I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 332

The brief surprise on Volber’s face quickly shifted into a sly grin. "Looks like there’ll be more people like me, then."

It was a smile filled with a strange pride.

So, getting beaten up by me is some kind of badge of honor now?

Ian held back a smirk and nodded. "Yeah. Though it’d be better if it didn’t come to that."

"If it does, please let me be the one by your side, Great Warrior."

"To watch the show?"

"Yes. I wouldn’t want to miss it."

Blunt as ever, Ian thought, finally letting out a laugh.

As he did, Volber turned his gaze to one of the nearby warriors, a man with a sharp jawline. The warrior nodded, spurred his horse forward, and galloped ahead.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Ian’s eyes followed the rider before shifting to the wooden palisades coming into view.

Miguel, squinting as he surveyed the village, muttered, "I heard it was large, but seeing it myself... It’s impressive. They call it the Gray Forest Village, right?"

"That’s the name it’s always had. When we returned, it was little more than ruins. But as you can see, we’ve rebuilt it even bigger than before," Volber answered with a nod.

Ian added, almost offhandedly, "It looks like you just moved the settlement as it was. Even the walls are low."

"That’s because it’s quicker to build this way. Thanks to you slaying the corrupted dragon, the region isn’t as dangerous as it once was. We also have enough warriors to ensure its safety, so there’s no need to worry."

"I wasn’t worried."

"Oh... is that so?"

"I meant it looks easier to expand the village now."

"Ah, yes, that’s true. It’ll be much easier. We have plenty of trees to cut," Volber said, but was interrupted by a loud shout from ahead.

The call echoed over the palisades, announcing the return of the Great Warrior and urging everyone to welcome the hero of the North. The man had a voice as imposing as his build.

Right... strike while the iron’s hot, Ian thought as he licked his lips and stared at the open wooden gates. The shouts spread through the village, causing a ripple of excitement and movement.

"We’ll fall back and let you take the lead, Great Warrior," Volber said, slowing his horse. The other warriors, lining up naturally, fell in behind the group.

"Great, we’re doing this again..." Miguel muttered under his breath.

You’re telling me, Ian thought in response. He pulled his hood back, revealing his face fully. There was no turning back now. It was better to face this moment head-on and get it over with quickly.

"If you follow the main road, the elders will be there to greet you," Volber added from behind Miguel and Lucia.

Without replying, Ian moved forward, heading for the wide-open gates. There was no need for him to lead; Nila would take him exactly where he needed to go.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The lively village had fallen silent, and even the watchtowers behind the palisade stood empty. Beyond the wide-open wooden gate, the path lined with large and small wooden houses was unexpectedly bright. All the villagers stood along the path, each holding a torch or a lantern.

"Oh... Ooh... Hero of the North..."

"Is it really the Great Warrior...?"

As Ian entered the village, the onlookers gasped, bowing their heads in awe. Nila, lifting her head proudly, walked through the crowd with an air of dignity. It was clear that she enjoyed the attention.

"Great Warrior of the North..."

"Eternal battle...."

Ian took in the sight of the villagers bowing one by one. Excluding the elderly and the children, there were quite a few who looked fit enough to serve as warriors. Since female warriors were not uncommon in the North, he figured they could easily assemble a Centuria from just this village.

So, there are three villages like this...

With the addition of the Dragon Slayer’s Warriors, the Northerners who remained in the settlement, and any volunteers, the pure combat force alone could number around five hundred. Perhaps the barbarians might even reach that number on their own.

It should more than fill the gap left by Karlingion’s forces.

Passing through the villagers lined up to guide him, Nila turned toward a clearing in the center of the village that served as a public square. Ian’s lips curled slightly at what he saw next.

So that’s where all the sentinels were.

From near the clearing, Northern warriors with spears and axes stood in formation. They bowed their heads as they met Ian’s gaze, their eyes glimmering. Their armaments were more impressive than Ian had expected. They must have left their settlement well-prepared. With a bit of standardization, a unified corps seemed within reach.

All that’s left is to decide between spears or axes as their primary weapon...

Ian’s gaze, contemplating these thoughts, suddenly locked onto the other side of the plaza. A group of elders had gathered to greet him, likely the leaders Volber had mentioned. And among them, there were familiar faces. However, what caused Ian’s smile to fade wasn’t the elders.

Two wooden statues standing beside the elders caught his attention. One depicted a typical barbarian warrior—unmistakably Karha. The other statue, however, was different. Clad in armor with a sword and shield, it resembled a knight rather than a barbarian. The overall familiarity of its features needed no further explanation.

"We extend our greetings, Great Warrior."

It was then that Nila halted, and the elders bowed as one. Ian responded by dismounting fluidly. Standing before the statue, he let out a dry laugh.

"It really is me..."

The rugged hair, the unmistakable features—it was impossible to deny the likeness. Most tellingly, the shield in the left hand was hexagonal. Someone must have remembered him during the battle with the corrupted dragon.

But a life-sized statue? Really?

"You recognized it right away. Yes, Great Warrior."

A respectful voice came from beside him. The speaker was an elderly man with a sharp appearance, despite his tone.

"It was created to honor your achievements. Every village that follows the Great Warrior has one."

"... Not just one?" Ian muttered, frowning involuntarily as he turned to the old man, who bowed apologetically.

Ian stared at him for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. "It’s been a while, Kvassar."

"That you remember this old body is an honor, Great Warrior." The old man, Kvassar, bowed his head. He was the elder whom Ian had encountered in the past at the barbarian settlement alongside Volber.

"Wow... truly, your craftsmanship is no joke." Miguel’s low murmur followed.

He and Lucia, having dismounted, approached Ian’s side. Miguel’s mouth twitched as he struggled to hold back the many comments he wanted to make, constrained by the solemnity of the moment. Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he shot him a glare.

"We had a feeling that the Great Warrior might return one day," Kvassar said after exchanging glances with the other elders.

Locking eyes with Ian, he added meaningfully, "Have you returned to stand against the Black Wall?"

"Indeed."

"As expected...!" Kvassar exhaled a soft gasp at Ian’s response.

The eyes of the elders shone with a cold light, yet there was a hint of a smile on their faces. They looked more thrilled, as if their blood was stirred, rather than afraid.

"I plan to go to the front lines with the warriors of the North," Ian added, his gaze steady as the elders’ attention focused on him.

He continued speaking in a calm tone. "To do that, I intend to gather all the Northern people of the snowfields here. I may not be able to do it alone. Will you help me?"

He requested it, certain they wouldn’t decline. As expected, the elders all nodded together without a moment’s pause.

Kvassar, with a wrinkled smile, turned his gaze to the crowd.

"Everyone, give your answer."

The open space was now filled with villagers and warriors who had followed Ian.

As Ian took in their sight, Kvassar raised his voice. "Will you follow the Great Warrior’s will?"

"We will follow!" It was Volber who shouted first. That became the signal for the others, who raised their voices in unison.

"We will follow!"

"We will follow!"

The cries spread like wildfire. Not only the warriors, but every villager shouted their agreement.

"So it is." Kvassar, wearing a satisfied smile, stepped forward to address Ian. He returned the smile as Kvassar approached and extended an arm.

"First, let me show you to a place where you can rest. You should recover from your journey before anything else."

"A welcome suggestion. Let’s do that."

Kvassar bowed and turned. Ian, giving a nod to Miguel and Lucia, took in the crowd’s sight one last time. The gaze he cast over them brought immediate silence. The surroundings fell into an instant hush.

I don’t really have anything to say…, Ian mused, a smirk playing on his lips.

As he moved to follow Kvassar, he added, "Get a good rest tonight. There will be much to do starting tomorrow."

"The superhuman of the North!"

"Oooooh—!"

"To battle! Only to battle!"

Despite his words, a roar of cheers that shook the very ground erupted from all around.

I told them not to overexert themselves...

Shaking his head, Ian couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

"Heh, damn. Yeah, this is the North." Miguel, following naturally behind, muttered with a hint of laughter in his voice.

Lucia’s response came soon after. "Indeed. This is the North...."

"Tonight, nothing and no one could stop them, unless Karha himself descends."

As if to prove Miguel’s words, the shouts and cheers continued boisterously late into the night.

***

The elders provided the group with individual houses to stay in. Although built in the Northern style, meaning there was no clear division of rooms, the houses were well-equipped with all the amenities.

"Whew…"

Like this round wooden bathtub, for instance.

Ian sank into the steaming hot water, letting out a relaxed sigh. It was already the morning of the fourth day since they had arrived in the village. After three days of relentless activity, this was the first peaceful morning he’d had.

"Is there anything else you need, Great Warrior?"

The boy standing across from him asked in a respectful tone. His name was Rigg, a young barbarian assigned by the villagers to assist Ian.

"No, this is more than enough," Ian answered, opening his eyes slightly to look at Rigg. "You’ve done well. Go get something to eat. I’d like some time alone."

"Yes, Great Warrior. Call me if you need anything." Rigg replied, bowing his head before turning away. His movements were more disciplined than those of many adult warriors, clearly feeling a great sense of duty in serving the Great Warrior.

Cute kid.

Ian let out a faint chuckle as he reached for the small table next to the tub. Taking a swig from a bottle of strong liquor, he picked up the parchment lying next to it. It was the scroll of correspondence given to him by Seras. The once-blank pages were no longer empty.

—Did you know?

The short, simple question at the top was the message Ian had sent. It was a question loaded with meaning, sent before he departed from Ninglosth.

—By my oath to Lu Solar, I knew nothing at all, Agent of the Saint. I only learned of it myself a few days ago.

However, the response that followed from Seras was anything but concise, unlike the message he had sent.

—It seems His Majesty had planned this from the start. Likely a strategic decision. However, the decision from the Order seems entirely impulsive. According to inside sources, the Order aimed to warn both the Agent of the Saint and His Majesty.

Ian had no way of knowing when exactly the reply had arrived. The moment he retrieved the parchment from its space last night to check, Seras’ reply was there, as if it had been waiting for him.

—... If there is anything I can do to assist, please let me know. Leave a reply. P.S. Sir Philip completed his ritual safely. It seems high-ranking members of the Order are showing interest. I advised him to stay close.

Thanks to this detailed, nearly full-page reply, Ian now had a clearer picture of the situation in the capital.

Most of it was as he expected.

The Emperor’s and the Order’s stances, as well as the fact that their rift had deepened. However, for now, they were both preparing for the approaching invasion instead of turning on each other.

A serious conflict between the royal family and the Order would likely begin only after the aftermath had settled. For now, it wasn’t the most pressing concern. Placing the scroll back on the table, Ian picked up the quill lying nearby.

—Departure from Travelga in one month. Need assistance with armament and supplies.

Just as he was about to set the quill down after finishing the brief reply, Ian paused. After a moment’s thought, he added another line.

—P.S. The areas struck by red lightning require clearing and purification.

He thought she might already know, but it wouldn’t hurt to remind her once more.

To me, it seems more like a random event... but well.

Ian shrugged and finally set down the pen. At the same time, a soft blue light spread from the back of the scroll. The message he left was likely being transmitted through the spell circuit.

…It would be great if she could send a bunch of Imperial weapons.

Iain leaned his neck back leisurely against the edge of the tub. Seras wouldn’t be able to refuse his request. She would need to prove that she had nothing to do with the withdrawal of the garrison. Whatever the case, he would find out once he reached Travelga. He just hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

Knock, knock—

A familiar voice followed the sound of knocking on the door.

"Brother, are you busy?"

Ian replied without even opening his eyes. "Yes, very."

"Not too busy, I see." The creak of the door slowly followed.

Miguel poked his head inside and squinted at Ian, who was resting against the tub. "Two days in a row? Another bath? Why do you bathe like this every day? You’ll end up making yourself sick with that habit."

What kind of twisted logic is that...

Sighing internally, Ian spoke, "Just tell me why you’re here. The brazier can’t be finished already."

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"Well, it’s nearly done, actually."

Ian opened his eyes.

"Already...?"