Chapter 651

Whish.

The wind blowing from the hill swept over the carriage as it climbed the ridge.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The white horses, draped in wolf pelts, moved along the official road as if nothing were amiss. However, Nasser, who was wearing a similar fur-hooded cloak, hunched his shoulders against the chill.

"It’s definitely getting colder," he murmured and glanced toward Ian, who rode Moro beside the carriage.

Unlike the others, Ian and Moro wore no winter gear. They were merely half-covered by the Cloak of the Undying.

"It already feels like a midwinter in the central region."

"Stop whining for someone who just got blessed." Ian let out a low snort.

He gazed at the gaunt, gloomy black forest stretching out to the left of the road, then brought the liquor bottle to his lips.

I didn't expect the security to be this good....

He sensed absolutely no presence of monsters. It wasn't just because this forest was near the Wall. Throughout their journey here, the group had rarely encountered any monsters.

The shades that once prowled the woods every night were nowhere to be found. It seemed either the North had finished cleaning up its interior, or a remaining demonic realm somewhere had sucked the monsters in—perhaps both.

"That’s true enough, but I just can’t stand the cold," Nasser replied with a bitter smile.

"Me too, Half-Ear."

A lazy voice drifted from inside the carriage. Thesaya, leaning slightly out the left window, flicked ash from her cigarette as a wisp of grassy smoke curled after her.

"It reminds me of when I was a vampire. I’d nearly forgotten the feeling. It was like this all the time."

"That must’ve been difficult, Elder," Nasser answered without missing a beat.

Thesaya took another drag and smiled. "I, it was. Especially thanks to that Round Table you served—you lot handed me over to them, remember?"

Nasser’s smile froze. Soon, smacking his lips, he said, "I regret many things about that time. But I truly—"

"I know. You didn't know. Anyway, whatever."

Curling up one corner of her mouth, Thesaya looked up at Ian's profile through the window.

"It wasn’t all bad. I survived, and even became an Elder, all thanks to Ian."

Ian made no reply, raising the bottle again without so much as glancing her way. Watching him through a thin veil of smoke, Thesaya eventually turned her gaze aside with a wide smile.

"Come to think of it, I'm not the only one who survived thanks to Ian, right, Redhead?"

Thesaya looked toward the right window.

Mev, cloaked in fur and riding in silence, gave a small nod. "Right. I survived and succeeded in my revenge thanks to Ian."

"If we’re counting debts, I suppose I’m no different. My lord’s mercy is the only reason I’m here."

As Nasser added his piece under Mev's gaze, Lucia, sitting opposite Thesaya, leaned forward.

"In a way, I might be the same. I heard quite a disturbing rumor about the family I was originally supposed to be sold to."

"

Oh

my. Really?" Thesaya asked, offering Lucia her cigarette.

Lucia reached out, her voice dropping to a hush. "They say they gather children of special talent from all across the continent. But once a child enters that family, they never come back..."

Lucia paused because the cigarette slipped through her fingers and flew out the window. Ian caught the cigarette between his index and middle fingers as it passed by him.

"When did you hear that rumor?" asked Ian.

"Just recently. I was worried someone from that family might try to take me someday, so I asked the High Priestess to request information from a central informant. The letters that arrived while I was missing were still there. House Larmut is suspicious in many ways."

Putting the cigarette in his mouth, Ian nodded calmly.

I know that well.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Then we all lived thanks to Ian. Well, it's not just us. Look at the North. The Temple of the Brazier also rebuilt itself thanks to Ian bringing back Lucy."

As he inhaled the smoke, Thesaya added, Ian’s the one who relocated the barbarians, too. And it was the largest tribe sitting right in the path of the undead legion. Plus, in Bellium—"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Ian finally cut her off, frowning slightly as he exhaled smoke and turned toward her. "Stop beating around the bush and just say it."

"Well, putting the rest of the continent aside, wouldn’t it be fine for you to take the North at this point?" Thesaya shrugged, still smiling.

After a few quiet days... now this.

Clicking his tongue softly, Ian said. "I thought we agreed to stop talking about that."

"I just can’t understand it. The North is basically one big armory, isn’t it?"

Shrugging, Thesaya looked around at the group as if seeking agreement.

"If we get our hands on this place, our forces will become stronger. Don't you think?"

"I think so too." Nasser nodded immediately.

Meeting Ian’s eyes, he offered his usual sly smile and added, "The fact that the High Priestess brought it up first matters more than anything. It’s as if one of the strongest pillars supporting the Archduke’s legitimacy has turned its back."

"That’s enough, Nasser," Mev said, her voice low and stern.

But Nasser pushed on anyway. "If even a few legion commanders defect, the Archduke’s authority will collapse completely."

"That is true. The High Priestess meant every word," said Lucia.

A long stream of smoke mixed with a sigh pumped from Ian’s nose. He hadn't told the party about his conversation with Cherwyn. They had found out because Cherwyn had called Lucia separately in the middle of the night to deliver the message.

"She said she would help at any time if you just made up your mind, Sir Ian."

"Even if I get the North's support, without an Imperial order, it is nothing more than a rebellion."

At his words, Thesaya let out a short scoff. "Once war starts, no one’s going to care about that."

"I care. Before the Archduke tries anything stupid, I will reach out first. No matter how much I annoy him, he isn't stupid enough to refuse my support."

"What?"

"Sorry, what?"

Thesaya and Nasser stared at him wide-eyed, almost in unison—Lucia as well, and even Mev, who had been quietly listening.

"You’re going to extend a hand to him? Even knowing how he treated the barbarians?" asked Thesaya.

"Yes, war is right around the corner," Ian answered without a shred of hesitation.

He had no intention of dividing the North with power struggles. Finishing the North’s business quickly and reaching max level as fast as possible was the real priority. It was the most reliable way to avoid the grim future he’d foreseen.

Shaking hands with that bald bastard was a small price in comparison.

"Besides, I don't know how to rule a territory. I don't have anyone to do it for me, and I have no intention of being tied down to the North while learning the job."

Inhaling smoke, Ian looked back at Thesaya. "So, for now, it's best to let the guy who was doing it keep doing it."

"No... but...."

"I know you're bored because there's no fighting, Thesa. But give up on this issue." Ian cut her off cleanly and sent the cigarette back into her mouth with a flick. It spun once in the air before landing precisely between her lips.

"You’ll have plenty of battles soon enough, whether you want them or not."

Thesaya took a long drag without replying, only the bridge of her nose twitching slightly.

Ignoring it, Ian looked back at Lucia and added, "You focus on protecting the temple and catching up on your studies as promised. You've had enough dangerous adventures."

"Okay," Lucia answered with a sigh, lifting her cup.

Ian was already looking past the carriage roof toward Mev at the front.

Unlike the others, she offered Ian a reassuring smile, as if telling him not to worry. Ian nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Nasser.

"Get yourself ready. We’re almost there."

Nasser blinked, then quickly turned his head forward to follow Ian’s line of sight. His light brown eyes widened immediately after.

Before they knew it, the carriage was cresting the ridge. Beyond it, a towering wall of pale gray stone rose into view.

"So that is the Northern Wall," Nasser murmured in awe, looking at the wall that stretched from the wasteland terrain beyond to the distant rocky mountain ridges.

"First time seeing it in person?" Ian asked. His gaze was fixed on the middle of the wall, scanning the gateway fortress that rose as if leaning against the wall and the ramparts surrounding it.

Nasser nodded. "Yes. It is much more majestic than I heard."

The carriage doors burst open almost simultaneously.

"Honestly. You can always tell who grew up pampered in the central region."

Thesaya leaned halfway out, resting both arms atop the open door. She didn’t spare a glance for Moro, who snorted in surprise.

Still staring at the wall, she turned to the side. "Definitely the first time I’ve seen this fortress. Which number is it again, Ian?"

Ian only shrugged, bottle back at his lips. The fortress’s name didn’t matter. As the High Priestess had said, the only important fact was that it was the fastest way to the wastelands in the snowfields.

That was why they were passing this gatehouse instead of heading toward Ninglosth.

"There aren’t many troops stationed there," Mev said. Though just as impressed as Nasser, she was already studying the wall and battlements with a soldier’s eye.

"Looks plenty large to me. It’s not like the Giant Kingdom’s coming back. Are they keeping watch to stop barbarians from crossing over?" Thesaya narrowed her eyes, blowing smoke.

"That would be one of the purposes. Anyway, it's not as if no monsters are coming down from the snowfields at all," Nasser replied.

Looking at the perfectly square ramparts rising without a moat and the fortress that looked as rugged as the wall itself, Nasser smiled. "Fortresses and walls decay quickly when they’re left unattended. Just maintaining guard posts and patrol routes is enough to keep military discipline in place."

"Ask which direction the wastelands are, Lucy," said Ian.

Lucia turned from the small window beside the driver’s seat as he added, "It would be even better if we could take a guide."

"Yes, I’ll ask." Lucia nodded.

They planned to pass through the gate under her identity. It wasn’t strictly necessary, but it was the simplest way to avoid annoyance. And of course, it helped ensure that news of Ian’s return didn’t reach the Archduke before the High Priestess intended.

"They’ll spot us soon. Get inside," Ian said shortly after.

Thesaya, cigarette still in her lips, swung back inside and pulled the door shut. Through the narrowing gap, Ian caught a glimpse of her handing the cigarette to Lucia.

Of course...

Clicking his tongue, Ian pulled his hood over his head. Receiving his gaze, Mev also pulled up her hood and lowered her visor.

"My throat’s drying."

Nasser took a swig from the bottle Ian had handed him, then cleared his throat. He wasn’t the most reassuring spokesman, but for now, he was the one speaking for all of them.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The fortress, surrounded by ramparts less than half the height of the main wall, drew closer.

The entrance leading from the official road was open. Since enemies rarely approached from this side, it wasn't strange. The soldiers holding crossbows standing sparsely beyond the battlements were likely personnel deployed solely to check traffic.

"Halt!"

A thunderous shout rang out from atop the ramparts just as the carriage drew close enough. As Nasser pulled the reins to stop, the gate captain shouted, "Identify yourselves before crossing the gate!"

It was a stern voice, but no hostility could be felt. It was proof that quite a few people had passed through the gate. As they had heard, passage seemed relatively free for those who were not barbarians.

"Inside the carriage are Priestess Lucifer Ash Riurel, Vice High Priestess of the Temple of the Brazier and Apostle of the Blazing Goddess, and a VIP from a Southern fairy family!" Nasser shouted, straightening his back. He had taken off his hood and was looking straight up at the gate captain.

The eyes of the gate captain, who was wearing a steel helmet pressed down, narrowed slightly.

"Lucifer?"

Ian could hear the man muttering to himself. Several guards holding crossbows also widened their eyes and looked at each other. Under his hood, Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So they know who Lucia is...

Come to think of it, hadn't Lucia crossed the Black Wall with him? Ian knew well that the news had caused quite a stir in the North.

"Can you prove your identity?" the gate captain asked after a moment.

Although mixed with doubt, his voice had become much more polite.

"Here is the certificate we received from the temple!" Nasser took out a well-folded parchment from his cloak and held it above his head.

It was Lucia's new identification paper received from the Temple of the Brazier.

"Please wait a moment. I will come down and check it myself!" The gate captain turned around. A few soldiers followed him and disappeared behind the ramparts.

"Their discipline seems solid," Nasser muttered as he climbed down next to the driver's seat.

Ian answered with a low snort instead of words. To him, it seemed they intended to confirm that the woman inside truly was Lucia. Merchants would have been able to pass just by unfolding their papers below the gate.

Clank— Clank—

Soon, the gate captain ran out from beyond the open gate. He was accompanied by several soldiers carrying crossbows.

The soldiers, wearing steel helmets covering their noses, seemed quite well-trained. Their cool stares drifted over Ian and Mev.

"May I see the documents?"

The gate captain stopped a few paces away as the soldiers took up positions around him. Nasser nodded and walked toward the gate captain.

At that moment, one of the soldiers shifted his attention from Moro to Ian. Narrowing his eyes, the soldier tilted his head slightly. Beneath his hood, Ian’s eye twitched ever so slightly.

"Here it is." Nasser handed over the certificate.

The gate captain was just about to unfold the parchment when a strangled gasp burst out of the soldier, as though he’d been struck by lightning.

"

Huh

?"

As Ian’s expression twisted a little more, the gate captain paused and looked back at him. "What? Is there a problem?"

"Th-that—" The soldier stiffened as if frozen, and only moved his lower lip. His crossbow hung limply in his hand, his gaze still fixed on Ian.

The gate captain’s eyes sharpened beneath his helmet. "That, what? Speak clearly!"

"It’s... It’s him!" the soldier finally choked out. The crossbow slipped from his fingers and clattered to the ground.

Then, falling to both knees right there, he shouted. "The great Superhuman of the North! The Great Warrior of Thunder and Lightning has returned!"