I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

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The vitality of the inn was colorless, and silence enveloped the village.

Passersby on the road had disappeared without a trace, and only scattered lights pushed back the darkness, flickering in the distance.

It was a typical night scene in the border villages of the Dark Ages.

Fortunately, there were torches and lanterns placed here and there, so the situation was somewhat better.

Usually, people barely lit up their homes and waited for the time of the demons to pass.

Those wandering the streets at night were only outsiders, wanderers, or those hunting demons.

Ian, who fell into all three categories, held the lantern that had been placed at the entrance of the tavern and continued walking.

Maeve, who had been walking silently beside him, suddenly spoke up.

“You’ve armed yourself quite solidly.”

You keep doing things that don’t suit you.

Even as he thought about it, Ian casually retorted.

“The Graveyard Forest is not far.”

A leather strap with a mace hung on Ian’s back. A new longsword was at his waist, and on the opposite side was a scabbard containing a dagger.

‘I might not seem much like a mage anymore.’

While he was uttering a thoughtless conclusion, Maeve spoke up.

“You really believe there’s a dark mage in the Graveyard Forest.”

“Yes.”

Ian shrugged lightly.

“As you’ve experienced, there’s usually a good reason for the rumors that spread in this neighborhood.”

“True. While I was away at the borderlands, many things changed.”

Maeve’s green eyes, staring at the edge of the village, were shrouded in darkness.

“The lives of the people have become more difficult. Security is murky, and the nobles have forgotten their duties. It’s different from the way I grew up and from the news I heard.”

“You’ve been at the border for a long time.”

“It wasn’t short. It was necessary.”

Only now could Ian truly understand the immature appearances often seen in Maeve and Phillip.

Even if they were exceptional nobles with remarkable abilities, they were not suited for the virtues of the Dark Ages.

They spent most of their lives in the borderlands.

Therefore, despite their combat prowess and tactics, they were bound to be unfamiliar with the world’s affairs and complexities.

Perhaps most of his acquiescence to his words was because he had no choice but to rely on his judgment.

“Just when I received the king’s order to return because war was imminent, I couldn’t have imagined it would be like this.”

“Well, did you think the kingdom was enjoying peace?”

“No, that’s not it. Calling the present an era of darkness is not appropriate.”

Even in response to the sarcastic remark, Maave replied seriously.

“In that sense, meeting you has been fortunate for me, Ian.”

Ian suddenly looked back at her.

She was also looking at him. Calm green eyes. Perhaps due to her red hair or the dim lantern light, her skin seemed paler than usual.

‘It’s actually more like you’re the mage here.’

Brushing aside his thoughts, Ian retorted.

“No, it’s the opposite. I was lucky. The dark mage was someone who had to be killed sooner or later. Thanks to the competition, I ended up receiving a lot of money.”

“True. You probably could have handled it on your own.”

Maeve nodded gently.

“After all, you’ve overcome many obstacles all the way from that cursed swamp.”

“….”

What did Miguel blabber so much about?

“It’s rather curious why your reputation hasn’t spread throughout the whole of Agellan, Ian.”

A slightly grumbling Ian exclaimed.

“So, did you bring me here separately just to hear my anecdotes?”

“No. Like I said, I have something I want to discuss.”

Maeve turned her body. Leaning against a rock at the edge of the village, she gazed out over the darkened fields.

“…The first time I learned about the existence of the dark mage was just a few days after receiving the order to return.”

Her voice continued, as dry as the wind brushing against the fields.

“Before returning, there was much to be taken care of. Being at the heart of border defense, I had to be meticulous in my absence so that it wouldn’t be noticed. It was during that time that a message from the scouts arrived.”

Ah, so this is what you were trying to say after all.

Ian sighed and placed the lantern on a rock before standing beside Maeve.

He wasn’t particularly curious anymore, but after all, she was his employer and comrade, so he had no excuse to cut off the conversation.

“It was a letter sent by Vernon.”

The name he had heard even on the day they first met.

Ian asked with a hint of irritation, “Who is Vernon?”

“My one and only younger brother. Vernon Lirel. The head of the Lirel family, a lineage that protects the royal family.”

Both siblings being knights, it was a family with a venerable lineage.

As he thought about it, Ian raised an eyebrow.

He had no memory of seeing Vernon Lirel in the game. It might not have been an important role, though.

“So, the esteemed disciple of Tyr’En is guarding the border, and your brother is protecting the king. That’s quite an unusual situation.”

It certainly hadn’t been mentioned in such a manner before.

“He left because he’s a disciple. If he had stayed, he would have been by the king’s side, and the family would have named him the head. In that case, Vernon wouldn’t have obtained what he deserved. It couldn’t be allowed to happen that way.”

“Ah…”

Truly an intense brotherly love.

Ian shook his head.

Well, it wasn’t necessary to think deeply about how the eldest son, who had lost the family position to his sister, would live. This was a matter that would be resolved once she gave up her family position.

However, it wouldn’t be easy to relinquish a comfortable life and power.

That was a truly noble sacrifice, even more so in the Dark Ages. Perhaps this nobility was what caught Tyr’En’s eye.

“The fact that Vernon knew about this was the root of the problem. He always wanted to prove himself to me, that he could lead the family on his own. That he could protect the king on his own. Furthermore, that he could revive the family. Even though there was no need for him to prove anything.”

“…So, what was written in the letter?”

“It mentioned that darkness had cast its shadow over the kingdom. While His Majesty is deeply engrossed in preparing for war, darkness is quietly creeping in. It also mentioned that a considerable number of nobles were involved. Perhaps even the roots of the kingdom.”

Maeve paused her words for a moment and fumbled cautiously with her hands. The neatly folded letter, her gaze on the letter traveled back and forth through the past.

Man, he’s really dragging this out.

Ian reached out his hand. “Can I read it?”

“You know how to read… Well, of course, you would.”

Maeve handed over the letter.

Ian carefully unfolded the paper. The characters were hastily written, as if representing Vernon’s personality.

“…So, as you said, he’s quite ambitious.”

After a while, Ian finally opened his mouth, one side of his lips curling up.

“Using the opportunity of subduing the dark mage to revive the family, huh?”

Translator; ippo

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