I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 316

Chapter 316

A line from the walkthrough Ian had skimmed through came to mind again.

They said if you leave Heaven Defier be, it makes the ending more interesting...

This was one of the reasons he believed the creature would eventually break its seal. That sentence seemed to imply a hidden boss.

If that being, which appears only at the story’s end, emerged earlier...

"Ian?" Archeas tilted its head slightly.

Ian, still gripping the bottle, forced himself to speak in a steady tone. "You must ensure it never seizes that opportunity, mustn’t you?"

"And how could I further restrain one already bound by eternal punishment?"

"...."

"As I told you before, I cannot interfere with it. Nor with the prison holding it captive. That seal was crafted with the gods' powers."

A smirk, or perhaps a bitter smile, flickered across Archeas's lips. "Unless it pulls off an impossible miracle and emerges back into the world. Until then, I remain its watchman, and nothing more."

So many things that just can’t be done, Ian thought, letting out a frustrated sigh before taking another swig from the bottle.

Archeas’s calm voice continued, "It’s best to avoid any exchange with it. Leave it to writhe alone in agony within the Abyss."

Archeas watched Ian, who lowered the bottle, then added in a whisper, "Until madness consumes what’s left of its mind, leaving it nothing more than a mindless beast."

"... Do you believe that day will come?"

Archeas nodded, reaching out a hand. "Certainly. It was already somewhat mad to begin with, only masked by its ambition. Madness is surely eroding it bit by bit. The only reason it still clings to its identity is that it remains fixated on its unfulfilled ambitions."

As Archeas accepted the bottle, a smile spread across its lips. "And now, with a crack in the seal, it likely clings to hope. I’m waiting for that hope to grow—until, in the end, it shatters entirely. This time, it might finally fall apart."

"So that’s why you’re working to destroy the Black Wall...."

"One of several reasons."

Ian’s eyes flickered slightly.

With one corner of its mouth raised, Archeas continued, "Once the Black Wall is gone, it will finally see how futile its hopes were. Trapped in darkness without an exit, it’ll spend eternity posturing as a God to a handful of pitiful servants. There will be no thread of hope left."

With that smile still curled on its lips, Archeas raised the bottle to its mouth. Ian couldn’t bring himself to laugh.

If the erosion affected the seal, then maybe the Black Wall’s collapse might have an impact as well...@@@@

It was unlikely things would unfold entirely as Archeas intended. In his mind, Ian could already see the image of the Heaven Defier soaring back into the world, a transcendent being who, still chasing the heavens, would burn anything that dared defy it.

"Of course, it’s a step we must approach carefully. Breaking down the Black Wall could have unpredictable results," Archeas said as it lowered the bottle, watching Ian with an inscrutable gaze.

"It seems I must hurry a bit more. At this rate, I might lose my agent before anything else happens. With each new erosion, you rush to the front lines, don’t you?"

"Don’t rush."

Ian added silently to himself, please, as he looked directly at Archeas.

"You won’t lose your agent. So, please bring down the Black Wall only after finding the safest method. Otherwise, you might put not only me but the entire world in greater danger."

Placing the bottle back on the table, Archeas chuckled softly. "It almost sounds like you think I’d tear down the Black Wall as early as tomorrow, Ian."

"We can’t predict the impact—not only on the continent but also on the Heaven Defier’s seal," Ian said, his tone humorless, gesturing to emphasize his point.

"You were the one who suggested that the erosion might have contributed to cracks in the seal."

"You’re worried it’ll turn hope into reality, not despair. Yes, it’s highly unlikely... but it’s not impossible." Finally, with a calm expression, Archeas nodded in agreement.

Finally, Archeas appeared thoughtful, nodding.

"Indeed, we do." Archeas patted Ian on the back a few times, then stepped back with a smile. A gentle golden light spread across its body as a Mantra glowed from behind, forming a shimmering veil of golden magic around it.

"Until next time, Ian," Archeas said, stepping into the glow.

Ian nodded. "Until next time."

Through the undulating magical veil, a flash of yellow eyes traced a thin arc. The next moment, the Mantra flared brilliantly, followed by a relative darkness and silence. Archeas’s presence was nowhere to be seen. At last, Ian clicked his tongue softly.

"I was going to ask it to teach me that..."

Next time I get a quest from Archeas, I’ll secure my reward in advance.

With this thought, Ian tossed the talisman into his pocket dimension, picked up the bottle and cork, and left the room. As he tucked the bottle away and walked down the dim hallway, his brow furrowed slightly.

A priest was standing in the hall. Caught by Ian’s gaze, the priest dropped to the ground, pressing his hands together.

"G-Glory to the Radiant Light..."

...Oh, right. Guess some light leaked through the door.

A smirk tugged at Ian’s lips as he pulled his hood down further.

"Forget what happened here today."

He passed the priest without another word, and the man remained flat, not daring to rise until Ian was well out of sight.

***

It was already past midnight. The streets lay eerily dark, lit only by the faint light spilling from nearby windows. Ian strode down the deserted main road, eventually turning into a narrow alleyway, following the guards' directions toward the inn.

Ian’s brow furrowed only a few steps later, and the corner of his mouth curled up.

Ah. Looks like I didn’t take a wrong turn.

Somewhere up ahead, faint sounds of yelling and breaking furniture filtered through the walls and cracks of a building. A fight was going on—a large brawl, judging by the noise. It wasn’t an unusual nighttime scene in an area full of drifters.

Crash!

Perfect.

Up ahead, two figures tangled together burst through a door as if they intended to smash it down, and Ian’s smile deepened. His steps slowed as he watched the pair tumble onto the ground, still gripping each other’s collars. The fight might have seemed evenly matched, but a victor soon emerged.

One of them, initially pinned, deftly shifted his position, forcing his opponent down with one knee while raising his left fist.

"...?"

Glimpsing the fighter’s back, clad in neat, mercenary-style leather and chain, Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly. The figure looked oddly familiar, especially the left fist, encased in a steel glove. It didn’t look like an ordinary glove; more like a lump of metal shaped into a fist.

Crunch!

The impact of his punch made a heavy sound, the kind made by solid metal smashing into flesh. His opponent went limp, and Ian spoke almost at the same moment.

"Miguel?"

The man, fist still raised, froze. He whipped around to face Ian.

A face with scars clawed deep, like a bear’s marks, came into view. Despite having neatly trimmed hair and beard, they did little to soften his rough appearance. Still, Ian recognized him instantly. This was Miguel, the former mercenary he’d traveled with from the frontier to the Temple of Brazier.

Miguel’s eyes widened, and he shouted, "Is that you, my brother?! Really you?!"

Could it be that he's the aide?

Thinking, Ian pulled off his hood. "Yes, it’s me."

A wide grin broke across Miguel’s face.

"You’re finally here...! Thought I’d die of waiting!"