Chapter 533
"It seems you have a history with that house," Nehat murmured, observing their expressions.
"History is one word for it. Cursed tie is more accurate," Ian said, a smile still on his lips.
He glanced at Thesaya and added, "Those pointy-eared bastards from Aynas were the ones who first floated the idea of wiping your kind out. Honestly, it’d be stranger if there wasn’t a connection."
"Is that so? Guess we’ve got more in common than I thought. There’s an Aynas bastard I once swore I would kill. It was a long time ago, but still," Nehat said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Well, that’s not surprising at all," Ian chuckled, bending down to fasten his poleyns to his greaves.
Thesaya chimed in, with a playful smile, "So, what’s the name? Maybe I can do the honors for you."
"Findrel," Nehat spat, wrinkling her nose. "Findrel Aynas."
"Eh?" Thesaya’s brow arched high, recognition flickering in her expression, while Ian’s hands paused.
"It was during a bodyguard job. I ran into him by chance, and he was relentlessly harassing me. So I swore I’d kill him as soon as the mission was over."
She sniffed sharply before continuing, "Afterward, I went near his family’s estate and asked about his whereabouts, but they said he’d run away from home. Even that disgusting pointy-eared family had disowned him. I went back several more times, but no one knew where he was—""You never told Charlotte this story, did you?" Ian cut in, putting on the rest of his armor.
As Nehat looked at him, he added, "If you had, you’d know the bastard’s been dead for years."
The words froze her in place. After a heartbeat, she asked, voice tight, "What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. I killed him years ago. And before he died, Charlotte cut off his ear," Ian said, standing up.
As Nehat’s mouth fell slightly open, Ian stomped his feet as if to pack the ground and moved his ankles back and forth. He then rotated his wrists and arms, loosening up.
"Well, I didn’t see that myself, but I did pretend to be an Aynas using his crest once," said Thesaya.
Nehat blinked blankly and murmured, "You and Great Chieftain killed Findrel? Years ago?"
"Yes."
At Ian’s confirmation, Nehat’s expression twisted strangely.
Thesaya smiled teasingly. "And you tried to kill such benefactors. What an ungrateful kitty you are. So wicked."
"Huh…" Nehat breathed out, stunned.
Thesaya stepped in front of her and added, "So, do you have any proof? That the Aynas house is connected to the Round Table."
"No. But I know they’ve been using money from the Great Church to fund some magic tower," Nehat answered, still not fully recovered from the shock.
"What kind of nonsense is this now? What magic tower?" Thesaya asked, frowning.
Nehat smacked her lips awkwardly. "That’s as far as I know."
"Figures. Typical kitty, doing a half-baked investigation," Thesaya scoffed.
"They’re probably laundering church funds through it," Ian cut in, fastening the steel scabbard of his sword to his hip.
Thesaya tilted her head. "Laundering?"
"It means to hide the source of the funds. They’re probably taking a cut in the process, too."
"But why would the Round Table fund a magic tower? Priests hate mages, especially those so-called pure devotees."
"Well, maybe that’s exactly why they’re funding it. The magic towers are already being corrupted. If they give them more money…" Ian trailed off, scratching his chin.
"They’ll corrupt even faster. Good heavens. Are they trying to kill off all the mages, too?" Thesaya’s eyes widened in realization.
"Well, miracles from gods alone are enough for them, I suppose," Ian shrugged.
He once again mulled over a thought that had been crossing his mind more frequently lately: that the royal family and the Great Church were the root of all evil and corruption. Perhaps the Empire itself was a nation built upon such sins.
"So, is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Uh? Oh, right. Nothing else comes to mind right now," Nehat answered, blinking rapidly as she met Ian’s gaze, her demeanor now strangely awkward.
Ian picked up the cloak that had been spread on the bed and said, "You don’t have to worry about the Round Table coming to silence you, at least not for a while. As for the details, you can hear them from the Great Chieftain later."
He handed the cloak to Thesaya and added, "Let’s go. I’m ready."
"Right. So we need to trace the source of the funds," Thesaya murmured, pulling the cloak over her head.
Nehat turned with a somewhat stiff movement and headed for the door.
Creeak—
The hut door opened, and Ian followed Nehat outside. A few more intact huts stood nearby, and beyond them, the noise of beastfolk rummaging through the ruins of the village drifted over.
"The kitties are still busy," Thesaya remarked leisurely as she followed, her tone making it sound like someone else’s problem entirely.
"It’s not an amount they can move all at once. They need to find and sort everything beforehand so there are no problems moving it in batches," Ian replied.
He glanced at the ruins and the hill of rubble in the distance before suddenly adding, "Let me ask one more thing, Nehat."
"Go on."
"Do you still want me dead?"
Nehat’s shoulders, walking ahead, stiffened for a moment before she slowly turned to look at Ian.
"It would be a lie to say I don’t. You are my father’s enemy, and you took my right arm. You used my chaos to seal the Primal Wildness. But I also know that you gave my father peace, that you helped the Primal Wildness, and that you stopped me before I completely ruined my clan."
She took a long breath through her nose, then turned back to the front and finished, "So right now, I want to kill myself more."
Well, at least she’s not having stray thoughts.
As Ian let out a chuckle, Thesaya said, "That’s very easy. Open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and bite down with all your might. If you’re curious, try it right now. It’ll work."
Clearly, she wasn’t anywhere near forgiving Nehat. It was a grudge typical of a pointy-ear.
Nehat didn’t get angry. With a self-decapitating smile, she replied, "When the time comes, I will be sure to do just that."
As Thesaya shrugged, Ian added, "Then you can go. We’re leaving now."
"May I ask one thing as well?" Nehat suddenly said, naturally turning toward the ruins.
Passing her, Ian nodded. "It’s only fair that I let you."
"Do you intend to become a god, Ian Hope?"
What kind of nonsense is this now?
Ian stopped, a smirk forming on his lips. She had spied on him while he was sealing Kruxica. She must have seen him unleash his chaos in the process and realized the amount he held was far from ordinary.
"I have no such intention. None at all."
"Is that so? What a pity. I thought perhaps you might be able to release Primal Wildness again one day. Don’t worry about me spilling anything. No one would believe my words anymore, anyway," Nehat replied, then turned fully.
With that, she began walking toward the ruins without looking back. The silhouette of the former chieftain, missing an arm and a tail, was still shabby, but she looked far more unburdened than when she had entered the hut.
Ian let out a faint chuckle and started walking.
"You have to keep that promise. Okay, Ian?" Thesaya suddenly whispered.
When Ian looked at her, she stared up at him and added, "If you become a god, you’ll have to leave us forever."
You too?
Ian paused. He looked down into Thesaya’s eyes for a moment before he said, "Even if I don’t become a god, I will leave your side one day."
Thesaya’s brow furrowed. "Where to? The swamp? Are you really going to retire in that backwater town?"
"No, much farther than that."
Thesaya’s head tilted in confusion, but Ian said nothing more, only resuming his walk.
I doubt I can even get there, and even if I do, there's no way you guys could follow me.
Finally giving up, Thesaya looked ahead and scoffed. "Well, well. Would you look at that? They’re all ready and waiting. I knew it. Kitty definitely wants to leave with us."
Beyond them, standing between the leaning and crumbled palisades, were Charlotte, Idris, and Palmer. Charlotte had Thesaya’s pack slung over her shoulder, the one Idris had originally been carrying.
"Think I should try talking her into coming along? Bet it wouldn’t take much to convince her," said Thesaya.
Ian shook his head. "She just got her position as Great Chieftain back. We can’t have her leave her position. Besides, she’s converted religions. She’ll be busy for a while. A lot has to change."
"Yeah, well, I guess so. Still, wouldn’t it be okay for her to follow us when she’s done with all the busy work?"
Instead of answering her question, Ian looked at Thesaya and said, "You really are planning on following me no matter what, aren’t you?"
"Huh? N-No, well… Oh, Ian, look over there! At Spotty!" Thesaya’s pupils trembled as she hastily looked away.
She babbled, pointing forward. "I told you, didn’t I? That Spotty would have something prepared."
It’s so obvious, and you’re trying to deny it.
Thesaya waved her hand and forced a smile. "All set for a picnic, huh, Kitty? So well-behaved."
Charlotte didn’t bother replying, just shook her head slowly as if tired of the nonsense, then met Ian’s eyes. "Everything’s ready. We can leave whenever you are."
"Yeah. So it seems. But that seems like too big a sword to be used for cutting grass," Ian replied, walking forward, his gaze shifting to Idris standing beside her. More specifically, to the two-handed sword the boy was holding.
It was the fang greatsword, undoubtedly the one Nehat had stuck in the ground at the start of their duel. It was also what Thesaya had been pointing at.
"This is yours, Ian. You were the one who defeated Nehat, so the spoils are yours. There’s more behind us. Take anything you need," Charlotte said, gesturing to Idris with her chin.
Behind them was a pile of equipment Nehat had used.
Ian gave it a quick glance and shook his head. "I’m good. Give those back to her."
It was, of course, for purely practical reasons. Most of it looked too big for him to wear, and it wasn’t in great condition either.
As he approached, Idris offered him the hilt of the fang greatsword. "Great Warrior."
Ian reached out and grasped the blood-soaked hilt. The Chieftain’s Fang Greatsword was the first unique-grade two-handed sword he’d gotten in a long time.
"Made of Imperial steel," Ian murmured, lifting the greatsword with just one hand.
Idris quickly moved behind him and slung a chain diagonally over his shoulder to secure the greatsword. Instead of a scabbard, they hooked the blade’s tip and crossguard into the metal rings to keep it in place.
"I’ll put it to good use. Thanks," Ian said, smiling at Charlotte as he let the greatsword hang. There probably wasn’t enough room in his pocket dimension inventory for it, but that was a problem for later.
Charlotte smiled, baring her fangs, and held out a fist. "I’m glad you like it. I kept this too, just in case."
A necklace dangled from her fist. It was a crude thing, just a pointed fang hanging from a chain. What was surprising was that the bead of chaos essence let out a faint hum.
"What’s this now?"
"It’s what Nehat always wore. Made from one of Inaskurgl’s fangs."
"A keepsake, then…"
For a moment, Ian hesitated to take it—until he took a glance at the information window.
[Corrupted Chieftain’s Fang Necklace]
It not only increased Strength and Agility by two and Mental Fortitude by one, but it also raised resistance to several status effects, including Confusion, Fear, and Feral. It must have been the item that helped Nehat keep her sanity.
"It’s too good to turn down."
Ian, the fang greatsword now slung diagonally across his back, accepted the necklace. Charlotte let out a low, pleased rumble.
"Then, what about me? Don’t tell me there’s nothing for me again. I fought hard, too," Thesaya cut in, one eyebrow slightly raised.
Charlotte, Idris, and Palmer’s gazes all turned to her simultaneously.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes and said, "You realize you’ve killed three of the clan’s warriors, Pointy-Ears."