I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 234

Nasser blinked for a moment and then let out a hollow laugh.

"This is the first time I've ever been asked such a question. I've never really thought about it...."

He ran a hand through his moderately wavy hair and continued. "I was raised to be a knight from a young age and was knighted as soon as I came of age. The very next year, I received a revelation from the Radiant Goddess and devoted myself to the church. I was selected as a purifier about half a year later. And I've survived a few more years since then. So, I don't think I lack talent."

So, he's a natural-born genius. And a noble, no less. Truly Imperial.

Ian snorted and added. "How about compared to Gotheir? Not this Gotheir here, the dead one."

"In terms of experience, I couldn't match my senior. I've never thought about fighting him, but I wouldn't have gone down easily. I'm still young, after all."

"What about the Dawn Brigade? How do you and that shiny fellow compare?" Thesaya quickly interjected.

Nasser tilted his head slightly. "I've never compared ranks either.... But I was probably stronger than average. At least before I was cast aside. The same goes for my deceased senior."

Ian smacked his lips briefly. If they were to fight the Dawn Brigade again, it was clear it wouldn't be an easy battle.

After all, the Dawn Brigade was a secret society composed of carefully selected purifiers, so there was no way they'd be weak. Especially since they'd be adorned with all sorts of magical weapons, artifacts, and holy relics.

It really feels like I’m in Chapter Three now, damn it. In the game, they weren't ones to worry about this early.

Ian clicked his tongue bitterly and looked back at Mev.

"How about having him spar with Philip while you eat?"

"Me? With him?" Philip whipped around to look at Ian.

He surely didn't think he'd lose to someone forsaken by the Goddess.

Mev, who had been eating quietly, looked at Nasser. "Even if it's just a spar, fighting in those clothes won't be easy."

Nasser, who wasn't even allowed minimal armament, was clad in nothing but a simple cloth. He was even barefoot.

However, his expression remained unperturbed as he shrugged.

"Just give me a sword and a shield."

As Philip glared at Nasser with a face that seemed to grow more irritated, Mev nodded.

"I'm fine with it, as long as Philip agrees."

"I'm fine with it too. Now I'm really curious. Will he still be strong without the blessings of the Goddess and that impressive gear?" Philip responded immediately.

The training effect will be remarkable.

Ian thought, laughing quietly as he looked at Nasser.

"In the carriage's luggage, you'll find the shield he used. As for the sword...."

"You can use mine," Charlotte said, unbuckling the longsword from her waist.

Her orange eyes glared at Nasser. "If you try anything funny under the pretense of sparring...."

"Do not worry. I have no such intentions."

Accepting the sword, Nasser headed toward the carriage. While he searched for the shield, Philip jumped up and began noisily stretching. His eyes gleamed as he twisted his neck from side to side.

"The sword is good, and the shield is excellent as well. It’s very well worn. You must have taken great care of them."

Meanwhile, Nasser calmly inspected the shield as he returned.

Philip rotated his shoulders and spoke. "If it hurts, please let me know. I'll stop immediately."

"And if you want to learn some techniques from me, just say the word. I'll gladly teach you," Nasser smirked as he said this, glancing at Ian before adding. "In that sense, may I ask for a favor as well?"

Philip stopped his movements and motioned for him to go ahead.

"I’ve heard you've worked as a squire for a long time. I've never had a squire, nor have I been one, so there are many things I don’t know. Could you pass on some of your secrets to me? I think it will be necessary if I am to serve Lord Ian."

Philip blinked, clearly not expecting this, then smiled faintly as he took up his sword and shield.

"Very well. I accept your proposal."

"Thank you, sir." Nasser nodded and assumed a combat stance.

As soon as Philip nodded for him to start, Nasser charged at him.

Swish!

Nasser and Philip swung their swords at each other almost simultaneously. Philip blocked Nasser's incoming strike with his shield. However, Nasser had also swung his left arm forward at an angle as he swung with his right arm. It seemed as though he intended to take Philip's strike on his shoulder.

"...!" Philip, eyes widening in surprise, slowed the speed of his sword. Still, he couldn’t completely stop, and the blade sank into Nasser's forearm. Yet Nasser neither recoiled nor withdrew his extended arm.

The round shield he held out halted just inches from Philip's chin. Both men froze for a moment. Philip, holding his breath, quickly withdrew his sword. Blood dripped steadily from Nasser’s wounded arm.

Nasser spoke calmly. "If I were in full plate armor, my arm wouldn’t be injured. But in that case, even with a helmet, your head would be ringing quite a bit."

He shrugged, lowering his shield. "It's obvious, but I thought demonstrating it would be more effective."

"Um, let's at least wrap your arm first." Philip fumbled, suddenly feeling guilty after seeing the blood despite his earlier enthusiasm.

Looking down at his bleeding arm, Nasser continued. "It’s fine. Even though the Goddess took away my holy mark, not all the blessings on my body have disappeared. You’ll soon realize that the body blessed by the Radiant Goddess is particularly sturdy and heals quickly. Anyway...."

Nasser tapped his head with his sword.

"Using a shield defensively is sufficient only when your head is targeted. Like when magic is flying at you. Otherwise, you should use it solely as a weapon. If not, there’s no reason to wear that armor and carry the shield."

Nasser finished with a playful smile. "Have you got it now?"

"... Yes, I don’t think I’ll forget." Philip nodded sheepishly.

Meanwhile, Charlotte had approached and stood next to Nasser, holding a strip of cloth to use as a bandage. She gestured indifferently behind her with her chin.

"He told me to bandage you up. Unless you're going to stop the sparring."

"... Alright, then. Please." Nasser extended his arm.

While Charlotte reluctantly wrapped the surrounding bandage, his gaze shifted back to Philip.

"I have many tricks I used to rely on. Would you like to learn some? Although you probably already know quite a few."

"... Philip." Philip shrugged and smiled broadly. "Just call me Philip. I haven't been knighted yet, anyway."

"Not Nasser?"

"... When it's just us, it will be fine. I don't think you'd make a mistake because of it."

"Haha. Alright, Philip. Shall we continue?"

... This feels like a scene out of a teen movie.

Ian smirked as he watched the two. It wasn't an unpleasant sight. Taking a sip of his drink, he handed the bottle to Mev, who had just finished her meal.

"What do you think?"

"He's a great teacher. He'll be very helpful in areas I can't cover. Perhaps it's because they're of the same age."

"I meant his skills."

"...?" Mev, bringing the bottle to her lips, glanced at Ian with just her eyes.

Ian elaborated. "Do you think he’d make a good squire?"

"...!" Mev quickly set down the bottle and frowned. "Are you suggesting I take him as my squire?"

"He's an ex-purifier, so he should know how to deal with monsters and the corrupted." Ian shrugged.

Mev handed him back the bottle. "That’s why you should take him along instead."

"I expect to have many confrontations with the Dawn Brigade and the Order. I can't trust him in those situations. Even if he doesn't betray me, he might do something unexpected. I can't keep someone like that around. He wants to atone for Lu Solar, so let him do it on the frontier."

Taking another sip, Ian glanced slyly at Mev and added. "While serving you."

"...."

"Think it over. We still have time."

"... And if I decide not to take him?"

"Well..." Ian nodded slightly. It was enough for Mev to understand the unspoken implication.

"... Alright. I'll consider it." Mev muttered, looking over at Nasser sparring with Philip.

A new conflict flickered in her eyes. Ian, observing her profile for a moment, eventually turned away, bringing the bottle back to his lips.

Well, I've done all I can. At least, thanks to those two, the night hadn't been boring.

From the next day, Nasser was allowed to wear the gear Philip had set aside.

***

"Is this burned smell just me?" Thesaya asked, twitching her nose, as the afternoon approached.

Philip, sitting across from her, sniffed the air and responded. "It’s faint, but I can smell it too,"

As Ian nodded absentmindedly, Thesaya opened the window connecting to the driver's seat.

"What’s going on, kitty? Is there a fire somewhere?"

"It seems so. There’s smoke rising." Charlotte responded promptly. "It’s coming from more than one place."

"Is it a forest fire?" Thesaya leaned out the window.

Philip tilted his head in curiosity. "Could this be the aftermath of the ritual?"

"No, it probably is caused by people," Ian answered, turning to look out the front of the carriage.

Beyond the hill on the main road, black smoke was rising in multiple plumes, just as Charlotte had described.

"People? Are you sure...?"

"The servants of corruption and plague are weak against fire. They wouldn't have set it."

"Then it means Racliffe must have succeeded in stopping the ritual on his own!" Philip exclaimed, turning to Mev, whose expression also brightened slightly.

Ian neither confirmed nor denied it. In any case, it was a positive sign from his perspective. However, it also meant that a situation he wasn't looking forward to was about to occur. Although it was inevitable, he had hoped it would happen when there were fewer witnesses.

Both Thesaya and Charlotte turned their heads simultaneously as the carriage reached the middle of the uphill road.

"I hear footsteps."

"There are many of them. Some are on horseback. I hear metal clanking. They’re not bandits, they seem to be soldiers."

Listening to their consecutive observations, Ian let out a faint, bitter smile.

Speak of the devil.

Thesaya quickly entered the carriage and closed one of the windows. Mev and Philip pulled their hoods over their heads, while Ian shut the remaining window. As the interior dimmed, Nasser's voice came through the small window near the driver's seat.

"What should I do?"

"Just stay put." Ian turned his head, his hand already rummaging through his pocket dimension. "The rest will be handled by a trained instructor."

"A trained instructor...?" Nasser tilted his head.

Instead of answering, Ian exchanged a glance with Charlotte.

She grinned, revealing a hint of her fangs.

"To get us directly to the Duke, a simple approach won’t suffice, right?"

"... Do what you need to do." Ian, clicking his tongue, handed over a finely bound leather booklet.

It was his identification, issued by the Northern Autonomous Region.

Charlotte looked at the certificate and added. "If it’s necessary, it might be more effective if you show this yourself."

"...." Ian frowned for a moment, then let out a short sigh through his nose and snapped the window shut.

Nasser blinked at the closed window, then naturally turned his gaze to Charlotte. She was adjusting her gear with a low, growling sound as if loosening her neck.

"What are you planning to do?"

"What do you think I am?" Charlotte asked without looking at him.

Nasser shrugged. "You’re Sir Ian’s companion. And a beast-warrior."

"Right. But I’m also Ian’s servant."

"Really...?"

"Look ahead. And maintain your composure. If you make Ian look bad, I won’t let it slide."

"... Yes. Understood." Though puzzled, Nasser wiped the smile from his face and looked ahead.

Soon, a group of soldiers, led by a knight, appeared at the top of the hill.