I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

Chapter 303

Chapter 303

"The northern front...?" Ian’s brow furrowed slightly.

"When I answered, I woke up right away, so I’m not entirely sure why I made that choice," Seras said with a nod, her gaze steady on Ian. It was the same thoughtful look she’d had when they first met in the corridor.

"Of course, I can make some guesses. After all, it was me who made the decision," she added.

Ian shrugged one shoulder. "Then go ahead."

"The other princes will almost certainly head to the eastern front. It’s the most critical battle line, after all. Besides, the South requires crossing the inner sea, while the North is infamous for its harsh winters," Seras explained.

"So, you suggested a strategy that would set him apart from his competitors," Ian said.

"Exactly. That’s probably the first reason."

Ian nodded in understanding, meeting her gaze.

Elia, who had been quietly observing the conversation, spoke up. "But is that enough of a reason to choose the northern front? There are also the central and southern regions to consider. If he chose the central region, he could gain the support of the people, and heading to the South won’t be much different from going to the North."

"The drawbacks of those options are greater than the North," Ian said calmly.

He continued, "If he stays in the central region, he might earn the people’s support, but he wouldn’t catch the eye of the royal family or the Order. The South isn’t controlled by a single unified force; it has a much higher proportion of non-human races. It wouldn’t be suitable for building a new base of support."

Of course, even in the game, Ian had never actually been to the South. However, he had heard plenty of stories. Like how, despite being in the southeast, it was named for convenience, just like the North. Or how a vast desert stretched beyond the wilderness fortresses. And that while the commander-in-chief was human, most of the forces under their command were from other races—those were the kinds of trivial bits of lore he had picked up.

"Exactly," Seras said, nodding as she turned to look at Elia. "The northern front is known for its formidable troops. In some ways, it might be even safer than the East. And as Sir Ian mentioned, it’s possible to gain the support of the autonomous territories in the North. Of course, that depends on how well my brother manages."

She then turned back to Ian, her lips curling into a faint, almost wistful smile. "With my help, it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to integrate with them. Unlike the other princes, we have a connection with the Northern superhuman."

It’ll only be a temporary advantage, Ian thought with a smirk as he swirled his drink slightly.

"So, it seems like you made the most rational choice in the end," Ian said.

"... Yes. And yet, it was still the wrong choice." Seras concluded in a subdued voice.

That was likely why she had sought Ian’s advice in the first place. No matter how much she thought about it, there probably wasn’t a better option available.

To be honest, I feel the same way, Ian thought as he took a sip from his glass.

It puzzled him as well. Thanks to his efforts and the intervention of the Platinum Dragon, the North had successfully fended off Tahumrit’s attack with minimal damage. Moreover, he had warned Lucas, the commander, about the imminent danger of the Black Wall’s erosion before leaving. Lucas wasn’t the type to ignore such advice, so Ian had assumed that the northern front wouldn’t fall apart as it had in the game’s storyline.

However, hearing Seras’s story, it seemed that the outcome hadn’t changed as much as he had hoped.

Could there be internal issues at play? Or maybe the invading monsters have grown stronger and more numerous compared to the game.

Given his experience so far, he knew that either possibility—or even both—was highly likely.

As Ian finished off his drink and reached for the bottle again, Elia, resting her chin on her hand in thought, murmured, "No matter how I look at it, the other options aren’t nearly as appealing as the North, assuming the goal is to secure the throne."

Seras nodded in agreement. "That’s why I sought your advice, Sir Ian. You have a broader perspective and deeper insight than I do."

After a brief hesitation, Seras picked up the bottle that Ian had put down and continued, "My brother has inherited not only the power of his bloodline but also great martial prowess. He can be quite prideful and impulsive… but he isn’t as arrogant or narrow-minded as our other half-siblings are."

She poured beer into her glass as she continued, "And I’ll be by his side, so he won’t act recklessly or bring misfortune on himself, no matter where he goes. So, please..."

Seras placed the bottle down and looked at Ian, who seemed lost in thought, twirling the bottle idly in his hand.

"Please, speak your mind without holding back," she urged.

Ian gave a faint snort. In his eyes, the prince’s personality wasn’t the critical factor. If the future they were heading toward was anything like the one he remembered from the game, it didn’t seem like any decision would lead to a favorable outcome.

Perhaps even if she hadn’t chosen the North, she might still have had that prophetic dream. In that case, this wasn’t about finding the best option—it was about distinguishing between the worst and the lesser evil.

"The options your brother presented aren’t necessarily the only choices before you, are they?" Ian finally said, setting down his glass.

Seras, who had been nervously sipping her beer, narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Are you saying there’s an entirely different path?"

"At the very least, it’s certain there’s one more option."

"And what might that be?"

"To delay the decision."

Seras raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly as she studied Ian’s expression.

After a moment, she spoke again. "You think that no matter which path we choose now, the outcome will be unfavorable."

She reads between the lines even when I’m all over the place, Ian thought as he gave a slight shrug.

"I’m saying you don’t need to rush into a decision just because of competition. His Majesty is right—if the situation is dire enough that breaches have appeared on the front lines, it would be foolish to waste time on childish disputes."

"...."

"Even if you put all your abilities to use, you won’t be able to guarantee a decisive victory or clear achievements. This is already a matter of the Empire’s survival."

Unlike before, Seras didn’t argue against Ian’s words. It was only natural. She had been confident that the front lines would hold.

"If it were me, I would postpone any deployment until more reliable information was available. In the meantime, I’d train my knights and soldiers to be fully prepared and stockpile as many resources as possible."

Ian added, raising his glass to his lips, "What matters isn’t moving faster than your rivals; it’s about creating tangible results. That’s how you’ll naturally prove that you’re capable of holding the Empire together."

After finishing his words, Ian took a slow sip of his beer. By now, it was more than just lukewarm; it had gone completely flat. Seras, who had been quietly watching him, finally let out a small sigh.

"... Your words are reasonable. The more I think about it, the more I realize. Father had given us the correct answer from the start. It’s just that we, his children, misinterpreted it."

Seras spoke in a voice so weary that it could have easily been mistaken for late at night rather than early morning, before taking another sip of beer.

"But whether my brother will accept this advice, I’m not sure. He’ll likely be called a coward by the inner court, and I don’t think he’ll be able to bear that."

"That’s not something for me to worry about," Ian replied, shrugging as he placed his cup down. "I’ve simply given my opinion, as you asked, without holding anything back."

Ian wasn’t offering any further assistance. In fact, he had his own troubles to worry about. After all, he, too, was destined to head to the front lines.

Seras nodded. "You’re right. At least we’re not short on time. It will take at least two months for the events in my dream to come true. When I return, I’ll have to work hard to persuade my brother."

"You’ll be busy once you get back," Ian remarked with a wry smile, to which Seras glanced at Asme and nodded.

"Indeed. I thought things would be resolved once I brought you back with me, Sir, but it feels like the challenges have only multiplied," Seras said with a small sigh before straightening her posture.

She continued, "Thank you, Sir Ian, for opening a path I hadn’t considered. I’ll take your advice to heart and figure out how to approach this."

"If it was helpful, that’s all that matters," Ian replied as he drained the rest of his drink in one gulp and rose from his seat.

"Thank you for the meal, Elie," he added, then got up and headed toward the dining room entrance, leaving the others behind. When he opened the door, Philip’s back blocked the way.

Philip turned to look at him. "Have you finished your conversation?"

"Yes. Let’s get ready to leave. I’d like to reach the capital before sunset," Ian replied.

Philip hesitated for a moment before nodding. "... Understood. I’ll begin preparations immediately, my lord."

The center of the world—Imperial Capital.

By the time the group had finished preparing and descended, the soldiers from the capital had already left. The prisoners, the bodies, the carriages—everything was gone, and even the traces of battle had been erased. The only sign of the previous night’s events was the broken wooden floor near the entrance hall. Seras, having left a pouch of gold coins behind as payment, climbed into the carriage.

The carriage set off quickly, leaving the city behind. The heavy clouds that had blanketed the sky thinned, revealing glimpses of blue as they traveled. Eventually, they arrived at the massive white walls, and their journey finally brought them to the center of the world—the capital of the Empire.

***

White clouds stretched across the blue sky. The sun, sinking toward the horizon, cast its light on the wide avenue and the carriages passing through its center. The rays illuminated the diverse array of pedestrians from various races along the edges of the street.

"... It hasn’t been that long since I left, yet it feels like it’s been ages since I’ve returned," Seras murmured, seated across from Ian.

He said nothing, his gaze focused on the scenery outside the carriage window.

Crisscrossing side streets lined the broad, straight avenue, creating a grid-like pattern. Buildings of all shapes and sizes filled every available space between the roads, their styles as varied as the people who roamed the streets. Despite the diversity of architecture and inhabitants, there was an oddly harmonious order to it.

"I didn’t realize we were so close. It really is just half a day’s journey," Philip, seated beside Ian, commented with a hint of surprise. His eyes remained glued to the unfolding view of the capital, though his expression was more contemplative than excited since this city marked the end of his journey.

"At least now I understand why they call this place the heart of the empire," Ian muttered calmly.

He had set foot in the capital before in the game, but now that it was real, it was far more magnificent and elaborate than anything he had experienced back then. Everywhere he looked was part of the city, and the massive avenues stretched endlessly in every direction. It was a city so vast that it could easily fit three central metropolises within its walls.

The radiant atmosphere in every corner served as a testament to its blessed state, creating the illusion of being in an entirely separate universe.

"It’s a shame. If we had more time, I could have hosted you here in the capital for a while," Seras added, her voice carrying a hint of regret.

Ian smirked slightly—he had considered the same thing. He had originally planned to explore the central cities, spending at least a month in the capital.

"Well, there’ll be other opportunities," Ian replied, though he knew that the next time he returned, it would likely be after the erosion of the Black Wall had begun. And even then, there wouldn’t be much time to spare. He’d have to cross the Black Wall soon enough.

As the carriage continued on its path, Philip broke the silence. "The sun will set soon. Couldn’t we stay here for a day and say our farewells properly?"

Elia nodded in agreement. "I agree with Sir Philip. Who knows when we’ll be able to see each other again after today?"

Ian chuckled softly. "Staying longer might just lead to trouble. I’d rather avoid a situation where unwelcome guests prevent us from saying proper goodbyes. And besides..."

He looked around the carriage, his gaze shifting between Philip and Elia. "Delaying what’s already decided will only make it harder. You should know that well, Philip."

Philip let out a sigh, forcing a smile. "I understand that in my head... but my heart isn’t quite ready. And when else will I get to see you looking so sharp, my lord?"

Philip’s eyes playfully scanned Ian’s attire from head to toe. Ian wore a regal Imperial uniform with a bluish hue—Elia’s parting gift to him. It was also the outfit he was supposed to wear when meeting the Emperor.

As soon as they had passed through the city’s gates, Seras had sent word to the palace to arrange the audience. The last task of his visit will probably be entering the palace, where he will discover if he will meet the Emperor.

"It seems we’re almost there," Seras’s voice continued a few minutes later.

Philip, who had been chatting with Elia about Ian’s attire, paused as Ian glanced out the window. Beyond the avenue, he saw the city’s inner walls, not as tall as the outer ones, but still revealing rooftops beyond them. The most prominent structure was a towering spire crowned with an ornament—the symbol of Lu Solar. It was the Great Church.

"How... divine," Ian muttered dryly, prompting a smile from Seras.

Philip and Elia, on the other hand, exchanged glances, momentarily speechless.

The carriage pulled to the side of the road, as Philip would need to enter the papal territory alone. While the others were free to move about, Seras, as a princess, required prior notice to enter such sacred grounds.

As the carriage stopped, silence filled the air. Before anyone could speak, Ian opened the door.

"Let’s say our goodbyes outside," he said, stepping out before anyone could respond.

His gaze briefly swept over the city gate leading to the papal states and the surrounding area. Between the guards dressed in robes as white as a priest’s attire, passersby moved freely. Without sparing a glance back at the capital, Ian turned to look at the carriage.

Asme, Seras, and Elia were already making their way toward him, and they soon gathered behind him.

Clunk.

Philip was the last to step down from the carriage. By now, he had once again donned his helmet, pulling down the visor to completely cover his face. His full plate armor had been meticulously adjusted, with every joint and fastening properly tightened. Though the armor pieces were slightly mismatched in size and shape, his appearance was now flawless—he looked every bit the paladin.

Looks like he’s uneasy about entering the Great Church after all, Ian thought as Philip came to a stop in front of him.

"... It has been an honor to serve you, my lord," Philip said in a voice completely devoid of any trace of humor.

So serious, this kid.

Ian, faintly smiling, spoke up. "Don’t cause any trouble and finish the ceremony properly. After you complete my mission, follow your own path. That’s my second command to you."

"... Master," Philip’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke. His fist clenched tightly for a moment.

Schwing—

He drew his sword from his side. Before Ian could say another word, Philip knelt, the tip of his blade touching the ground as he gripped the hilt firmly.

"Though I will no longer be by your side for some time if the moment comes when you need me again, wherever or whenever that may be, I will return to your side."

Philip’s voice, filled with resolve, echoed from behind his visor.

"Under the gaze of the Radiant Goddess, I make this oath, which holds precedence even over the laws of the Empire. Not even the Order’s doctrine can hinder this vow."

"There’s no need for such a solemn oath..." The voice of Ian, who had been muttering while swallowing a laugh, suddenly quieted.

A single ray of divine light had broken through the clouds, shining directly onto the kneeling Philip.