I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

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Declan spread his hands wide.

“Since your skills have already been verified, if you undergo some training and take an oath, I would like to appoint you as the white battalion leader and officer in my unit. Isn’t it a good proposal?”

“Are you talking about reorganizing mercenaries into regular troops?”

Philip asked, narrowing his eyes.

Having lived on the front lines for a long time, he knew how empty and meaningless such stories were.

Declan nodded casually. His eyes, looking at Ian, sparkled with sincere ambition.

“With the impending war, it’s a feasible option. Other lords might dismiss mercenaries, but I’m not inclined to do so. Battle-hardened mercenaries are a formidable force. Given the right price and opportunity, of course. If they’re under my command, they can rise as much as their accomplishments warrant. Of course, I won’t disregard you either.”

“Hmm…”

Ian stroked his chin.

Of course, he wasn’t interested in the proposal itself.

What interested him was Declan’s attitude.

Declan was genuinely attempting to integrate the mercenaries into his power.

And judging by the success of his methods, it was evident, just by looking at Paton.

He looked as if that was same way he had become Declan’s officer.

“Have you received permission from the lord?”

“Of course. He was more like, If you’re going to do it, go ahead. It’s not a loss from my father’s perspective either. He’ll place us at the forefront.”

“It sounds like a perfect opportunity to become a blade for hire.”

“I won’t deny it. However, in return, if we survive, we’ll become a powerful force with a strong justification. I will make it happen. Even though, by no means am I foolish.”

Declan tapped his temple with his index finger.

Ian nodded in agreement.

Although Ian might think that Declan was trying to bait him, in fact, Ian had been considering that since the moment they first met.

Conversely, it was like, let’s catch the interest and use it to solve the request.

He had been listening to irrelevant talk diligently, and that’s why.

“If I help you with your task, would you consider my proposal?”

“If I think about it. I can’t be entirely sure if you’ll be of help.”

“If your duty lies within this city, then perhaps. There’s nowhere my reach won’t extend except for my inner circle.”

Declan spoke confidently.

His gaze upon Ian held warmth and desire.

Ian met his gaze calmly.

Whether this was Declan’s true face or not didn’t matter.

If he’s as good as he appears, he will come to know his father’s true face.

If not, everything will become much easier.

“I apologize, but… wouldn’t that expose our task?”

Philip intervened at an opportune moment.

His characteristic naivety was helpful in times like these.

“Ah, the mercenary’s code of secrecy, I suppose. Well, Paton?”

Declan turned to Paton, who smiled.

“Uh, my lord?”

“Sorry, but could you stop them? Those who are loitering around, looking curious.”

“Yes, well, understood. Did you hear? Don’t loiter around like rat pups. Let’s have a drink.”

Paton turned away.

A small space was created around the corner where Ian was seated.

Ian looked at Declan.

“It might be too sensitive for you to hear.”

“Your friend seems to know how to pique curiosity. Go ahead, tell me. It’s alright.”

“We’ve come here to find someone.”

Ian half-extracted a partially decayed badge from his bosom.

Declan’s eyes narrowed.

“Dave…?”

“As you can see, he’s from Orundel’s regular army.”

“Seeing him in this state, I assume he is already dead.”

“That’s right. He was transporting prisoners. Finding the one who gave the order is the first goal of our task.”

“And the second goal is to find out what happened to him?”

Declan lowered his voice.

Ian nodded.

“I can’t reveal the details, but it was an unjust death.”

“Are there corrupt individuals within the regular army?”

“Well, that’s something you probably know better than I do. What do you think?”

When Ian asked, Declan scratched his cheek.

“I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I’m not well-versed in the internal affairs of the lord. They’re commanded by my brother and father. They’re the ones in charge and the successors.”

“In that case… you won’t be able to help us.”

“I didn’t say I couldn’t help.”

Declan smiled. To Ian’s eyes, it seemed like the smile of someone who had seized an opportunity.

He looked at Ian with enthusiastic eyes.

“I’ll look into it. My personal curiosity is also piqued, so there won’t be any disappointment.”

“Okay, as long as you’re offering. We won’t refuse.”

“What will you do once you find the one who gave the order?”

“It’ll depend on the circumstances at that time. As you know, I’m a mercenary. To fulfill a contract, I can do anything.”

Declan smiled brightly, as if he had heard the story he wanted to hear.

“Wait a little while as I deal with this matter. I’ll come back with good news.”

***

Ippotranslation

***

Declan’s wait a little while turned out to be really short.

The next day, just before sunset, he arrived at the inn.

In the corner that had now become Ian’s designated spot, he sat facing him.

“From what I’ve looked into, things are as strange as you said.”

The mercenaries, who had spread out to make room and were chattering near the entrance, turned their seating area into a small enclosed space.

Ian smiled.

“Which part seemed odd to you?”

“Dave had only his younger sister as family. And she believed Dave was alive. She said he left to guard the prison of Agellan. There was no way to confirm, so she had no choice but to believe. Do you know what’s interesting?”

Declan leaned toward Ian.

His blue eyes sparkled.

“Six soldiers were sent to transport prisoners with Dave. And all of them were either orphans or had lost their parents. People who wouldn’t be missed even if they disappeared overnight. Everyone, including siblings and friends, thought they had migrated to Agellan.”

Ian nodded his head.

It wasn’t a surprising story.

Even among the Freemen, the lowest of the low.

Like pawns in chess, they were the inevitable sacrifices of all conspiracies.

“So, who gave the orders for their transportation?”

“A man named Bradley. He’s a commander and also my younger brother’s subordinate. We’re not close. In fact, you could say it’s the opposite. He doesn’t like deferring to me, so we hardly speak.”

Declan looked at Ian with a cheerful voice.

“So, what do we do now?”

“We’re going to have a talk. Privately.”

“It won’t be easy to get the words you want out of them.”

Ian drew a dagger and placed it on the table.

“This is an excellent means of conversation. It’s enchanted to loosen even the most reticent of individuals.”

Declan burst into laughter.

“I’m curious to see that enchantment too. Will you let me try it on?”

“There’s no reason why not. As long as you set the stage for the conversation.”

“Ah… I didn’t expect this. The more time goes on, the more I find myself liking you. It’s been a while since I’ve had someone I can communicate with so well. By any chance, are you of noble birth?”

There he goes again.

Ian said with a wry smile.

“I’m afraid not. If anything, it’s the opposite. As you know, half of my blood comes from the Freemen. Alright, then let’s get up. I have a lot to think about. Once the seating is arranged, I’ll send someone right away. It won’t take long.”

Declan stood up.

“I’m curious about how your request will turn out.”

“I am too.”

He smiled brightly and moved away among the mercenaries.

Watching him interact with the mercenaries like friends while buying them drinks, Ian opened his mouth.

“You don’t often touch your nose or pull on your collar.”

“I think you might be saying he’s too easy going when it comes to people.”

Taking Declan’s seat, Phillip said.

Ian looked at him with a wry smile.

“Go on with your story.”

“Sure.”

Phillip quickly began talking.

In fact, he had been following Declan all day at Ian’s command.

Surprisingly, Phillip had a knack for tailing and infiltrating.

His naturally timid disposition shone in situations like this.

“I apologize for the interruption earlier. His Lordship arrived earlier than expected. There was no significant deviation from the route you mentioned earlier. Incidentally, I also heard about his reputation.”

“Making progress. Even things I didn’t order.”

“I couldn’t help but overhear. The people in Orundel seem to like His Lordship. Probably because of his mixed heritage with the Freemen… Anyway.”

Phillip cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

“His Lordship’s mother died a few years ago. The Marquis did take him in as his son, but didn’t use him for anything important. The eldest son, Lord Mason, seemed to consider him a thorn in his side. They were all worried that His Lordship would be sent to the most dangerous battlefield and not return.”

Just an ordinary commoner’s family.

Looking at Ian, who was nodding his head, Phillip added.

“I don’t think His Lordship is a corruptor as far as I can tell. If he were… he’d be hiding his true self very well.”

Ian sighed.

“That’s interesting. Let me tell you something, Phillip. I’ve never seen that lord as a fallen one. If he had fallen… he’d be concealing his true nature very well. … At least for now.”

Ian brought the beer in front of him to his lips.

“We’ll find out if he continues to hide that after everything is said and done.”

Already, he could smell blood at the tip of his nose.

***

Ippotranslation

***

Seated on the bed, Ian unfolded the research journal he had brought from the grave.

Within a few days of arriving in Orundel, he had been given the best room.

By resolving various trivial requests in the village without conflicts with other mercenaries and befriending the waitress, he had gained favor.

The serving girls at the inn and taverns always treated Ian with unusual comfort.

Perhaps it was because he looked non-threatening and had a calm way of speaking.

Considering those factors, the favors were excessive.

In any case, it allowed Ian to enjoy some quiet time alone.

‘The priest I met after a long time opened up a new path for me. At first, I adamantly rejected and was angry, but eventually, I listened to his words. I couldn’t help it. It was the real truth. Everything I had believed to be the truth until now was all false. This world is the same way…’

Conroud’s research journal was a typical record of a delusional mind.

Intermittently, there were formulas, magic equations, and rules he had organized, but none of it made any sense to Ian.

Of course, this world was a place where nonsensical things worked, but…

Ian confirmed once again that he wouldn’t be able to understand things that didn’t make sense in the first place.

‘… Well, this world allows humans to learn magic using skill points and even use it. I must be an even more absurd existence.”

Ian looked over the careful documentation of Conroud, a mage from the remote outskirts, who had delved into darkness and finally escaped human restraints.

As expected, the man behind the summoning of him to the underground grave was in Agellan.

Although the name wasn’t mentioned, Ian knew who it was.

When the time came, Conroud planned to bring that man out as his vanguard and underling.

With the goal of mystifying the entire Agellan Kingdom.

Creating void-like entities, such as the wall, to consume the entire realm was their grand plan.

They sought a life dominated by the ancient gods, not demons or gods of light.

Although the content seemed to be disguised as legitimate doctrine, it was basically pseudo-religious nonsense.

‘This world isn’t all sane, so it’s hard to know what’s true.’

The journal’s contents reached the part where Conroud first met Ian.

“Sir. Are you sleeping?”

The door opened, and Phillip stuck his head in.

He whispered.

“The place for conversation is ready.”

“Smart guy.”

Ian smiled and closed the journal without a trace of regret.

It was time to console the one who sacrificed his subordinates for the darkness.

With blade and fist.

Tl/n: Consider donating, support for this for this has dried down

Translator; ippo

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