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Chapter 132

“Yes.”

“Is it going to take long?”

“Hard to say. I’m not sure myself.”

“What kind of commission is it... I\'m not trying to pry, just curious.” Philip added cautiously.

Mev put down her cup and looked at Ian, her expression showing that she didn’t mind his refusal. Charlotte narrowed her eyes and sipped her drink as Ian shrugged one shoulder and spoke.

“We’re going to kill vampires.”

“Va, vampires...? You mean demons?!”

“Yes. Their stronghold is in Lu Sard.” Ian’s tone was calm, but the reactions of the listeners were not.

Philip’s eyes widened as if they might tear, and Mev frowned. After a moment of gaping,

Philip exclaimed. “The Lu Sard that’s right next to the Empire?”

“You have a very loud and clear voice. They would even hear you in the Empire.”

“...Sorry. I was just so surprised... But isn’t it understandable? Lu Sard isn’t the kind of place where monsters would hide.”

“They’re not just hiding. They’re forming a power base. The kingdom itself might be under their control.”

“Good heavens....” While Philip sighed,

Mev took a sip of her drink and added. “And you two are going to deal with them by yourselves?”

“You also attacked this fortress with just the two of you.”

“....” Mev blinked and let out a faint, incredulous laugh.

Meanwhile, Philip swallowed hard and looked at Mev. “Then why don’t we help Ian, my lord?”

“Hmm....” Mev hummed and nodded.

Philip continued to babble. “If it’s demons, they’re surely connected to the corrupted ones. We might find another link to the corruption in the Empire. They must have cooperated in spreading chaos in the borderlands. They would be the ones most pleased with the current war.”

“...Yes. I think the same, but we should ask Ian for his consent first,” Mev responded coolly.

Philip grinned widely. “Would Ian have any reason to refuse? If we join him, it would be a great help in dealing with those demons. Don’t you agree, Ian? ...Ian?”

When there was no response, Philip finally looked back at Ian.

“Well....” Ian mumbled as he scratched his chin.

Philip, not expecting such a reaction, widened his eyes again.

“You’re actually considering this? I might be one thing, but our lord would definitely be of great help!”

“Of course. That’s a given.”

“There must be something else bothering you,” Mev said, quietly watching Ian.

He didn’t deny it. Mev took a sip of her wine and added calmly.

“In that case, there’s nothing we can do. I won’t ask further.”

“But, my lord...?” Philip looked at Mev, bewildered.

She nodded. “He must have his reasons for keeping silent.”

“Even so, just accepting it like this—”

“Are you suggesting we press Ian, our comrade and life savior, Philip?”

“That’s... you’re right. I mean... yes... you’re right...” Philip stammered, nodding.

But his hand, holding the cup, fidgeted nervously.

They sure know how to entertain themselves.

Ian chuckled and finally set his cup down.

“Before I make a decision, there’s something you need to agree to. There are some things you need to know.”

Philip quickly turned his head. Charlotte, who had been leaning loosely against the window, also furrowed her brows.

Mev spoke calmly. “I’ll borrow your usual phrase. I’ll listen first and then answer.”

Nodding, Ian spoke. “Until recently, my party wasn’t just two, but three. We had a client traveling with us.”

He looked at Mev for a moment before continuing.

“But that client wasn’t human.”

“Ian...?!” Charlotte called his name in a tone of dismay, her eyes asking if he was really going to tell everything. Philip’s gaze shifted in confusion toward her.

“If it wasn’t human... was it another race like them?”

“It was more than that.”

Ian turned to Philip. “You’ve seen her too. In Agel Lan, with me.”

“What are you... no way?”

Philip’s eyes widened.

“You mean that vampire? The monster we pulled out of the box?”

“Yes. Her name is Thesaya, and she was a demon.”

“....”

As Charlotte growled softly with her eyes closed, both Philip and Mev’s mouths hung open in surprise.

It was understandable. The Ian they knew would typically brandish a blade at anything related to the darkness.

“Were you under some kind of evil spell...?” Philip stammered.

Charlotte, who had sighed in resignation, looked at him. “Do you think such things would work on Ian?”

“Well, no, but if not that, then how could my lord associate with such a foul creature—”

“The vampires seemed to kidnap others to turn them into vampires and conduct some kind of experiments. That kid was an escapee from one of those experiments.” Ian cut him off, pouring the unknown fruit wine Charlotte had brought into his empty cup.

“She was captured and being taken back when you and I saved her. Anyway, she was being chased and eventually asked for my help when she was cornered.”

“And you accepted that request.”

“Yes.”

“But... no matter what, how could you take on a demon’s request...?”

“You used her as bait,” Mev interjected.

Pouring wine into her cup, she looked calmly at Ian.

“You figured keeping her close would make the other demons come to you. Right?”

“Exactly.”

Charlotte, who had been frowning as if she couldn\'t believe what she was hearing, snapped her head toward Ian at his response.

Mev, having taken a sip of her wine, stared into Ian’s eyes. Her gaze was that of a stern knight who mercilessly cut down the corrupted and monsters alike.

“So, where is that demon now?”

“She was taken by the vampires. She’s probably somewhere in Lu Sard by now.”

“...Now I understand why you were hesitant to speak,” Philip said in a subdued voice, looking at Ian.

“You were worried that if we accompanied you, we might end up killing that vampire as well. You don’t want to kill that demon, do you?”

“...She’s different from the other vampires,” Charlotte spoke up then.

Staring intently at Philip, she turned her gaze to Mev and added.

“She doesn’t drink human blood. That’s why she’s weak. She has never harmed anyone. She just suffers from thirst and doesn’t even realize she’s a demon. In fact, she hates them.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a demon,” Philip answered coldly.

“...And it doesn’t change the fact that she’s a comrade of mine who saved my life multiple times.” Charlotte’s eyes turned icy as she spat out the words.

She looked ready to draw her sword. Philip, who had been smiling moments before, now stared at her with a dry expression.

“My commission was to kill all the vampires.”

Ian’s flat voice broke the tension between them.

“So I will prioritize that commission. Thesaya’s fate comes after. She might already be dead. If so, you joining us won’t cause any issues.”

“What...? Ian, are you serious...?”

Charlotte looked back at him in shock, and Ian continued.

“But maybe she’s still alive and will survive to stand before me again. Things will be different then. Unlike you, I don’t entirely dismiss Charlotte’s words. Besides....”

Ian paused to wet his lips with the wine, not breaking eye contact with Mev’s steady green eyes.

“Thesaya is not only my client but also my servant. That means her fate is in my hands.”

Putting down his cup, he added in a dry voice.

“Whatever decision I make at that time, can you stay out of it? Even if I decide to spare her?”

“....”

A heavy silence fell. Only their gazes crossed each other. As the atmosphere grew tense, Philip, looking anxious again, glanced around nervously.

Finally, Mev spoke. “You always oppose me to assert your will, Ian. You never just let things slide, even with the worst assumptions.”

“...I hesitated this time.”

Ian’s response brought a faint smile to Mev’s lips.

“So, that’s why you were conflicted?”

Ian shrugged lightly and answered. “But I believe that in the end, you will respect my decision.”

“Ha... Yes. You always have a way with words.”

Mev shook her head, murmuring as she stared into her cup.

“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have hesitated. I’d have thought they were a demon’s minion and cut off their head. But I can’t draw my sword against you. Instead, I think there must be a reason for your actions. And after hearing what you said, I have no other choice.”

She looked back at Ian.

“I’ll have to turn a blind eye. Does that answer your question?”

Ian smiled slightly. “It does.”

Mev raised her cup and added. “Like your servant, I’m curious if a demon can truly overcome its dark nature. I want to see for myself. So, let’s go together.”

“...I’m not entirely sure about that part myself.”

Ian raised his cup to hers.

“But let’s do it.”

Mev smiled and brought her cup to her lips. Ian also gulped his drink down at once. Philip, who had been watching them in a daze, finally spoke up.

“So... you two will be traveling together again from now on?”

“Yes, to Lu Sard, at least for now,” Ian said, setting down his cup.

Mev nodded slightly.

Philip, sighing in relief and then smiling, added. “That’s a relief. I just realized that whether the demon lives or dies isn’t as big a problem for me. I was more worried about the two of you falling out.”

“Worry about yourself. Now we’re heading into a vampire’s nest together.”

“Did you think I’d suggest it without that resolve? I’m already living on borrowed time, my lord.”

Philip, adding cheerfully, scratched his chin.

“Besides... we need to plan everything from scratch again. There’s a place in Bel Ronde we need to visit.”

“You handle that.”

“Of course. It’s not something to think about right now. We should celebrate being back together first.”

As Philip began to pour more drinks, Ian glanced at Charlotte by the window. She seemed a bit bewildered by the situation.

Meeting her eyes, Ian nodded. “Grab a chair and sit down.”

“Yes, come and join us. Since we’re traveling together, I’ll just call you Charlotte from now on.” Philip added as if he hadn’t been hostile earlier.

Charlotte blinked and brought a chair over. As she filled the empty seat, Philip quickly poured her a drink.

“Let’s have a toast. You two, my lords.” Philip grinned.

Mev raised her glass with a smile. “I’m glad to be with you, Ian. And you too, Charlotte. Let’s do our best.”

Charlotte licked her lips and nodded. Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned to Ian.

He spoke plainly. “Let’s drink this and then get some sleep. We should leave early tomorrow.”

“Just like you to make a toast like that.” Mev laughed and extended her glass.

Four cups clinked together in the center of the table.

“But, my lord, the situation in the north... haha. Well, it’s not like we only have today. Yes.”

Soon, the table was left with empty pots and glasses. As the lantern’s light dimmed, only the sounds of snoring and breathing filled the room.

The next day, the group, now four, quietly left the fortress early in the morning while everyone else was still asleep.

The pouches of money found in the rogue knight’s room were left untouched on the table.