Chapter 491
After a brief silence, Ian replied, “Well, if you’d truly become a demon, you wouldn’t be asking that question. You would already know.”
Of course, Seren’s expression showed no hint of relief.
“But in any case… it seems that moment isn’t far off for you.”
His words rang true. Seren bit her lower lip and closed her eyes.
In a low and steady tone, Ian formally and respectfully added, “And the reason you're in this state is because of me. I know there’s no undoing what’s been done. And I know this brings no comfort. Still, allow me to offer my sincerest apology, Sir Seren.”
Without opening her eyes, Seren finally replied, “So this is what you wished to say to me.”
“Yes, but I don’t intend to leave it as an apology.”
Seren exhaled deeply through her nose. After a moment, she regained her composure and calmly continued, “All Black Lions are doomed, eventually, to be consumed by madness and devoured by chaos. It’s the inevitable end that is decided the moment we accept the stigma of chaos. Not even the protection of His Highness the Crown Prince can change that.”
Opening her eyes, Seren looked at Ian again. “It’s just that… the moment came a little earlier.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked up at her.Before he could add anything, Seren said, “Besides, accepting your chaos was my choice alone. Therefore, the consequences are mine to bear. There is nothing for you to apologize for, Agent of the Saint. On the contrary…”
Seren’s lips curled up slightly. “I should be the one offering my gratitude to you. After all, another archdemon has been vanquished. And since you effectively dispatched it single-handedly, it’s no exaggeration to say you’ve achieved a feat as great as His Highness himself.”
Her words were laden with sincerity. Not only had she witnessed the defeat of two archdemons in a short period, but she had been present for both events. As a knight, there were few honors greater than that. What had happened to her was merely a small sacrifice that rightfully followed such a great accomplishment.
“I appreciate you saying that, but…” Ian said, his tone devoid of joy, as he looked steadily into Seren’s eyes. “It doesn’t change the fact that I owe you a great debt. I already heard the story of how you stood against me to buy time for my friends.”
“You may not remember, but my resistance didn’t stop you for even a moment.”
“The outcome doesn’t matter. The fact remains that you risked your life. So please, give me a chance to repay my debt.” Ian paused for a moment. A faint smile touched his lips. “I can’t grant any requests to take my head or serve the Crown Prince, though.”
Seren let out an involuntary chuckle. The jest was completely unexpected. She didn’t realize it was Ian’s way of making a deal—of getting her to accept his terms.
After a moment, she nodded. “If you insist, there is something I desire.”
“I forgot to add one thing,” Ian cut in quickly, making Seren blink. “I do not consider you my vassal. I do not desire your loyalty, nor do I intend to keep you by my side.”
Seren’s eyes widened, finding his remarks unexpected. Those were precisely the requests that she had been about to make.
“I will take you to His Highness as planned. And I will gladly take responsibility for what happens to you.”
“You are merciful, Agent of the Saint,” Seren murmured, unable to hide her admiration. Since she had voluntarily accepted his chaos, it was Ian’s right to claim her as his vassal.
Ian shrugged. “I already know it was a choice you had to make for my friends.”
In truth, even if she hadn't, Seren would have had no choice but to become his vassal. The chaos that had consumed him would have forcibly taken hers, which would have put Ian in an awkward position when he met Hyked. Hence, Seren had to help him.
Unaware of that, Seren, who had no way of knowing this, simply nodded. “Even so… I thank you, Agent of the Saint. You have lifted a great burden from my heart.”
“Then you can lift the burden from mine by giving me the chance to repay you,” Ian added calmly.
After a moment of thought, Seren said, “In that case… would you grant me an opportunity to ask Yog a question?”
“You want to ask if there’s a way to reverse the transformation?”
“Yes. You may not know this, but your return could be called a miracle. If a being capable of such a miracle exists, it may know a way.”
Nodding, Seren met Ian’s eyes again. “If there is a way to purify the chaos that has taken root in flesh and soul without the help of the gods… it would be a help not only to me, but to all the Black Lions.”
“I understand. When Yog wakes up, I will make sure it answers.”
“Thank you. Even if it cannot find a way, I will not ask for anything else.”
“Well…” Ian shrugged, finally taking a step. “Let’s talk about that then.”
He then bent down. Seren, who was looking at his broad back, blinked in surprise. She had only just realized that Ian was only wearing linen pants. He must be trying to dry his upper body.
As she discreetly turned her gaze to the empty air, clattering followed. Even without looking, Seren knew that Ian had started picking up his equipment. He had laid them all out neatly by the water to wash.
“May I ask one more favor?” Ian asked.
Seren nodded. “Of course.”
“Could you spread out the blanket? I’m going to oil the equipment.”
“Okay.” Standing up abruptly, she spread the blanket wide on the ground in front of her. “I will help with the maintenance, Agent of the Saint.”
“I’ll take you up on that offer. It’s a tedious job,” Ian replied as he walked up the hill. His shoulders, forearms, and chest were laden with all sorts of equipment.
His gear, which had been caked with sand and filth, had now almost completely returned to its original state. The items made by the dwarven masters didn't rust at all, even when they came into contact with water.
Clatter—
Dumping the items he had carried onto the blanket, Ian then tossed the leather water pouch he had been carrying on his forearm into Seren’s lap.
“I filled this before washing, so drink without worry.”
“Thank you…” Seren quickly opened the stopper. In truth, she was terribly thirsty.
Ian, having passed her, approached the metal container that he had placed at the top of the slope. After taking an oil pouch and a bundle of cloth from inside, he returned to Seren’s side.
“Apply it meticulously.”
“Of course. Trust me,” Seren replied, taking the cloth he offered her.
While Ian oiled the cloth, Seren carefully organized the equipment laid out before her. There were some dents and broken parts, but for the gear of someone who had vanquished two archdemons, it was in remarkably good condition. In fact, most of the damage was from the battle with Inaskurgl.
Clank—! Clink—! Ssshhkkrrr…
Sitting opposite each other, Seren and Ian began to move their hands busily.
To Seren’s surprise, Ian was the one who broke the silence. “Just to be safe, let me ask you this: is there no way to reverse the chaos engraved on the stigmata?”
Seren’s hand, which had been wiping the shoulder guard, paused for a moment. Moving her hand again, she replied, “I plan to ask His Highness for another baptism.”
“I don’t think it’s a problem that can be solved so simply.”
Seren couldn’t deny it. It was practically a gamble with an overwhelmingly high chance of failure. Her stigmata had already suffered a great shock from accepting Ian’s chaos. Of course, failure meant her death.
“Just as I thought,” Ian murmured, glancing at Seren.
“There’s no other way, is there? I can’t keep asking you, Agent of the Saint, for power while refusing to serve.”
“Well, I don’t particularly mind.”
“You don’t mind?”
Without stopping his work despite her gaze on him, Ian replied, “Of course, I can’t promise I’ll always grant you power whenever you ask. I have my own circumstances to consider, after all. Still, that’s better than dying, isn’t it? I don’t think His Highness would want you to commit suicide. On the contrary, he might not even accept your request. There’s no way His Highness doesn’t know what I know.”
Ian glanced at Seren’s speechless face and gestured with his chin, telling her to continue oiling the equipment. Seren, who had stopped, groaned lowly and resumed working.
She couldn’t argue with what he’d said. The crown prince would undoubtedly welcome her back, but he would never grant a request that was no different from a death wish.
When maintenance was almost finished, Seren requested, “Even so… I’d still like to bring the request before His Highness. Would that be alright?”
“It doesn’t seem like something you need my permission for. Do as you wish.”
“Again, thank you for your merciful decision, Agent of the Saint.”
“I’d like to stop receiving those thanks now.” Ian smacked his lips and set down the steel boots he had been holding. “While you’re helping, can you help me put this on as well?”
“Gladly.”
Ian nodded, stood up, and turned toward the storage box. As he took out the quilted clothing that he had brought and put it on, Seren picked up the breastplate and back armor that were in front of her. On the blanket, the equipment, gleaming with oil, was neatly arranged by part.
Clank… Clunk…
Soon, pieces of armor began to cover Ian one by one. Seren skillfully assisted him from behind.
While Ian was fastening the vambrace on his left arm, a gasp burst out. The platinum-blonde fairy shot up her upper body as if bouncing, and the wooden mask that had been covering her face flew forward and tumbled away.
Neither Ian nor Seren showed any particular reaction, though. They just glanced at Diana, who was staring blankly ahead, and then continued what they were doing.
“This… shit…” Diana let out a stunned sigh. “Even after I died… I still couldn’t escape this place…”
“What couldn’t you escape from?”
“This goddamn demonic realm. So I really died and ended up as a wandering ghost here… Ian?”
Diana’s head whipped around. Her swamp-colored eyes swept over Ian, who was fastening the steel gauntlet, and Seren, who was standing beside him.
“You guys… died too? And became ghosts together, all friendly like this?”
“I understand how you must feel, Sir Diana,” Seren replied as she fastened Ian’s forearm guard. She couldn’t hide the smile on her lips. “I felt the same way just a little while ago. But we didn’t die; we’re still alive.”
“Alive? Me?” Diana asked. It seemed she hadn’t even realized that she was speaking informally to Seren.
Ian, who had finished putting on his gloves, clenched and unclenched his fists. He then answered, “Yeah. You’re alive.”
“No… but… I definitely felt your tentacle…” Muttering, Diana’s gaze went down.
She threw off the blanket that was wrapped around her, uncovering her chainmail-reinforced leather armor. It had been brutally torn at the waist, revealing flesh as white and smooth as her face. Reaching out to it, she caressed her waist as if she couldn’t believe it.
Diana, still stunned, looked back at Ian. “How?”
Slipping the glove onto his other hand, Ian replied, “Well.”