I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

"I don't see why not." Ian shrugged, then glanced at Sanford. "Let’s continue the rest later. We’ll have plenty of time for a while anyway."

"Yes, Agent of the Saint," Sanford answered immediately. He set down his nearly empty goblet on the armrest and stood up at once.

It wasn’t just because Diana was staring at him like she wanted him gone.

After all the hell I went through fixing this damn ship!

It was so he could hurl a storm of curses at the Crimson Coral Reef, which was still throwing a stubborn, batshit tantrum. And if the Silent Storm was with them, then those bastards too.

"I’ll be at your call anytime!" Sanford bent his knee in a respectful bow, even in the midst of it all, then walked out without looking back

Ian’s gaze shifted to the back of Diana’s head as soon as the door closed. "You don’t have to glare like that. Once the door’s shut, no one can overhear anything in here."

Only then did Diana turn to him, muttering awkwardly, "Really? No wonder it was so quiet."

Behind her, Nila snorted softly.

Ian tilted his head toward the seat beside him. "Come up. If you went as far as risking jumping between ships, I’m curious what you wanted to say."

"It... wasn’t that dangerous. The ships were close enough, and these boots have a very useful spell," Diana mumbled, climbing into the carriage.

She sat where Sanford had been.

Ian shut the door with his Willful Grasp and said, "I was joking. You don’t need a reason to come talk. We’re comrades, aren’t we?"

After a brief pause, Diana spoke in a low voice. "Yeah. We are. Then how could you do this to me, Ian Hope?"

Ian simply tilted his head slightly.

Frowning, she continued, "Don’t play dumb. You knew, didn’t you? That Nehat, that one-armed beast, is the daughter of Inaskurgl!"

"Ah, I see." A faint smile finally curled at the corner of Ian’s lips. "So you knew after all."

"I’ve known for a while! How could I not? That disgusting beast is proud of it!" Diana snapped, her eyes blazing.

Then she bit her lip and shut her eyes, forcing herself to calm down.

She slowly ran a hand down her face before continuing, "If she finds out I helped you take down Inaskurgl... she’ll come at me until one of us dies. I’d bet my life on it, Ian Hope."

Ian nodded, still smiling faintly as he lifted his goblet. "So Nehat doesn’t know yet..."

"Right. Not yet. But she will soon. It’s only a matter of time."

Diana let her arm drop, exhaustion creeping into her expression as she opened her eyes again.

"I understand your intention, Ian Hope. You want to force enemies into cooperation for the sake of the alliance. Just like you did before."

Ian drank from his goblet, watching her intently.

Diana held his gaze for a moment, then let out a sigh. "But that only worked because you tore that beast apart yourself. Because you sealed their god completely."

Ian lowered the goblet and asked, "Did she tell you that herself?"

Diana shook her head. "No, Palmer did. Yeah, just let me stay with that one-eyed bastard instead. If you do, I’ll cooperate with whatever you want, I promise."

"That’s unexpected. You stood against Inaskurgl, yet you’re afraid of facing Nehat?" asked Ian.

Diana frowned. "What are you talking about? I’m not afraid of that one-armed beast. I’m saying I’d have no choice but to kill her if she attacks."

She swallowed, raising a hand to her ear beneath her hair. "And if that happens, my ear gets cut off."

"So that’s what you’re afraid of."

"Of course it is. Even if you overlook it, the head of the house won’t. You know exactly what she thinks of me, don’t you?"

Watching Ian let out a soft, breathy laugh, Diana spoke, then drew herself forward to the edge of her seat. She leaned her upper body toward him, fixing him with a desperate look, the one he’d often seen back in the Black Lands.

"So please, change your decision, Ian. This isn’t for the alliance. It’ll only cause damage on both sides."

Ian nodded calmly. "Yeah. That might happen."

A faint smile spread across Diana’s lips. "So you knew as well?"

"I did. And I made that decision knowing the risks because I trust you, Diana."

At Ian’s words, Diana’s smile froze in place.

Without taking his eyes off hers as they quivered, Ian gave a faint smile. "And that trust hasn’t changed."

"Again," she barely managed to speak, then squeezed her eyes shut and let out a long breath. "Again... you do this... Yeah... you really are something else, Ian Hope."

Her voice carried something beyond resignation—something closer to defeat.

Ian watched her for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then leaned forward. "But even so, it’s true I’ve put a heavy burden on you again."

Diana suddenly stiffened.

Ian reached out, picked up the goblet from the armrest beside her, and continued, "I thought of a way to deal with your problem. Want to hear it?"

Keeping her eyes closed, Diana took a steady breath.

Ian leaned back again, holding the goblet out to her without rushing her.

After a moment, she clicked her tongue lightly, opened her eyes, and took it.

"Fine. I’ll hear it."

She poured out the remaining wine onto the floor and wiped the rim of the goblet with the edge of her cloak. It had been Sanford’s goblet, after all.

Ian smiled faintly and leaned forward. "Good. When we get back on the ship, you go to her yourself and tell her the truth."

Diana froze mid-motion.

Meeting her gaze, Ian picked up the wine bottle and added, "Before someone else tells her first."

Only then did Diana frown and ask, "You’re not telling me to keep it hidden... you’re telling me to reveal it myself?"

Ian lightly shook the bottle and nodded. "Yeah. And while you’re at it, you should tell her everything Inaskurgl did. In detail. From firsthand experience."

She stared at him for a long moment, brows knit.

"Probably not, but..." she muttered, lowering her gaze and resuming wiping the goblet. "If you just don’t like that beast, Nehat, then say it honestly. Ian Hope. If that’s the case, I can take care of her for you. Honestly, that’s the only way your suggestion makes sense."

Ian blinked, then let out a short laugh. "I can’t even call that a fairy-like thought. It only sounds that way. But of course, it’s not."

"Then you’re serious." Diana held out the goblet. Her tone suggested she wasn’t even surprised anymore.

As Ian poured wine into it, he continued, "I’m telling you to stand proud. Because you have every right to. Inaskurgl was an archdemon."

Diana nodded. "That is true. Not only did I defeat an archdemon, but I also avenged my people."

Ian set the bottle aside and gestured slightly with his chin. "Exactly. And the others know that too. The beastfolk, the fairies, and even if she doesn’t want to admit it, Nehat does too."

After filling his own goblet, Ian set the bottle down and smiled. "So even if she gets angry, she’ll see it as cowardly to try to kill you over that. All the more so since you’ll be the one telling her the truth yourself."

Only then did Diana’s eyes widen slightly. It wasn’t the kind of reasoning a fairy would normally arrive at.

She took a small sip of her drink and muttered, "Then won’t she just find another excuse to kill me?"

"If she were a fairy, maybe. But unfortunately for you, Nehat’s a beastfolk. And a proud one at that. Sure, it’ll take longer for things to get better between you. But that’s no different from now, is it?" said Ian.

Diana stared at him with narrowed eyes for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Right. As long as she doesn’t try to kill me, it doesn’t really matter if things get worse between us. It’s not like we’re going to stay together forever anyway," muttered Diana.

She looked exhausted, as if she didn’t want to think anymore, but at least she seemed calmer now.

When she lowered the goblet, Ian, who had been waiting, asked, "Did it help?"

"It did. Though I still think the whole idea is insane."

"It’s an effective kind of insanity. Besides, you two have more in common than you think." Ian looked at her meaningfully. "In one way or another, you’ve both stepped into darkness before."

Diana’s eyes twitched.

Ian let out a chuckle and lightly swirled the wine in his goblet. "So if you talk, you’ll find common ground sooner than you expect. Consider it a final piece of advice."

"Yeah. It helped."

"Then head back. Before she hears it from someone else." Ian tilted his head slightly and took another sip.

However, Diana didn’t move.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke in her usual low voice. "Since I’m already here, can we finish the conversation we left unfinished?"

"About His Highness Hyked?" Ian asked, and Diana gave a small nod.

Setting his goblet on the armrest, Ian smiled. "I don’t mind. But are you sure?"

"She won’t find out right away anyway. That beast is asleep. She probably overexerted herself this morning, spouting nonsense she didn’t even believe in."

She snorted, then looked at Ian with a strangely bitter expression.

"What matters more is what you think about him. I don’t really have the right to ask... not after leaving them behind."

Ian nodded, then asked instead, "In that case, you’ve heard some of what’s happening in the capital, haven’t you?"

"I know His Highness took Plante and sent a messenger to the capital. The head of the house told me," Diana answered immediately.

Ian nodded, glanced at the seat beside him, and picked up his goblet.

"I just checked a report from my representative. While His Highness was holding out and facing the Imperial army, survivors were slipping in little by little and returning to their homeland."

Ian watched Diana’s widened eyes for a moment before taking a sip.

"That was probably one of the reasons he drew attention to himself. In any case, once the Great Church found out, they started pressuring the royal house to declare a holy war. The emperor hasn’t responded yet... but he won’t be able to hold out forever. Eventually, he’ll have to decide."

"Even if all the ‘moles’ regroup, His Highness’s forces won’t be able to overpower the central army," said Diana quietly. "And this isn’t the Black Land. So even if we don’t intervene, the chances of His Highness winning aren’t that high."

"The chances of him entering Imperial territory without shedding a drop of blood and taking Plante weren’t high either," said Ian, lowering his goblet.

Diana’s eyes twitched. "Do you really think His Highness will win the civil war?"

"Yeah," Ian answered without hesitation.

Diana’s eyes widened again.

He realized Thesaya had kept the princess’s secret perfectly.

Conflicting emotions passed through her gaze as she looked at him. "So you’re preparing to support the Imperial side?"

"Yes," Ian answered just as quickly, meeting her gaze with a faint curl of his lips. "At least that’s what the Emperor seems to believe."