I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 325

"It’s uncertain, but... at least the Purification Squad seems to pull out. As for the Crusaders, I heard some will remain, but I don’t know how many."

Trude clicked his tongue and twitched his deeply furrowed nose before continuing, "One thing’s for sure—the Archduke was furious. According to sources in Travelga, he threw everything within reach and stormed into the church himself, yelling at the priests."

"... Yeah, that sounds about right," Ian muttered, narrowing his eyes.

This couldn’t have been the Emperor’s doing. The Purification Squad and the Crusaders followed the will of the Order above all. Their numbers were small, but each member was exceptionally capable, especially when fighting monsters. The Archduke’s outburst was far from an overreaction.

"I heard they’re being moved to the southern front. Apparently, it’s causing quite a stir internally. People say that the Order has chosen the non-humans over the North."

... It feels less like they abandoned the North and more like they abandoned me, Ian thought, clenching his jaw as he downed his drink.

He didn’t need to think too hard to know who in the Order had made such a decision: the Round Table Parliament. Not only had he sided with the Emperor, but he hadn’t even visited the papal states, giving them plenty of reasons to seize this opportunity. They didn’t miss their chance to undermine both Ian and the Emperor, leaving Archduke Olaf and the North to suffer without knowing the situation.

I thought they wouldn’t have the bandwidth for outside distractions... It seems they still haven’t given up on killing me.

Ian set down his glass, his gaze now cold and steady.

Trude’s brow furrowed as he watched Ian’s expression shift. "You didn’t know either, did you, Captain... Damn... I was wondering why everything was falling apart like this."

He spat the words out as if they had left a bitter taste, bringing the glass to his lips and draining it.

He set it down with a bang and ground his teeth before speaking again. "Now it’s clear. They didn’t abandon the North; they dumped it on you. They’re banking on the Northern superhuman to protect it once more, just like before. Those bastards...."

"In any case, we’re in a position where we need every sword we can get," Ian said.

Trude snapped his head toward him, frowning. "Captain?"

"What, do you want me to go back and overturn everything? Let the North fall apart?"

"..." Trude flinched.

Ian poured another drink, his voice deep and calm. "Nothing’s changed. You said Karlingion was left empty. That’s where I’ll be. It’ll be my post..."

He extended the bottle to fill Trude’s glass as well. "And the post for those who will fight alongside me." @@novelbin@@

"...."

"It’ll be a battle to the death. Just like before."

"Damn it all...," Trude sighed, his voice trembling as much as his gaze, "Just when I thought we’d finally get to live like real people for a change."

Trude's lips curled into an odd smile, a mixture of fear and inexplicable excitement as he continued to look at Ian. "Do you know I still dream of that day? When I wake up, my blanket is drenched in sweat. It still terrifies me as if it just happened yesterday, but strangely, it doesn’t always feel like a nightmare. Sometimes, I think it was the greatest day of my life. I suppose...."

Trude’s trembling hand reached for his drink, a strange smile forming as though he might burst into tears. "I guess I’m fated to die on the battlefield."

Ian let out a low scoff but reached out with his drink raised. "Karha will be pleased. More cannon fodder for the legion."

"Ha... damn it...."

Trude clinked his glass against Ian’s, and Ian raised the drink to his lips as one corner of his mouth quivered. Yet, as he took a sip, his eyes remained dark and somber, absorbing the light as if it were an abyss.

Damn it...

Despite his words, it wasn’t out of any particular attachment or sense of duty to the North that he made this decision. He fully intended to repay the debt he owed the Emperor and the Order with interest. And to do that, he needed to ensure the North didn’t fall. He was ready to become the formidable new warlord neither the royal family nor the Order wanted. The invaluable experience and quest rewards he would gain were just a bonus this time around.

"Well, at least it won’t be as bad as back then. Not by a long shot. It’s Karlingion, after all. An impregnable fortress and the defense forces will fight alongside us with their lives." Trude muttered as he set down his glass, more as if trying to convince himself than because he truly believed it.

Regardless, ‌he had resolved to follow Ian. Not that he had a choice. Still, there was a marked difference between being dragged along and following willingly—especially considering the role Ian expected him to play.

"There weren’t many familiar faces left. Are these the only ones here?" Ian asked as he set down his glass, ready to move the conversation to more practical matters.

"Not at all. Just scattered across different city branches. Of course, some died, some left with the barbarians, or quit and settled in towns. But there are still more left. They hold positions within the mercenary band, acting like big shots. Like me."

"That’s good. I’d have been disappointed if everyone left."

"We’re the North’s largest mercenary group, after all. No way this could be it."

As he filled Ian’s glass, Trude continued, "We’ve got branches in four cities, including Travelga. With the losses and recruits coming in, the exact count is hard to pin down, but there should be around a hundred fifty. Maybe a dozen or so that you’d recognize."

"Hmm..." A subtle smile played on Ian’s lips. The scale was far larger than he had expected. He hadn’t thought it would exceed a hundred men. In a wartime situation, it might have been plausible, but this number was well beyond the ordinary.

"Seems like you put my name and your connections to good use," Ian remarked.

Trude paused mid-pour and set the bottle down hurriedly. "As you know, we were always short on hands. But we couldn’t just bring in anyone. A mercenary’s trust comes from their name. Balancing both sides’ interests made it grow bigger than intended. Even this size is after being selective."

There was a note of desperation in Trude’s voice.

Ian smirked. "Yet everyone seems to live well."

"That’s... well, as long as they didn’t cross the line, we turned a blind eye.... But I swear, we didn’t just grow without reason," Trude protested, his face creasing as if to appear pitiful but only looking menacing.

Trude continued, "If I’d really steeled myself and accepted everyone, we’d probably be twice as big as we are now..."

"Yeah... I suppose so," Ian responded with a casual shrug and took a sip from his glass.

He hadn’t brought it up to reprimand Trude in the first place. Running a mercenary group of this scale smoothly would inevitably require some flexibility. Ian was merely checking to see if the group’s current size could be managed, even if it were to expand.

"Can you mobilize everyone?" Ian asked as he set down his glass.

Trude, quickly refilling it, nodded. "I can trust about half of them. They’re Northerners; even the most reckless won’t refuse a call from the Great Warrior. But the other half... No."

Trude paused, his brow furrowed, and he set the bottle down with a thud. He looked Ian in the eye, determination hardening his features.

"I’ll bring them all in. Anyone who tries to run will face consequences and be dragged back. Those who show no loyalty will have unforgettable lessons carved into their bodies."

Good. They could handle more growth if needed.

Ian smirked and spoke, "Let those who want to run, run. Dragging them along won’t do any good anyway. You know that, don’t you?"

"But... if we do that, then..."

"Instead, spread the word. Let it be known that I’m back."

Trude's eyes widened. Knowing Ian’s personality, it was more unexpected than ever.

"It will be known sooner or later. Might as well use it to our advantage. Let people know I'm heading to the front lines and waiting for warriors to join me."

As Ian continued, holding his drink, his voice remained steady, "Anyone who fights alongside me will earn the right to be called the Dragon Slayer’s Warrior. Tell your men that if they join me at the front, I won't hold them accountable for what they've done. And... if they wish, they’ll be free to come and go or even settle in the snowfield. That’s my land now. The barbarians who fight with me will be welcomed as well."

"Huh..."

Ian raised his glass in a slight toast, meeting Trude's eyes with a smile. "I don't know how many will come, but you'll manage them all. Just as you've been doing. Can you handle that?"

"... Of course, I can. Captain." Trude, who had been hesitantly parting his lips, firmly nodded.

His gaze now glistened with a renewed determination, reminiscent of when he had followed Ian in the past.

"In the meantime, I'll cross the wall and head to the snowfield. I'll gather as many barbarian warriors as I can," Ian added as he emptied his glass.

Trude, now refilling Ian's glass as if it were the most natural thing, smirked with his scarred lips. "I expected as much, but it’s good to hear. One barbarian warrior is worth over ten average men."

"Do you know what’s going on up there? I heard many have returned."

"That's right. I heard they didn't scatter into small villages like before, but gathered into a few large ones. They say they’re set on rooting out those damned undead. You’d be better off getting the full details from the ones downstairs."

Trude shrugged his broad shoulders and added, "There are a few who go back and forth frequently. I'll have them meet you as soon as you head down."

"Good to hear."

They’d know the routes well, then.

Ian noted to himself as he raised his glass. Now that he thought about it, the din of noise had once again spread across the floor. It didn’t sound like anything was breaking, so it likely wasn’t a fight. Most likely, Miguel and Lucia were engaging the mercenaries in something. They mentioned they had business to take care of.

... Well, I’ll find out soon enough when I go down.

Just as Ian was about to set his glass down, Trude suddenly spoke, locking eyes with Ian with a serious expression.

"But, Captain, would you at least allow us the chance to make those who betrayed us pay the price? At the very least, we should reclaim what they took. We can give it to those who willingly come to follow you."

"Unless they’re fools, I doubt they’ll hand over their goods willingly." Ian smirked slightly, locking eyes with Trude as he replied, "I don’t care if you kill any who run. But if we end up with injuries on our side, it’ll cost us more than it’s worth."

"Don’t worry, Captain. We’ve got people who are experts at handling such things. They won’t kill them. They’ll take a few fingers and brand them as cowards, somewhere everyone can see."

"What, are you planning to brand it right in the middle of their foreheads?"

"Ah, so you've done it before, I see."

Done it before? What nonsense, you lunatic.

Ian shook his head slowly and said, "Do as you see fit. Just make sure we don’t end up with unnecessary injuries on our side."

"There won’t be, I swear."

Whether he was trying to prove his loyalty or simply feared facing danger alone, Ian wasn't sure. Not that it mattered what Trude's motives were. He silently refilled his glass, noting that the large bottle was nearly empty.

"You said there are still settlers in the barbarian outposts, right?" Ian asked as he raised his glass.

Trude nodded immediately. "Of course. I’d guess there are about a hundred left."

"Let them know I’m back. The settlement will be our staging ground before we head to the front. Tell any volunteers to gather there, and that includes your men as well."

"Understood. When should we have it done?"

"One month."

Trude’s eyes twitched slightly. "Just one month...?"

"Yes. One month."

Even if I wanted to give more time, we simply don’t have it.

Ian thought to himself as he finished his drink in one swift motion. Setting the empty glass down on the desk, he concluded, "Have everything ready before I return."