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Chapter 149

"Of course, but..." Fael licked his lips nervously and added cautiously.

"You have been a great help, indeed. But, the prices tend to be pretty high... Of course, I will leave only a minimal profit for you. Still, the prices won\'t be cheap."

"I said I\'d be your customer, not that I wanted a bargain," Ian said with a chuckle.

Indeed. Just by looking at him and the rest of his companions, it was hard to imagine they had much money.

Ian shrugged and added, "If you don\'t want to sell, then don\'t. Your companions probably have similar items. Maybe they think differently—"

"I will show you," Fael interrupted hastily, realizing his mistake.

He smiled under Ian\'s gaze.

"You are right. I should not have doubted your intentions."

"Weren\'t you the one who saw right through my financial situation? I thought you were indirectly declining."

"My tongue got ahead of me. I apologize. Still, wouldn\'t it be better to do business with someone you already know?" Fael smiled as if he would rub his hands together.

Bor clicked his tongue in disapproval as Fael continued.

"As an apology for my rudeness, I\'ll leave the smallest profit margin. I can\'t sell at cost because I have mouths to feed. But I swear by the Radiant Goddess, you won\'t find the same price from other merchants. Their goods won\'t be much different, either."

You should have done this from the start.

Ian chuckled and raised his glass.

"Alright, let\'s do that."

"A wise decision. Would you like to see them right now by any chance?"

"Let\'s meet at noon tomorrow. I want to rest today."

"Honestly, that\'s what I was hoping for. There are quite a lot of items. If you tell me what you\'re looking for, I\'ll sort them out."

"Select only the best from what you have. For items like magical tools, show me all that you have."

"Haha... Understood. I\'ll prepare them." Fael, still somewhat bewildered, nodded and drank the remaining alcohol in his glass before standing up.

"I\'ve taken too much of your time. I originally intended just to check in, but our conversation grew long. As a token of appreciation for the valuable information and to commemorate our agreement, I\'ll buy another round."

Is this how sales are done in the dark ages?

Ian wondered, shrugging his shoulders.

"I\'ll drink to that."

"Then, see you at noon tomorrow. I need to share what I\'ve heard from Sir Ian with my companions." Fael nodded to his companions and turned to leave. Bor followed him silently, after exchanging a glance with Ian.

"They\'re interesting folks. I thought all Imperial merchants were insufferably arrogant," Philip remarked, watching the two cross the tavern.

Charlotte snickered softly. "Don\'t be so sure yet. Merchants only show their true nature when they have enough money to wield power."

"That’s true, but still..."

At that moment, the barmaid approached with a tray of drinks. It was their third round. Both Charlotte and Philip were beginning to get tipsy.

Silence settled over the table once more. Everyone sipped their drinks quietly.

Their gazes were distant, each lost in different thoughts. One thought of a country that once meant everything, another thought of a story they still hadn’t fully heard, and another thought of a hometown left behind long ago.

And one of them thought longingly of an ice-cold lager that could make their head throb, unlike this lukewarm ale, and a level of intoxication they could no longer easily achieve.

"It was surprising you offered a deal to that merchant," Mev broke the silence, pushing aside her empty glass and picking up a new one.

"I hear they all seem to be quite valuable items."

Many seem to be concerned about my wallet today.

Ian smiled briefly.

"Didn\'t I tell you before? I\'ve got quite a bit of money to spare."

"You did mention having some funds... but I didn\'t realize it was enough to ask an Imperial merchant for their best goods."

"If you knew I wasn\'t just buying for myself, you\'d be even more surprised."

"...Sir, are you saying, for us too?"

"Yes. Tomorrow, when the merchant brings his goods, pick out whatever you need, Philip. Mev, you too."

Both Philip and Mev\'s mouths fell open for a moment.

Philip, recovering first, spoke. "Thank you, but both my lord and I have already received generous gifts from you. We can\'t accept more."

"That\'s right. Thank you for your consideration, Ian. But the sword you gave me is more than enough," Mev added quickly.

Ian, chuckling softly, raised his glass. "You\'re both mistaken. I\'m not offering a favor. I\'m telling you to do it because it\'s necessary."

Philip tilted his head in confusion.

Ian, after taking a sip of his drink, added, "If what we heard earlier is true, once we enter Lu Sard, we won\'t be able to get proper supplies anymore."

"...Ah."

"We might not even be able to rest properly. It could be worse. To ensure everyone can perform their roles and complete the mission safely, we need to prepare as much as possible."

As Ian continued speaking, Mev\'s initially surprised eyes narrowed.

"So, the cities of Lu Sard didn\'t lock their gates because of the war."

"Exactly. I didn\'t mention it before... but the thorough defense of the border might also be because of me, but the war"

"Because of you... sir?" Philip asked, frowning.

Ian nodded slightly. "Yes. The Vampire Empress knows I\'m coming. She probably knows everything I\'ve done."

"All those great deeds?"

Ian nodded roughly and took another sip.

Charlotte spoke instead. "Ian was gravely injured while killing the dragon. He was on the brink of death. Those damn vampires only attacked us once they knew Ian was recovering. If Ian had been in good condition, Thesa wouldn\'t have been taken so easily. ...Anyway, they must have reported everything about Ian."

"Huh... such things... But looking at you now, sir, it\'s hard to imagine you were that gravely injured." As Mev scrutinized Ian with newfound curiosity, Philip murmured.

Charlotte nodded. "It was nothing short of a miracle. So, they might not expect Ian to be in such good shape now...."

"The Empress seemed to be very cautious.”

Ian shrugged as he put down his glass and added, "She probably is also preparing for the worst-case scenario."

"If they really closed the borders and gates because of you...." Mev finally spoke in a low voice, looking at Ian with somber eyes.

"It means that the entirety of Lu Sard is already under their control."

"Probably." Ian nodded calmly.

The lords of Lu Sard were either vampires or their minions. In the game, when Thesaya became the new Vampire Empress, those who were freed from the previous queen\'s control went on a rampage. Their suppressed madness was completely unleashed.

Perhaps Thesaya had ordered it. Back then, she was quite different from how she is now. In any case, it was impossible to know their current state. What the Vampire Empress was thinking was equally uncertain.

Although it seemed similar to the game, it was essentially a completely different situation.

"Of course, there’s a high chance that the Vampire Empress doesn’t know that I\'m entering Lu Sard through the Imperial border. So she only concentrated her forces in the North. Therefore...."

Ian added, glancing at Philip.

"After crossing the border, we will head to Glumir without stopping in any city. If we\'re lucky, we\'ll arrive without any hindrance. However, I believe the chances of being discovered along the way are higher. When that will be, and what happens afterward, is completely unknown. So, we must always be prepared."

"...Alright. If that\'s your plan, I\'ll follow it. I\'ll take everything that seems necessary without hesitation."

Mev nodded and looked at Ian.

"That seems to be more helpful to you."

Ian raised his glass in response. While Charlotte, burning with renewed vengeance, silently drank, Philip sighed deeply.

"It\'s unbelievable. Lu Sard, known as the most livable and wealthy country in the frontier, is under the control of vampires."

"To them, the kingdom is like a farm. Managing the farm well is the farmer\'s duty."

"And now it\'s harvest time.... Oh, Lu Solar... what a dreadful truth this is...." Philip muttered, caressing his right hand and gripping his glass.

"What’s on the outside doesn’t say anything about the inside. Agel Lan almost fell into the hands of a corrupted one as well." Mev spoke nonchalantly.

Philip, gulping down his drink, lamented. "That\'s exactly my point. How many corrupters have we cut down so far? I thought Lu Sard was at least peaceful, but it turns out it\'s the land of demons. At this rate, it won’t be surprising to hear that the entire frontier was practically under the sway of the corrupted ones. It makes me wonder if even the Empire itself might be in the same situation."

"Well, considering the situation, you might not be entirely wrong," Ian said calmly, looking at Philip\'s somewhat loosened eyes.

"Other thoughts you consider delusions might not be wrong either."

"...That doesn\'t make me happy at all. I wish everything were just my delusions. Damn it, Lu Solar...."

Philip muttered, then forced a smile.

"I\'ve ruined the mood. Let\'s talk constructively. How do you think the demons in Lu Sard will respond?"

"Well...."

"If their lair is truly in Glumir...."

As Ian shrugged, Charlotte continued with a sharp, subdued gaze.

"There are two possibilities. They\'ll try to kill us before we set foot there, or they\'ll be waiting for us, fully prepared."

"Or both," Ian added nonchalantly, caressing the rim of his glass.

"And maybe those aren\'t the only ones."

"What\'s that supposed to mean?"

"You\'re referring to those who aid the vampires, right?" As Philip furrowed his brow, Mev interjected.

Ian nodded. "It\'s just a possibility. We\'ll only know for sure when it happens."

"You said there were many things to discuss beforehand... Indeed, there must be many. Does it have anything to do with the mission you\'re undertaking?"

"Well...." Ian, holding his glass, spoke.

"Let\'s talk about that later. We\'ve already discussed enough for today. I think everyone has a lot to think about, not just me."

"...Indeed. Too much, in fact." Mev nodded calmly.

She brought her glass to her lips. This time, Philip did not urge her on.

There\'s never a dull moment, at least.

Ian thought as he gulped down the remaining drink in his glass and spoke.

"It’s been a while since we\'ve properly visited a city, but take it easy, everyone. We should leave by tomorrow afternoon. If the order or the legion decides to come looking for me, it could get troublesome in many ways."

As Mev and Charlotte nodded, Philip blinked at Ian, who was setting down his glass.

"Already heading up? The night has just begun."

"I urgently need a bath."

I\'ve been holding off since Stoneville.

Ian thought as he stood up and signaled to the waitress.

"Everyone rest as you see fit, and let\'s meet here again before noon tomorrow."

***

Ian woke up well past dawn. Thanks to the bath the night before, he felt thoroughly refreshed.

The room was very small, and the bed was old, but it was incomparable to sleeping on the roadside. Using a bit of gray magic, he could instantly burn any bed bugs hiding in the mattress, so there was nothing to disturb his sleep. Of course, there was always a risk of mishap if the magic wasn\'t controlled properly.

But with his improved control over magic, there was no need to worry about such accidents these days.

"Phew...." Ian finished getting ready, took out a sealed box from his pocket dimension, and left the room.

"Over here, Ian." Charlotte, who was already in the dining hall, raised her hand.

Charlotte, already down in the dining area, raised her arm. She was eating stew with somewhat hollow eyes. Though she looked tired, her fur and mane had a noticeable shine, indicating she had bathed.

Ian sat across from her and asked, "What about the other two?"

"They\'ll be down soon. They woke up around the same time as I did."

Mev and Philip appeared just as the waitress placed a bowl of stew and bread in front of Ian.

Mev was dressed in thick quilted clothes and pants instead of armor. She had an elven sword at her waist, but with her current appearance, no one would guess she was the heavy knight clad in full plate armor.

Ian chewed on his bread and said, "You cut your hair."

"I did last night. Philip says long hair looks better on me, but as you know, it\'s too uncomfortable when it\'s too long." Mev, sitting beside Philip, replied.

Ian glanced at her roughly cut red hair below the nape of her neck and shrugged.

"I think it suits you now too."

"Really...?"

"I feel the same way. If only you would let me cut it for you." Philip, sitting next to Charlotte, muttered while rubbing his temples.

When Mev looked at him, he added, "If the master\'s hair is that uneven, wouldn\'t I, the squire, be blamed?"

"No one cares about my hair, Philip. Especially after I put on my helmet."

"You won\'t wear your helmet forever...." Philip clicked his tongue briefly.

Soon, the stew was placed before them as well. Philip groaned as he drank the stew directly from the bowl.

"I told you to relax, but it looks like you’re dying instead." Ian chided him.

Philip scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Indeed. I haven\'t drunk in a while and had a lot on my mind, so I couldn\'t restrain myself."

What a convenient excuse.

As Ian snorted, Mev, chewing on the stew ingredients, spoke.

"I\'ll sit in the coachman\'s seat when we get in the carriage. Rest a bit more during the journey."

"No, my lord. I can\'t allow that." Just as Philip shook his head, the door to the dining hall and tavern opened.

Fael, looking as tidy as the day before, walked in. He approached them with a broad smile upon seeing the group.

"You timed it well. Did you all rest comfortably?"

"As you can see. Did things go well on your end?" Ian asked, chewing on bread soaked in stew.

Fael nodded. "Fortunately, yes. There are a few who dread the demonic realm. While it\'s not certain, the schedule could be shortened by a week to ten days at most. We won\'t stray off the main road either. Of course, someone might change their mind along the way...."

Fael shrugged as he looked at Ian.

"If the schedule gets significantly delayed, we agreed to split up. Bor, that friend, insisted on parting ways even if it\'s just a day late."

“As I mentioned before, he has a good intuition.”

Fael smiled. "You two say similar things. That friend said he feels like he must follow your words unconditionally."

I wonder if he also had an Intuition trait.

Ian continued his meal while pondering. Fael, while waiting silently, occasionally glanced at Ian. Though his expression didn\'t reveal it, a hint of anxiety flickered in his eyes.

Ah, right. He must be worried about whether I really have the money.

Ian chuckled inwardly. Although he had made the promise yesterday in the heat of the moment, he seemed worried now that the moment had passed. It was understandable. The fact that he wasn\'t showing it was a form of courtesy.

"Where should we go?" Ian asked as Mev placed down her fork.

Fael, who had been smiling faintly, stood up.

"Let me guide you. Follow me."

Fael immediately turned around. Ian signaled to Charlotte and stood up. Charlotte, holding the sealed box with both hands, moved to his side.

"You\'re still using this?" Philip, who had followed while rubbing his belly, mumbled.

Ian shrugged and left the pub, following Fael to the end of the alley. Guards from the caravan were standing in front of a dead-end alley. At the front, Bor nodded slightly as he looked over Fael and his group. Soon, the guards moved aside, revealing two covered wagons.

"Wow..." Philip exclaimed in awe at the sight of all kinds of weapons neatly arranged.

Fael, who had stopped, spoke up.

"As I mentioned, I have prepared only the best quality items. There are two more wagons with slightly lower quality items, but you won’t need to see those."

His gaze shifted subtly toward Charlotte, implying that he had kept his promise and now expected some guarantee in return. Ian smiled and looked at Charlotte. She nodded and opened the sealed box, revealing a golden glow. Philip stared at the pile of gold coins and jewels inside, his mouth agape.

"Whoa..."

He sighed as he looked back at Ian, and Mev was similarly astonished. Ian stifled a laugh. He never expected to feel like a tycoon in this world.

Of course, these gold coins and jewels weren\'t his entire fortune. The key to the steel vault was separately hidden in a corner of his pocket dimension. Nonetheless, a broad smile spread across Fael\'s face. Finally, at ease, his smile became more natural. Meeting Ian\'s gaze, he bowed deeply.

"I will serve you with my utmost effort."

Ian responded calmly, "Let\'s see how utmost your effort will be."