I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

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The area was covered in ashes, and the sight of the remains of an ancient creature that had suddenly sprouted up was visible at a glance.

“Did you set fire to everything around? Surprisingly, the fire didn’t spread.”

Stepping on the scorched earth, filled with signs of upturned land, Philip spoke.

“Because this was the forest of the fairies from a distant past. Philip.”

Maeve, who had been walking ahead, raised her visor and replied.

“The trees of the forest where the fairies lived don’t burn easily. That’s why many of the kingdom’s forts and barracks were built in the forest where the fairies lived. Didn’t you know?”

“I’m hearing it for the first time. I see…”

“Perhaps Ian knew. So, he set the fire.”

He had no idea.

Ian merely shrugged.

Miguel, who had been holding his tongue, looked at the ancient creature with a dubious expression.

“Is that thing really dead? It looks like it might be cooked, like roasted meat. It’s eerily ominous.”

Ian turned to him.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Then who should I ask?”

“Did you come for a visit?”

“No, I came to work. I came to verify.”

Miguel turned his body abruptly.

Following his lead, Philip, who also caught Maeve’s eyes, let out a sigh and followed him.

“Whatever you find, report it.”

With those words, Ian’s footsteps on their backs finally eased.

Excessive overtime was sufficient for last night.

Today, he intended to gain either good or bad information, whichever was available.

Maeve walked beside him.

Suddenly, with a preoccupied expression, she blurted out.

“It seems like there’s another person who has incurred the Dark Mage’s resentment, Ian.”

Ian turned his head.

“What are you talking about?”

“Yesterday, the tainted magic of the bead had engulfed me. I could barely hold onto my consciousness, so I couldn’t resist.”

There was such an incident…?

Ian’s eyebrows slightly arched as Maeve continued speaking.

“I felt his presence. His laughter, too. And then he whispered that if I wanted to live, I should turn away from here.”

“…So, instead of contaminating the source, he warned you?”

“I don’t understand either, but… yes, that’s how it was. Everyone has their own role to play, so he said to stop going too far.”

Everyone has their own role to play…

Ian’s brows finally relaxed.

He recalled the Maeve from the game.

The one turned into a bloodthirsty avenger by the kingdom’s dark forces.

The Dark Mage had to be part of the same group, so he likely knew something.

“…So, there’s someone else who harbors resentment, right?”

“Yes. He said that the touch of red will suffice. He added that he’ll have to pay a price.”

“……”

Ian’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Touch of red… It probably refers to a mage. If we can find out who it is, it might be helpful in the future.”

A sardonic smile finally curved Ian’s lips as he looked at her.

‘It seems I couldn’t hide the fact that I thought it might be me.’

Seeing her mistake Ian’s smile, Maeve adde.

“I didn’t bring this up to ask for anything. Ian, I just wanted to share what I found with you.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll keep it in mind.”

Ian nodded.

“Brother! You should come and take a look!”

Miguel’s voice rang out.

Maeve’s gaze turned towards him.

“It looks like they’ve found something.”

“I’ll go check it out first. Follow me slowly. If something happens, I’ll let you know.”

Ian turned nonchalantly.

‘That brat, he noticed something.’

As he chewed on the just-heard story.

***

Ippotranslation

***

Behind the dais of the ancient creature.

“Damn… an unfortunate morning from the start.”

“Could it be human hunting?”

Miguel’s and Philip’s voices came from between the two forked branches of the giant roots that spread out like a serpent.

“Hunting? Look at these traces. They were buried in the ground and have just emerged. Do beasts that bury their food exist?”

Definitely not loot.

Ian sighed and stepped between the roots, now covered in mud.

“What is it?”

Miguel turned to him.

“A corpse emerged.”

“That many, Sir.”

Philip added as he stepped aside.

The sight they saw revealed itself.

From the ground that the roots had dug up, numerous decaying corpses protruded.

“Indeed… there are so many.”

Ian, standing before them, murmured.

Game memories faintly connected.

Partially buried corpses around the ancient creature.

However, at this point, when the forest wasn’t completely contaminated yet, to see a pile of corpses…

‘Perhaps there’s something I didn’t know’

Philip asked while observing the bones.

“According to what you see, were they not hunted down?”

“Yes. More like… offerings.”

“Offerings?”

“It was strange. With such a massive ancient creature in the middle of the forest, and yet, there’s no record of it until now. Someone would have discovered it.”

Ian’s pupils suddenly froze.

Miguel asked curiously.

“So, someone sacrificed corpses to raise this damn monster?”

“I don’t know. In this context, that seems more natural.”

Ian bent down.

As he did, he picked up something halfway buried in the ground amidst the remains.

A solid iron ring caked with mud.

While cleaning the mud off the ring, Maeve’s voice came from behind him.

“Did you find something?”

“Perhaps it’s a clue you were looking for, Sir?”

He threw what he had in his hand as he answered her.

“This is what came out. Among the corpses.”

Maeve reflexively looked, her gaze sank.

Maeve slowly approached, scratching one side of the ring with her glove.

A faint deer horn pattern was revealed in the part of the ring that secured the horn.

Philip asked perplexedly.

“Are all these corpses… the kingdom’s criminals?”

“We’ll have to confirm that from now on.”

Ian turned his gaze away.

“Now’s your chance to shine, Miguel.”

“What’s this… Could it be true?”

Ian nodded.

Miguel turned around, and sighed.

“Brace yourself… for a digging job…”

Translator; ippo

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