I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

Chapter 341

Ian furrowed his brow, prompting Lucia to continue quickly.

"We need a medium to finalize the consecration ritual. I think a blessing might descend, and it would be best if we used your sword for that, Ian."

"A blessing, huh..." Ian’s brow smoothed out.

Well, she always comes up with clever ideas.

He suddenly paused as he glanced back at the Truesilver Steel Sword beside the bed.

"The weapon won’t be damaged," Lucia hastily added, reading his expression. "I’ll only place it at the edge of the brazier, not directly in the sacred flame."

"That’s not why I’m hesitating." Ian set down his fork and wiped his mouth with his fingers.

Lucia blinked at him, puzzled. "Then what is it?"

"I’ve been wondering about something," Ian began as he stood up. Stripping off his fur-lined vest, he turned toward the bed. He glanced over his neatly arranged gear atop a wolf pelt.

Leaning over, he slipped on his chain mail vest and reached for the plate armor to strap onto his chest.

"Uh... you probably don’t need to worry about that," Lucia replied, tilting her head slightly.

She continued as Rigg scurried over to help Ian with his gear. "The brazier is holding the sacred flame, so it’s protected by divine energy. Physical force alone won’t easily damage or destroy it. You’d need to extinguish the flame first or use some magical method."

"That’s good to hear." Ian nodded as his hands moved deftly to fasten his armor.

Lucia’s head tilted further. "Why are you suddenly asking about that? And why are you gearing up now? You could’ve just handed me the sword and taken your time."

"You wouldn’t be able to carry it. It’s heavy," Ian said plainly.

Lucia’s confusion deepened as Ian asked another question. "Is everyone ready to leave?"

"Yes. I’m sure you’ve heard the noise—people have been preparing since dawn. There’ve been a few... small disruptions, though."

"Small disruptions?"

"From the warriors staying behind," Lucia clarified, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Some threw fits about wanting to join, and others tried hiding in supply crates or carriages, only to be dragged out again."

"Ah, that kind of disruption." Ian chuckled softly before adding, "Don’t tell me Askel was among them."

"No, he wasn’t," Lucia replied, her smirk lingering. "Though he looked quite regretful."

Ian suddenly glanced at Lucia. "So, you’ve already gotten close to that kid?"

"A little. Not much," she replied.

Doesn’t seem like just a little

"But when it came to his warriors pulling that stunt, he was furious. Dragging them out and beating sense into them was quite the sight. Fearless Askel, they say? He didn’t even care who was watching."

"Fearless...?"

Looks like he’s earned the complete opposite nickname now.

Ian let out a small chuckle as he stood up, fully clad in his armor. Ian carefully secured every piece of his armor, ensuring there were no loose ends. The pure steel greatsword was now fixed at his waist. He looked between Rigg and Lucia.

"Both of you, step back to the door."

"... Uh, yes," Lucia gestured to Rigg to follow her and stepped back.

Meanwhile, Ian retrieved the Shadow Cloak from his pocket dimension and draped it over his shoulders. With a flourish of the cloak, he turned to face the door and stretched his right arm to the side. His hand disappeared momentarily into the pocket dimension, reemerging, gripping the hilt of a massive blade.

Rigg’s jaw dropped as his wide eyes remained fixed on the suddenly materializing colossal greatsword. The blade, towering as tall as an average adult, gleamed ominously, its slightly curved tip inscribed with ancient runes.

Ian narrowed one eye slightly, finding the sword lighter than expected. He remembered the difficulty of merely lifting it when he first acquired it.

A faint bitter smile spread across his lips as he recalled he had only ever wielded this sword under the Blessing of Battle.

So now I can use it without the blessing...

It made sense. His Strength stat had increased by over ten points since then. Ian released his left hand from the hilt, holding the sword one-handed. The blade wavered slightly but remained steady enough not to fall.

It still wouldn’t be as easy to swing around as it was with the blessing, Ian thought, his eyes running along the blade.

Numerous scratches and small cracks adorned its surface, and the once-impeccable durability was now down to less than thirty percent. This wasn’t surprising, though—it was an irreplaceable relic that Ian had used recklessly in countless battles. That it hadn’t broken yet was remarkable in itself.

It should hold up for a few more fights.

Ian shrugged and began to lower the blade when Lucia’s soft exclamation caught his attention.

"By Lu Entre, that’s..." She couldn’t hide her astonishment.

"I didn’t realize you had something so incredible," she murmured, her expression uncharacteristically awed.

It made sense—this was her first time seeing it. She probably also understood now why Ian had asked about the brazier’s durability and insisted on carrying the sword himself.

"I thought you’d give me the Truesilver Steel Sword."

"If it gets blessed, this one will be much more effective," Ian replied matter-of-factly.

Based on his experiences, Ian was confident that once the erosion began, Karha would grant the Blessing of Battle. Being with the barbarian army only increased that likelihood.

Wielding a greatsword was perfect for fighting hordes of monsters.

Sure, activating the Platinum Claws could expand the killing range of the Truesilver Steel Sword, but that particular ability rendered stats like Strength, blessings, or additional enhancements meaningless. The blade would effortlessly cut through anything, as if it were made of tofu.

"You really are a superhuman, aren’t you, Great Warrior?"

The words came softly from Rigg. Ian glanced at him, and the boy, staring in awe, continued, "Do you think... I could ever become like you someday?"

"If you eat well, train hard, and stay clean, maybe."

Rigg’s eyes widened, and Ian, with a casual shrug, added, "Go tell your friends to gather when they’re ready. After that, bring Nila to the square. You know the drill—no need to hold the reins once it’s out."

"Yes, Great Warrior!" Standing as straight as a rod, Rigg shouted his reply with startling enthusiasm before dashing out the door.

…Guess that left an impression, Ian thought with a smirk as he turned to Lucia. She was staring intently at the greatsword, lost in thought.

"What’s on your mind?"

"I thought that if you put that thing on the brazier, the flames might touch the blade. It won’t melt, but the runic circuits engraved on the surface could get damaged. If the blessing doesn’t come down... it might just end up harming the sword."

Even now, that’s what she’s worried about?

Ian chuckled silently before responding. "It’s fine. As long as I can still swing it."

Besides, he doubted the Blazing Goddess would ignore him. They’d already forged a favorable relationship.

"Let’s go. You go ahead and open the doors while I catch up."

"All right." Lucia glanced at the oversized weapon again, finally grasping just how massive it was, and walked to the door.

Ian followed her at a leisurely pace. He hadn’t, however, accounted for the sword brushing against the dining table and reducing it to splinters along the way.

***

Though it wasn’t yet noon, the day felt unusually dim. The overcast sky rippled with clouds drifting southeast, like waves in slow motion.

So that’s the sign of a coming blizzard, right?

Ian mused, striding behind Lucia.

Thud, thud, thud.

Walking with the towering greatsword gripped effortlessly in one hand, he resembled a farmer plowing the earth. His presence alone was enough to halt the bustling villagers, all busy preparing for the journey.

"As expected of our Great Warrior. Carrying something that monstrous like it’s nothing. Must be a relic of giants."

"So it’s true he wiped out all the giants in the mountain depths with a beastfolk slave and a blind fairy."

"Slave? That beastfolk was a mighty warrior. In our Black Forest Hill Village, we called her the Black Panther with the Ax."

"I don’t remember seeing that in Bellium... but then again, he was wielding the radiant, holy sword back then. That was glorious, too."

Whispers, large and small, trailed behind him.

Not wanting to draw attention by pulling the sword out of his pocket dimension later, Ian carried it open, which only drew even more eyes. It was inevitable, but the itching at the back of his neck was hard to ignore.

"How does someone that size wield such strength?"

"Don’t you know? The Great Warrior killed a bear with his bare hands at just three years old."

"Wait, really? Amazing. I also heard he walked the moment he was born. Killing bears must be a natural next step."

"Clearly, he’s a descendant of Karha. He must carry the bloodline of the ancients."

What kind of origin stories are they making up now?

Amused, Ian let out a silent laugh. Listening to these far-fetched tales, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was how all legends and myths were born.

If you count waking up in the swamp as being born, then maybe these stories aren’t completely ridiculous...

Ian shook his head with a faint smirk as he crossed the square, climbing the steps to the platform. Conversations that had hummed around him moments ago quieted as everyone returned to their tasks. The sight of Ian, fully armed and heading toward the brazier, was enough for them to understand what was about to happen.

Instead of climbing the makeshift steps leading to the altar beside the brazier, Ian moved directly to the front of the platform. The brazier might have been sturdy, but the poorly constructed stairs didn’t look like they could handle the weight of both him and the massive greatsword.

The brazier itself, excluding the platform’s height, only reached about his eye level.

Whoosh.

The white sacred flame flickered and danced more vividly as Ian approached. Yet, contrary to its vibrant presence, it didn’t feel hot. Only a gentle warmth radiated from it, a comforting touch rather than an overwhelming blaze. Even as the flames seemed to reach out toward him, beckoning with each surge, that warmth remained unchanged.

Is this the result of the prayers she’s been offering for days?

Ian pondered as he glanced toward Lucia, who was ascending the altar. He wasn’t sure if she could feel the strange, faint presence emanating from within the flames.

"Let’s begin. Please place the greatsword on the brazier," she instructed, meeting his gaze.

Ian nodded, lifting the enormous blade above his head.

... It’s certain now. I can wield this without relying on any blessing.

Even if Karha pulled another of his erratic stunts, Ian wouldn’t be caught off guard. Confident in his ability, Ian laid the greatsword flat atop the brazier. The wide blade spanned its surface, shielding the sacred flames as it rested across them.

Just as Lucia had claimed, the brazier didn’t so much as creak. The white flames danced along the blade’s surface, brushing against it like a gentle caress.

"When the time comes, lift the greatsword again," Lucia murmured, kneeling before the altar.

"If the goddess answers the prayer, the blessing will descend," she added softly.

It feels like she’s already waiting.

Ian kept the thought to himself as he nodded again. Lucia closed her eyes and murmured her prayers, her lips moving steadily in rhythm. The sacred flame dimmed slightly in response, its flicker turning into a low, steady pulse.

Ian turned to take in the scene behind him.

The square, now more angular and expansive than before, stretched outward, flanked by broad avenues leading in three directions. In the center, row upon row of warriors gathered, their formation growing as more filtered in.