Chapter 539

Chapter 539

"Whoa there," Thesaya shouted, pulling on the reins not long after they passed a low stone wall.

Fruit trees were beginning to line both sides of the road. Though he tilted his head in confusion, Ian followed suit and pulled on his reins.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The galloping horses quickly slowed. As their panting breaths filled the air, Thesaya glanced back at him with a faintly sheepish smile.

"Let’s walk from here, Ian. My thighs hurt."

"Alright." Ian chuckled and readily nodded.

And here I thought it was something serious.

They had been riding for half a day straight, covering in hours what would have taken nearly two days on foot. Thanks to that, they had now reached Tahena.

"I’m hungry. You want something to eat, Ian?" Thesaya asked, hopping down from her saddle.

"Yeah? Alright then. I’ll be right back." Thesaya nodded, let go of the reins, and darted off to the side of the road. She was likely going to pick some fruit.

Of course she’s going to help herself.

Ian put a cigarette to his lips and dismounted.

"Good work," he said, not forgetting to pat the neck of the panting white horse.

Its coat was drenched in an oily sweat, but it tossed its head with a snort, looking somehow refreshed despite its fatigue.

Haven’t had a good run in a while, have you?

Ian snapped his fingers, creating a small flame to light the end of his cigarette. He then crushed the flame in his hand and inhaled the smoke.

"This stuff usually bores me, but it’s actually pretty good," said Thesaya.

She had returned, chewing around a piece of fruit. It was the same plum-like, peach-like fruit that Diana had eaten before. Of course, unlike then, this one was perfectly ripened to a reddish hue, with soft, juicy yellow flesh showing through her bite marks.

"I was thinking on the way here, but you were also trying to help the kitties, weren’t you?" Thesaya asked, taking the reins again and approaching Ian.

Ian exhaled a plume of smoke and looked at her.

Thesaya took another bite of the fruit and smiled. "Thanks to you, the pointy-ears won’t be able to bother them for a while."

"I just wanted to stir up some trouble for the Round Table. But sure, I suppose you could see it that way."

You sure know how to put a spin on it

Ian chuckled, exhaled smoke, and added, "I also didn’t want to tell them about the situation beyond the Wall. It wouldn’t do me any good for it to be known beforehand."

"It’s going to be noisy for a while because of you. Not just about my relationship with you, but also the stories about the traitors will be flying around." Her tone suggested she had no expectation that the Elder Chief would keep her oath.

Ian added suggestively, "You don’t seem worried that the Elder Chief might be a member of the Round Table."

"That sly old woman isn’t stupid enough to make a clumsy move that would only be a confession. Why else would she make me her representative? And even if she is plotting something, it’ll all blow over in a few months anyway, right?" Thesaya took another bite of the fruit.

"Well, that’s true."

It might not even take a few months, Ian added silently, but he readily nodded.

Most of the current problems and noise would be shoved aside the moment the Dark Prince’s survival became known. Even more so once the war began.

"Still, don’t let your guard down. There’s always that one-in-a-million chance."

"You really don’t trust the pointy-ears at all, do you, Ian? Alright, I’ll tell Diana to be careful when I get back." Thesaya giggled, waggling the fruit in her hand.

One corner of Ian’s mouth, holding the cigarette, curled up slightly. "You’re not even trying to hide that you’re going to follow me anymore, are you?"

"Of course not. Thanks to you, I have a very good excuse now, don’t I? I can now do whatever I want in fairy society, since I have the southern Deep Forest backing me up." Thesaya wore a devious smile, as if to make a point.

"I don’t think the Elder Chief made you her representative for that reason." Shaking his head, Ian said no more and simply inhaled his cigarette.

Nagging her about duty or responsibility would be like preaching to a deaf ear. And it wasn’t like he hadn’t been using the Platinum Dragon’s name himself.

"Diana will probably be happy about it, too. I’m delegating all my authority to her, and on top of that, I’m even leaving the family," Thesaya added shamelessly. It was enough to make Ian’s smile deepen.

"Well, I don’t think so at all."

She’ll probably regret ever coming back home, if she doesn’t already.

Thesaya shrugged, her mouth full of fruit. "Really? Well, what can you do? If I tell her to do it, she has to."

Ian exhaled smoke through his nose and just nodded. It was the path Diana had chosen, after all. And there was no reason to take her with him when he had Thesaya.

He looked at the city approaching in the distance and flicked the ash from his cigarette.

"Besides, from what I can see, you are going to be in more danger than Erenos soon. The Elder Chief warned you, too. And the high nobles of the South each keep at least one contact in the capital through the Scroll of Correspondence. News that you’re in the south might already have reached the capital," said Thesaya.

She looked at Ian and tilted her chin. "You already know, right? They might try to arrest you first."

"Still, until it’s certain that the Platinum Dragon won’t show himself, they won’t be able to make a move," Ian replied coolly, exhaling smoke.

Thesaya wagged her fruit-juice-stained index finger back and forth. "Still, don’t get careless. There’s a one-in-a-million chance. The Round Table might push for it. That’s why a capable spellcaster like me needs to be by your side to protect you."

You really can’t leave anything unsaid, can you?

Ian let out a soft laugh and replied, looking at the approaching city walls, "Do as you please. For now, we need to find a way to cross the inner sea anyway."

"Well, that’ll work out somehow, won’t it? Maybe that redheaded cousin has already found a way." Thesaya said irresponsibly, her eyes taking in the wide-open city gates.

"Well, we’ll find out when we get there."

I hope they’ve been waiting without any trouble.

Ian’s pace quickened as he passed through the city gates. Inside, it was just as it had been when they left, green and, for its size, quiet and peaceful. Some might have called it dull, but to Ian, it was the very picture of peace. He wondered whether it would remain unchanged even amid war.

"Just looking at it is suffocating."

Soon, a tall, grayish-white wall came into view up ahead. Shaking her head in disgust, Thesaya tossed the seed in her hand, wiped the juice from her hands on her cloak, and went ahead.

Soon, she knocked on the door with the metal handle in the center.

Creeak—

The heavy door swung open within seconds. A young guard, holding a spear carelessly and wearing a crooked metal helmet, came out. His sleepy eyes widened the next moment.

"Y-You’ve returned!"

"I have." Thesaya, her face instantly turning cold, gave a slight shake of the reins in her left hand.

The guard quickly ran out and took the reins.

"You’ve returned, my lady, and Agent of the Saint."

Another guard, who seemed to be his senior, appeared in a fluster and bowed to Ian after Thesaya.

"These horses were borrowed from the Deep Forest, so feed them well for a few days and send them back," Thesaya said as the young guard took the reins of Ian’s horse as well.

The fairy, who had been laughing and joking just moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.

"What happened to the horses you rode out on?"

"They died."

"I… see. Understood. I will escort you. Please come in." The young guard gave an awkward nod and turned back inside.

As the guard leaned his spear against the wall, Thesaya looked back at Ian and wiggled her eyebrows playfully before walking.

Ian followed her into the dim hallway beyond the gate. As the faint trace of a familiar presence reached him, he smiled faintly.

"I believe we have guests?" Thesaya asked as she walked.

The guard immediately nodded. "Yes. A priestess of the Blazing Goddess and an orc guarding her have arrived. I was told they are part of the Agent of the Saint’s party."

"I trust you are treating them with the utmost hospitality?"

"Of course. They have been spending their time comfortably for over a week now. The acting Head of House has been paying special attention to them. We have also opened the family library to them."

"Is that so? Well done." Thesaya nodded. She didn’t forget to glance back at Ian and curl her lip as if to make a point.

"What about my horse?" Ian added bluntly then.

The guard looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Pardon?"

"Were there any problems with my horse?"

Their schedule had been delayed longer than expected. Though he could feel Moro’s presence, it wouldn’t have been strange if that demonic warhorse had lost its disguise.

"Ah, the horse is using a separate stable. The Priestess requested it. The acting Head of House also gave permission, and the Priestess has been personally looking after it once a day."

"Aha, good."

At the guard’s explanation, a relieved smile crossed Ian’s face. He had been worried for nothing. Then again, Lucia was not the sort to make mistakes in matters like this.

Meanwhile, the guard turned a corner. Before Ian’s eyes, the well-manicured forest of Erenos spread out, along with the long hallways of the mansion on either side.

"M-My lady!"

"You’ve returned!"

The fairies passing by hastily stopped and bowed their heads.

Without even looking at them, Thesaya just tilted her chin and looked at Ian. "It seems I must meet with the acting Head of House first. How about you have dinner with our esteemed guests, Agent of the Saint?"

Ian nodded. "Let’s do that."

"Then I’ll see you tonight." She gave him a discreet wink before striding off into the trees, trampling the undergrowth without a care.

"This way, Agent of the Saint."

"Where are the guests staying?" asked Ian.

"In the room where the Agent of the Saint was staying. The acting Head of House offered them another room, but the Priestess requested it."

It wasn’t a surprising request. Ian tilted his head toward the hallway behind him. "I can find my way. You may return."

"Yes, please rest well." The guard, not refusing the offer, quickly bowed and turned away, clearly relieved to be free of what must have been a stifling escort duty.

With a low chuckle, Ian passed through the mansion’s hallway and headed for the stairs.

"Agent of the Saint."

"Welcome back, Agent of the Saint."

Every fairy he encountered stopped and bowed their heads. Their attitude was incomparably more respectful than before.

Ah, right. I’m being treated as a family elder. I hope the rumors don’t spread across the sea.

Ian returned their greetings with a nod and continued up the stairs. One corner of his mouth curled up again when he turned into the hallway leading to his quarters.

"What is he doing over there?"

At the end of the passage, in front of a tightly closed wooden door, stood a familiar gray orc—a hulking figure with a face covered in scars of all sizes and hair streaked with white, tied back in a single knot. It was Mukapa, the orc bodyguard sent by Seras.

"You have returned." Spotting him, Mukapa turned and bowed deeply.

Nodding without stopping, Ian said, "Even if this is a den of pointy-ears, I don’t think you need to be armed."

"I am on duty," Mukapa replied, lifting his head.

As the smell of burning herbs tickled his nose, Ian’s smirk widened a little more. "And that’s why you’re out here?"

"I wanted to give the Priestess some time alone. She is currently reading."

Ah, he’s more considerate than he looks.

Thinking this, Ian stopped in front of him and tilted his head toward the wooden door. "Let’s go in."

"Yes." Mukapa immediately turned and opened the door, not forgetting to knock twice first.

A familiar room came into view.

"Sir Ian! You’ve finally returned!"

Lucia, who had been sitting at the table, stood up with a bright expression. However, Ian, entering the room, wasn’t looking at her.

"I was wondering why it smelled of herbs…" His brow slightly furrowed, his gaze sweeping over the table where she had been sitting.

A wide-open parchment, a wine glass, and next to it, on the edge, a lit cigarette were placed at an angle.

"Uh… this is…"

As Lucia stammered, seeming to understand the meaning of his gaze, Ian met her eyes. "Did Diana give it to you?"