be because the waves are high...." Elia replied, her arms linked with Lily’s.

She hurried along to Miguel’s side and continued, "Maybe they treated the hull so it doesn’t reflect light. And it looks like they’ve lowered their sails for now."

"Sharp eyes. Just what you’d expect from a dwarf.... Makes sense. Smuggling ships would know plenty of ways to stay out of sight."

"I’d love to speak with the captain, if we get the chance."

"Hmm... not sure the boss here will allow that—"

Letting their quiet conversation drift past him, Ian stepped onto the dock’s stairs.

Up close, he could see barnacle-covered planks and countless wooden pillars driven deep into the seabed like stakes.

Swoosh—

Soon, the view opened onto the churning night sea and the broad dock, where uneven planks were haphazardly patched together.

Ahead, Thesaya and Diana were already walking as if heading straight into the open sea.

Ian let out a chuckle.

Looks like she’s being led to a slaughterhouse. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Diana’s shoulders were visibly slumped.

Then again, there probably wasn’t a single fairy here in a good mood except for Thesaya, striding ahead with that fluttering confidence.

"Come on, Ian. They’re almost here."

As Mukapa stepped onto the dock, Thesaya’s voice carried from the far end.

Ian picked up his pace and turned his gaze forward.

Swoosh—

By now, the smuggling ships rowing through the waves had come noticeably closer. At the far end of the dock, Thesaya had turned back and was waving at him.

Continuing toward the dock, Ian called out, "Come this way, Thesa. The ships will dock on either side anyway."

"I know. But waiting here looks a bit more imposing, doesn’t it?" Thesaya shrugged. Despite her words, she had already started walking back toward them, her eyes still gleaming with excitement.

She’s this excited, and I’m about to send her away again.

The thought flickered briefly, but Ian kept moving forward without showing anything.

Soon, Thesaya approached, shoulders lightly bouncing with energy, while Diana followed behind her, eyes half-lidded in resignation.

Mukapa’s uncertain footsteps halted near the entrance of the central dock.

"I’ll say it again, just in case. The spot right behind Ian is mine." Thesaya said, glancing past Ian’s shoulder, clearly addressing the others approaching.

"Y-Yeah, got it... I’ll just stand quietly in the back, no worries." Miguel replied awkwardly, holding Elia and Lily by both hands—clearly worried they might slip into the sea.

"Just stand beside me," said Ian.

Thesaya looked at him as he tilted his head slightly. "You’re the one who saved the beastfolk chieftain. You’re also the leader of this alliance."

Thesaya blinked, then nodded a beat late. "Am I? Fine. I guess that’s true. I did use something pretty valuable to save that kitty."

Despite her reluctant tone, a smile tugged at her lips.

She deliberately glanced at Diana before gesturing toward Miguel. Diana let out a long sigh through her nose and strode ahead.

—Looks like the ship’s all fixed up.

A quiet, snickering whisper slipped into Ian’s mind.

Diana flinched slightly as she passed him.

"Yog, I thought you were asleep," Thesaya murmured as she came to stand beside Ian.

Ian glanced down at his right arm and let out a soft scoff. "Guess it was just pretending."

Yog snickered in agreement.

It probably didn’t want to be bothered by Elia. And now, it must have decided it didn’t need to stay quiet anymore. The reason for that wasn’t hard to guess.

Swoosh—

The smuggling ships were drawing close to the dock. Their oars, jutting out like fins, slowed as they neared.

As the group lined up behind them, Thesaya lifted her gaze and let out an excited breath.

"I can see them!"

Figures began to flicker into view beyond the railings of the approaching ships’ decks, moving busily.

They were preparing to disembark.

"How is it, Priest?"

"In this darkness, I’m no fairy or demigod, you know...."

Elia, standing on tiptoe, and Miguel whispered among themselves.

As Ian narrowed his eyes and scanned the ships, a chuckling whisper slid into Ian’s mind.

—So... which one is the beastfolk you’ve been so eager to find, pointy-ears?

Yog had already crawled up onto his shoulder, its violet tongue flicking as it peered ahead.

"Hold still, you worm. I can’t see either." Thesaya snapped, not even glancing at it.

Her eyes darted restlessly across the ships before she clicked her tongue. "Where is that stupid kitty even hiding? If we’re this close, it should’ve come out front and shown its face already."

"Looks like she’s on the rearmost ship," Ian answered flatly, his gaze fixed on the central vessel trailing slightly behind the left-side smuggling ship.

Coincidentally, it was Sanford’s ship.

As Thesaya finally turned to look at him, Ian tilted his chin forward slightly, adding, "The other two are being commanded by different ones."

He had even picked out the beastfolk issuing orders to other warriors.

"Is that so?" Thesaya faced forward again, her brow tightening.

Sanford’s ship had become half-hidden behind the one in front.

"Of all times... now?"

"Just wait a bit. You’ll see it soon enough."

"Well, yeah, but still..."

At Ian’s curt remark, Thesaya clicked her tongue, though she still cast a sideways glance at his shoulder—no doubt because Yog had let out a mocking little snicker.

"By the way, why have you had your eyes closed this whole time?"

Miguel’s low whisper came a few minutes later.

"Is something wrong?"

Instead of an answer, a long sigh escaped through the nose. The corner of Ian’s mouth curled up slightly on its own.

"Drop anchor!"

"Pull in the oars! Anyone who snaps one’ll have their neck snapped with it!"

Shouts rang out over the crashing waves. The two smuggling ships, now close together, drew up along both sides of the long, outstretched dock.

"Oh?"

Thesaya’s eyes widened just then. Two beastfolk had appeared almost simultaneously over the railings at the front decks of the ships, each on the side closest to the dock.

"No way... what the hell?"

Miguel sucked in a breath right after. Both figures began climbing onto the railings at the same time, despite the ships not even having fully docked yet.

Thesaya slowly twisted one corner of her lips upward. "So that’s what you saw, Ian. That damned thing came along too."

The one standing atop the railing of the left ship was a gray-furred beastfolk whose right arm ended at the elbow.

It was Nehat, daughter of the archdemon Inaskurgl, and the former chieftain defeated by Charlotte.

Even while clad in armor, her abdomen was completely exposed, clearly showing off the long, thick scar that ran clean across her waist.

"After all that back-and-forth, you still had no idea, huh, Thesa?" Ian let out a chuckle, half-impressed by how thoroughly Thesaya held a grudge.

"That kitty can’t write long letters. Definitely not detailed ones. Anyway, it looks like she clawed her way into a position under Charlotte. How shameless." Thesaya clicked her tongue, eyes never leaving Nehat.

However, Nehat, standing atop the railing, didn’t spare Thesaya a single glance.

Her orange eyes were fixed solely on Ian. He met her gaze for a moment, then looked away as if it meant nothing.

"Then look to the right. That one’s at least a familiar face."

"The One-Eye, you mean," Thesaya muttered, turning her head with a chuckle.

Crouched on the railing of the right-hand ship was a mottled beastfolk with an eyepatch—Palmer, now firmly established as one of Charlotte’s most loyal commanders.

"Well, not exactly thrilled to see him either... but yeah. At least he looks a bit more presentable than before."

At that, Ian gave a faint nod.

Palmer had regained his original build, and the single visible yellow eye now gleamed with sharp intensity.

"Pardon me for asking..." Miguel said cautiously just then.

Both Ian and Thesaya turned toward him as he continued, "Are we really just going to let that happen? Looks like they’re about to jump straight off from there."

"They’ve already climbed up there. Do you think they’ll back down now, in front of their subordinates?" Thesaya scoffed.

Miguel scratched his chin awkwardly. "Ah, r-right, I guess not..."

"Honestly, I don’t see the point either."

Ian added, glancing briefly over Elia, who looked fascinated, Lily, expressionless as ever, and Diana, who was still standing with her eyes closed.

Then he looked forward again.

"But they wouldn’t do it if they couldn’t handle it."

"Personally, I’d rather that one-armed bastard just fell and drowned," Thesaya muttered as she turned back as well.

Miguel nodded awkwardly, lips pursed, while Yog let out another snickering laugh.

Whoosh—

Almost simultaneously, Nehat and Palmer launched themselves off the railing.

The ships had just begun to enter the dock.

Miguel and Elia both sucked in sharp breaths.

The two beastfolk arced through the air, each landing in a completely different stance.

Crash—

Palmer skidded across the planks, splintering wood beneath his feet before coming to a halt, while Nehat rolled lightly and rose in one fluid motion.

Fragments scattered—but the dock held.

Swoosh...

As the ships slowed and fully entered the dock, Nehat and Palmer straightened. Though still some distance away from the group, they didn’t approach.

Instead, they turned toward each other, then stepped aside, opening a path, and dropped to one knee.

"Huh?" Miguel blinked in confusion.

However, Ian wasn’t surprised in the slightest. He’d already understood what they were doing. Thesaya, too, seemed to realize, falling silent.

Boom!

From the ship, a black streak shot into the air.

Far larger than the previous two, it carved a massive arc through the night.

Boom, crack!

It slammed down into the center of the dock.

The impact alone sent shattered planks and debris flying, enough to make Miguel jump out of his skin.

"Gah!" As he yelped, the black-furred beastfolk rose from its crouched position.

It was Charlotte, a companion bound to Thesaya’s fate, as well as the lieutenant of the Great Warrior chosen by the God of Battle and the Great Chieftain of the beastfolk.