I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

Chapter 338

The fine, ash-like snow, which had been lightly falling, gradually tapered off without growing heavier.

For travelers crossing the snowfields in the depths of winter, this was a stroke of good fortune. Had the snowfall intensified, their journey would have faced significant delays. Of course, even the intermittent flurries had piled up enough to cover their boots.

Crunch, crunch—

The caravan trudged forward across the snow, unfazed and unwavering.

It’s clear...

At the rear of the procession, Ian sat astride the white horse, Nila, wearing a disinterested expression as he looked up at the sky.

... A major storm will hit soon.

Both Ian’s group and the migrants from Red Rock Village moved with little rest. Time was of the essence, not just because the erosion loomed closer with each passing day, but because a blizzard was expected to descend from the Ahigorn Mountains.

While these storms were an almost annual event, this year, with the erosion coming up, predicting its timing had become nearly impossible. The villagers had to secure a new settlement before it struck.

Mobilizing everyone to get the work done would help foster unity, too.

Ian had already devised a simple plan to manage this. He hadn’t voiced it aloud, but the urgency was partly his fault.

Distracted by the looming erosion, Ian had paid little attention to the natural order of the snowfields, assuming that gathering the villagers into a safe space would be enough.

What kind of Great Warrior drags everyone into danger...

Ian’s gaze lowered from the overcast skies to the long caravan stretching out before him.

Despite the abrupt arrival of a stranger who defeated their leader and forced them to abandon their home, the villagers followed without a word of complaint. No grumbling, no resistance—just unquestioning obedience to the orders of their Great Warrior.

... Lately, I’ve been having too many useless thoughts.

A faint smirk tugged at one corner of Ian’s mouth.

Perhaps it was because he had gathered these people out of necessity. While he justified it as a way to prevent greater sacrifices and tragedies, that was only half true. The Emperor’s push had been a factor, but ultimately, this was all for Ian’s own survival—and to grow stronger. In this cursed world, Ian was willing to do whatever it took.

... So feeling unwarranted guilt would just be hypocrisy.

With that conclusion, Ian cast aside his idle thoughts. He didn’t have the luxury to dwell on such matters—there were too many practical concerns to address.

He also had to anticipate the unknown—such as the nature of the monsters that would soon invade from beyond the Black Wall.

"Great Warrior!"

The shout came from the front of the caravan.

Ian looked toward the head of the procession, where Volber stood on a ridgeline along a gentle incline, the path curving ahead. The area seemed oddly open, the forest thinning out.

"I can see the village!"

Already? But the area ahead should still be forested.

Ian tilted his head slightly, skeptical. The area ahead was supposed to be forested.

Still, he grabbed Nila’s reins. "Let’s go see."

Nila moved swiftly to the side of the caravan, kicking up snow as she broke into a brisk run. As she galloped past the front of the procession, the incline quickly came into view.

"Whoa, easy," Ian murmured, pulling the reins to slow Nila down.

As the horse steadied, Ian took in the scene before him.

The clearing Volber had spotted wasn’t an illusion. There truly were no trees left in the area—only stumps protruded through the snow, their tops covered in frost.

In the distance, where the land flattened, lay a sprawling village far larger than anything Ian had seen before in the region. The gray expanse of the settlement stretched far, with houses scattered like layers of rooftops, surrounded by a fortified palisade that was both taller and denser than before.

Closer to the village, patches of dark, exposed soil stood out starkly against the snow—clear evidence that the sanctified fires were still burning effectively, keeping the area safe.

Ian’s gaze lingered on the widened palisade, the scattered watchtowers, and the various heights of the rooftops beyond.

"Looks like everyone else made it here ahead of us," Volber commented as he caught up beside Ian. Behind them, the migration caravan had naturally followed their lead.

"They should be," Ian replied with a nod.

The scale of the transformation was impressive. Even with additional manpower, accomplishing this in such a short period was no small feat. Only a group as stubborn and determined as the barbarians could have managed it.

Volber allowed himself a satisfied smile. "It seems everyone has blended well. The arrangements you made before leaving appear to have worked perfectly."

"Worked perfectly might be an understatement…" Ian thought, his lips curling into a faint smirk. It seemed things had gone even better than he’d expected.

Before departing for Nor Lindor, he had left a few key instructions with Kvassar and Miguel. These included establishing the foundations of cooperation among the gathered barbarians.

One such directive was the formation of two groups: the Council of Elders, composed of a representative elder from each village, and the Assembly of Warriors, led by the Great Warriors.

These two heads oversaw the settlement and ensured the snowfields remained stable even after Ian left.

Judging by the results, it wasn’t just a basic framework—they had already begun fulfilling their roles effectively.

"We’ll know for sure when we get there," Ian added with a shrug.

Volber nodded, then turned to shout back at the caravan, "Let’s pick up the pace! We’re almost there!"

As the villagers gawked at the expanded settlement with expressions of awe, Ian allowed himself a small, satisfied grin and urged Nila forward.

Clip, clop—

The horse trotted forward energetically, its steps feeling lighter than they had in days. Nila seemed just as eager to reach the village and rest.

***

As they neared the village, the air grew noticeably warmer.

The migrants exchanged puzzled glances, unable to understand the sudden shift. Ian, however, saw no need to explain. They’d find out soon enough once they entered the village.

"Great Warrior...!"

"The Great Warrior has returned!"

Shouts erupted from the wooden watchtowers, now sturdier and taller than before.

Creak—

The massive gates, reinforced with thick logs, opened. They were far sturdier than the ones Ian remembered from his last visit. Beyond the gates, the sight that greeted Ian was entirely unrecognizable compared to the village he had left behind.

"Ooh, the Superhuman of the North...!"

"The Great Warrior... truly, a Great Warrior!"

The biggest change, however, was the sheer number of people. Even at a glance, there were already hundreds visible as the gates opened. The crowd parted like a wave, forming a path that stretched far into the settlement.

I must be a lucky lord.

After all, he had the most diligent subjects on the continent.

As he moved through the crowd, Ian couldn’t help but be impressed. The settlement was far larger than it had appeared from the outside. At this scale, it was no longer just a village—it was a city. The influence of the settlers from the earlier encampments was clear in the well-organized roads and districts radiating outward from the main avenue.

The elders had worked together effectively to make it happen.

"Great Warrior..."

"It’s an honor to see you again, Great Warrior."

As Ian passed, the residents bowed and greeted him, one by one. Many of the faces were familiar—people he had encountered at least once before, whether in Nor Lindor or the sanctuary.

Moments like these reminded Ian of his heightened Intelligence. Faces he’d seen even once before stuck in his memory with clarity.

Memory retention, processing speed, and focus were all leagues beyond what he was capable of in his previous life. After all, he could still remember walkthroughs he had read years ago, down to the smallest details.

... Though I’ve been forgetting things more and more lately.

Once all the migrants had entered the city, Ian finally brought Nila to a halt. The villagers from Red Rock, clearly awestruck by the city’s scale, remained silent but visibly overwhelmed.

"Volber, guide the migrants," Ian instructed.

"Yes, Great Warrior," Volber replied promptly.

"And make sure this one’s well cared for." Ian patted Nila’s neck as he added, "Feed it, let it rest properly—and don’t tie it down."

With that, Ian dismounted. Nila let out a snort, shaking her head as if relieved by the weight lifted from her back.

Ian glanced at the crowd and addressed them in a commanding tone.

"It’s good to see you all again. We’ll have time to catch up later, but for now, return to your tasks. Help the new arrivals settle in if you can."

"Yes, Great Warrior!"

"We will follow your command!"

Voices called out in agreement, and the villagers dispersed quickly. About half returned to their previous activities, while the rest moved to assist the newcomers.

The migrants from Red Rock, looking dazed, were soon swept into the crowd’s flow.

"Gr-Great Warrior...! Please, wait a moment!"

A hulking figure pushed his way through the crowd and came running. It was Alder, the Great Warrior of Red Rock, who had given Ian so much trouble in their duel.

Now, however, there wasn’t a hint of defiance in his expression. Like the other Great Warriors Ian had bested, Alder had come to genuinely respect and follow him.

"I return this to you, Great Warrior," Alder said, bowing deeply as he extended a necklace with a small leather pouch attached—Della Lu’s Grace.

"I told you to return it once you were fully healed," Ian remarked.

"Miraculously, I’ve already recovered. The artifact’s power is even greater than I imagined. Though, of course, it pales compared to the blessing granted by the Superhuman of the North," Alder replied with a smile.

The necklace clearly hadn’t regrown the teeth he had lost—several gaps still remained in his smile.

"Thanks to it, I believe I’m ready to follow you to the frontlines, Great Warrior."

"I’m not sure if that’s a good thing for you," Ian replied, taking back the necklace and slipping it over his head. With a nod, he signaled Alder to step aside.

"Great Warriors from other villages will arrive soon. They’ll be your peers. I’m appointing you as a Centurion in my legion."

"Centurion...!" Alder’s eyes widened before he lowered his head in respect. "I will fight with my life, Great Warrior!"

"Try not to throw your life away so recklessly," Ian replied with a faint smirk, continuing, "Also, pass on a message to Elder Aiba. Tell him to join the Council of Elders."

"Understood. And where will you be going, Great Warrior?"

"The square," Ian answered, turning to walk away. "They’ve probably already heard that I’m here. I imagine they’ll find me soon enough."

Whether Alder heard this clearly over the bustling noise was unclear. But Ian’s prediction came true in less than ten steps.

"Great Warrior!"

A figure with a raised hand pushed through the crowd, running toward Ian.

Ian halted, a smile spreading across his face as he recognized the familiar figure. It wasn’t just a known face—it was a welcome one.

"You’ve finally returned! I’ve been waiting for you!"

The warrior standing before him, catching his breath, was Askel. Once a sharp-witted young hunter who had guided Ian’s group through the mountains, he had now grown into something far more.

"You’ve gotten taller," Ian said, forgoing a typical greeting. "At this rate, you might even outgrow me."

Askel smiled. "That’s possible. My father was quite tall, and even though the old man’s hunched now, he wasn’t small either."

The boy Ian remembered was now a young man, his height reaching just below Ian’s chin. His shoulders had broadened, and his frame was solid. Though his features retained the calm composure typical of Northerners, his aura was sharper, more commanding.

Northern folks really grow fast.

At this rate, the next time they met, Askel might sport a full beard and look every bit the rugged warrior. That mental image drew a wry chuckle from Ian.

"Judging by the way you look, I don’t need to ask if you’ve been doing well," Ian remarked.

"I owe it all to you. And it seems you’ve been doing well yourself, Great Warrior. They said you hadn’t changed a bit, and it seems they were right."

"Well, what you see on the surface isn’t always the whole story."

If anything, I’ve become more of a ruined character.

Shaking the thought, Ian studied Askel. "It’s a surprise to see you here. I expected your group to stay behind in the settlement."

"How could we not follow, after you opened the way for us? Our village is now under my leadership—though, of course, we’ve all merged into one now."

Askel’s confident reply made Ian raise an eyebrow.

"You’re already the Great Warrior of your village?"

"Not on my own, of course."

Smiling, Askel lightly thumped his chest with a fist. "I have this role thanks to you, Great Warrior. For everything I lack, I’ve been relying on Valeri, the old man, and many others for support."

A cooperative leader, huh?

Ian thought with an amused smile. It was clear Askel’s maturity wasn’t just physical; his demeanor had ripened into something far more fitting for his position.

He had always been composed for his age, but stepping into a leadership role had allowed his potential to flourish.

He and Lucia would make an interesting pair to watch.

"So, you’re officially a member of the Assembly of Warriors now. I take it you’ve fully adapted?"

"Yes, thanks to the regulations you established. It made the transition much easier."

"Good," Ian said, nodding.

He resumed walking and added, "Then I’ll hear the reports of what happened while I was away—from you."