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It’s not just its immense size. Every flow and movement in this unknown space revolves around that presence.

Yet, it’s hard to see clearly. It’s distorted, like a heat haze warping the view.

The moment Ian tried to peer beyond the distortion, a powerful shudder shot through his mind.

It felt like something strange was seeping into his eyes. It wasn’t just an itch—it was accompanied by a faint pain.

“Ah.”

An indescribable sensation was forcefully awakening inside him.

Realizing he couldn’t endure it any longer, Ian shut his eyes tightly for a moment.

He felt dizzy, his stomach churned. Vague fear and anxiety surged within him.

Something seemed to crawl up from the soles of his feet, slithering over his body. The sensation was so vivid, it was utterly repulsive.

Anyone else in his shoes would have surely gone mad, overwhelmed by the eerie atmosphere and the growing disconnection from reality.

“…Hah!”

But Ian, instead of succumbing to the negative emotions, felt exhilaration.

He had assumed that the Divine Star he had gained after witnessing the Hero defeat the Outer God had naturally faded during his return. Yet now, it was more vividly present than ever, awakened by this external stimulus.

And it wasn’t hard to guess what had provoked this dormant power.

‘An Outer God!’

The moment Ian recognized this truth, a tremendous force, as if he had uncovered a forbidden secret, crushed down on his entire body.

His limbs felt as heavy as soaked cotton. His head throbbed under the pressure. He couldn’t lift it any further.

All he could do was barely reopen his closed eyes. He hadn’t even gotten a proper look at his opponent yet.

All he had seen were two faintly visible legs.

As his head involuntarily bowed, Ian realized something—amidst all the noise, everything around him was starting to quiet, like ripples fading in still water.

‘Of course, I’ve caught its attention.’

Everyone around him was prostrated on the ground, while he stood alone.

Moreover, with Bane of Evil activated, flames were surging around his body, radiating heat.

But there was no way he was going to kneel and bow in a place like this.

Wouldn’t that be a sign of submission to the entity before him?

Such a gesture could fulfill some condition and trigger an irreversible situation.

What was he supposed to do?

This chaotic situation…

He racked his brain, but no clever solution came to mind.

As he stood in place, contemplating, Ian noticed the air to his right begin to shimmer with a red glow. He could feel heat emanating from it.

Soon, a hand clad in metal suddenly shot out, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him forcefully.

─────.

As Ian was dragged along, he saw the once-noisy crowd abruptly fall silent and rise to their feet, staring at him.

Their eyes were filled with resentment. In that flood of countless gazes, Ian realized that this was no mere illusion. He blinked, opening and closing his eyes.

“Young master!”

A booming voice rang out. Ian turned his head to see Mael standing beside him, helmet on.

The eerie scene from earlier had vanished entirely. The people bowing in worship, the massive throne, the figure seated upon it, and the suffocating atmosphere—all gone.

Everything had disappeared.

“Are you alright?”

“Just feeling a bit dizzy, that’s all.”

Upon closer inspection, Ian noticed that the dark magic still enveloped his body. As a result, the Bane of Evil flames alternated between red and purple.

Watching Mael cautiously step back, Ian lowered his gaze. The lifeless body of Longos, with its neck broken, remained at his feet.

Rather than feeling pride for killing someone who might have become a Level 6 in the future, Ian felt uneasy.

He wondered if this event would alter the course of the future. And soon, he arrived at an answer to that question.

‘It will be altered.’

Longos had been a significant problem for the Empire. He had caused numerous incidents.

Since all of that would now be erased, it was inevitable that some planned events would go awry.

However, in the grand scheme, it might be for the better. Longos had committed acts that were essentially crimes, like a pest offering no benefit to humanity.

How many had died and suffered because of his actions? The rumors alone were enough to make one shudder. So, it was for the best that he was dead.

“What about the pests?”

Ian recalled the insects that Longos had controlled.

“They stopped moving for a moment when you broke his neck, then scattered. Even though we’ve burned quite a few, there are still a lot of them. You’ll probably see them around here for a while.”

“…Disgusting.”

The appearance of the insects was far from pleasant. They resembled a mix of cockroaches and locusts, and were utterly revolting.

Ian turned to look at Elliot, who was kneeling and clutching his forearm. He was sweating profusely and staring blankly, appearing dazed.

“He looks like he’s going to die soon.”

“Looks like it. I gave him a potion, so he should be alright for now.”

“Just the potion?”

“Yes!”

“What about the antidote?”

Antidotes vary depending on the type of poison, but there are universal ones that can alleviate symptoms, if not completely neutralize them. It’s generally a good idea to use them if available.

Mael should have known this, but he gave a foolish response.

“Uh… do we need an antidote too?”

“No, he’s just an ordinary person. A potion alone won’t suffice for poison.”

Why was someone with a good head on their shoulders being so clueless?

“Do we have an antidote?”

“No, we don’t have one. I’ll check immediately if there’s any stored in the lumberyard.”

“Forget it… No need to.”

As Mael stood there vacantly, Ian moved towards Elliot, but at that moment, people began rushing urgently towards the lumberyard entrance.

They arrived quickly. Ian glanced over them and let out a wry smile.

‘Lucky me.’

They say that those who are meant to survive will, no matter what. Among the people coming this way was a priest.

It seemed that the lumber produced here was supplied not only to the Magic Tower but also to the temple.

He quickly had the priest treat Elliot, who had already lost consciousness.

“What happened here?”

When those coming from the Magic Tower asked, Ian calmly explained the events that had transpired.

Despite his attire resembling something out of a plague, they showed him some degree of respect, possibly due to the emblem on his clothing.

“…So, how will the Berger family address this incident?”

“I can’t say, as it’s not my responsibility. You’ll have to discuss it further with our investigator once they wake up.”

“Alright. By the way, if it’s not too much trouble, who are you?”

“Ah.”

At the Mage’s question, Ian straightened up and introduced himself politely.

“Apologies for the late introduction. I’m Ian Berger.”

“…Excuse me?”

Looking at the confused face, Ian could only smile softly.

* * *

In terms of results, the events at the lumberyard concluded very smoothly.

It was thanks to the unexpected discovery and elimination of the dark mage as soon as they arrived.

Elliot, who had collapsed and lost consciousness, soon recovered with the priest’s help.

By morning, he was meeting with other investigators and discussing their findings in a perfectly normal state.

Fortunately, it seemed that those from the Mage Tower and the temple were not particularly difficult to deal with, and an agreement was reached without major conflict.

Since the mission was complete, there was no reason to linger, so they returned to the city without hesitation.

Mael, appearing in need of rest, returned first, and Ian went to find Verdan with Elliot.

Although they had to wait briefly due to a visitor, they were able to meet soon after.

Elliot stepped forward and reported on the lumberyard situation to Verdan, who was buried under a pile of documents.

“…That’s all.”

“Did they raise any complaints?”

“No. The appearance of the dark mage fell under the disaster and accident clauses specified in the contract we signed, so they had no objections. However, they do want us to normalize the situation and resume supplies as quickly as possible.”

“That’s easier said than done. How long will it take to normalize the lumberyard?”

“According to the person in charge, fortunately, there was no damage to personnel or equipment, so work isn’t immediately hindered. However, since the dark mage’s death, the insects have scattered and are still appearing in the area, causing significant concern.”

“Hm. That’s to be expected. After all, it was a dark mage.”

“And the toxicity cannot be ignored. I speak from personal experience.”

“So, measures are necessary?”

“Yes. Additionally, the Green Magic Tower and the temple have offered to provide trees infested by the insects free of charge, but I delayed answering as it requires approval.”

Ian sighed quietly at the lengthening conversation.

After a moment, Verdan thanked Elliot for his efforts and told him to leave.

The door creaked open and then shut. Once Elliot had left, Verdan finally turned to Ian.

“You’ve had a hard time too, Ian.”

“Brother, I really thought I was going to die this time.”

“I can imagine. But you were lucky.”

“Lucky? How so? It feels like I encounter dark mages every time I go out, while others rarely see them.”

“Yes, that’s what I mean by luck. You faced an opponent you could handle, gained experience, and returned safely.”

That’s true. If he had faced a truly skilled adversary, he might not be here now.

In that sense, Verdan’s words were not incorrect. It had served as a stepping stone for growth.

Unable to refute, Ian sighed.

“Still, if it weren’t for you, it would have been a serious problem. You can be proud. You’ve upheld the prestige of the Bergers.”

Verdan opened a drawer and placed a document and a small pouch on the desk.

“Take this. It’s a certificate of successful completion and your reward.”

“Hmm, I don’t really need the money.”

The black card was a godsend, and with it, Ian was practically invincible—at least in places where the card was accepted.

But even as he said that, Ian reached out and took the pouch.

When he opened it slightly, he found it filled with silver coins, not gold.

“Wait a minute. Is this all?”

“That’s already a generous amount. Who would give such a sum as payment to someone who isn’t even a full-fledged mercenary yet? You wouldn’t have received this commission if you weren’t a Berger.”

“I know. But I caught a dark mage, didn’t I? What about the bounty?”

The Berger family had placed a bounty on the dark mage.

Just providing information on their whereabouts would earn a certain amount, and the dark mage Ian killed was one of three.

That sum could not be settled with mere silver coins.

“That will be deposited into a personal account, so check it later when you visit the bank. Of course, it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what you have. But it’s the first money you earned with your own strength, so it must have special significance.”

It wasn’t the first time, but there was no need to mention that. Ian grinned slightly.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll be sure to request your services again next time.”

“…Do that. Just make sure you perform as well as you did this time.”

“Of course. I won’t let you down.”

Ian’s response, delivered with a sly grin, was the very essence of a mercenary.

Verdan chuckled softly, then fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

“Ian, what do you think the dark mage’s objective was? Why have they started appearing recently after being quiet for a while? And why did they interfere with the lumberyard?”

“Why are you asking for my opinion all of a sudden?”

“Yesterday, the head of the family led the Black Spear Knights on a mission. Reports came in about fiends appearing along the defense line. At the same time, groups of monsters began to stir up from all directions. Even most of the reserve Red Spear Knights had to be deployed.”

Ian felt puzzled. Was the El Carda Empire in turmoil at that time?

He wasn’t sure. Before his regression, he had spent that age leisurely hunting and drinking.

The unsavory crowd he mingled with didn’t bring such news. After all, if they had mentioned such things, it would have ruined his drinking mood.

“So I’m just curious about what others think, and you’re the one I’m asking. So don’t hesitate—just tell me.”

“Hm.”

——–