Chapter 94

It was evening, and the sun had set.

Ian's condition was excellent.

Soon, the entire house was filled with pitch-black darkness.

[Ian! We're here!]

With the darkness fully deployed, Ian was virtually invincible.

When you can't see, even taking a step is challenging, much less pursuing and fighting enemies.

Ian had also cast a spell on Belenka.

"[Wind!]"

This was the magic of echo localization, developed in Baron Talian's tomb.

The spell visualized sounds, enabling one to distinguish objects even in the dark.

"Hmm."

As the mysteries of the wind whispered, Belenka sensed a blurred distinction of objects around her.

However, unlike the confined underground, the magic was significantly weaker in the open air above ground.

The wind and sound spread in all directions, echo localization did not function well in these conditions.

Thus, Belenka could only strike down enemies who were nearby.

"Yikes!"

As the situation quickly reversed, the assassins lost their composure.

They had thought this mission was only about dealing with powerless monks.

Clergy are distasteful to kill, not difficult.

But among Takarion's group was a wizard—a highly competent one!

'Surely Takarion is blessed by the gods?!'

'I was wrong...! We should have never started this!'

As their plan went awry, the assassins panicked.

There was a Plan B prepared in case of assassination failure, but that was irrelevant to the assassins.

"Run away!"

"Scatter! Everyone scatter!"

Sensing their failure, the assassins sought their own survival, fleeing in all directions.

Some were caught by Belenka running in random directions, but most escaped the house and vanished into the darkness beyond.

Ian did not pursue the assassins.

More precisely, he could not pursue them.

"Surrender! I will surrender!"

"???"

"I'll pay a ransom, just spare my life!"

The assassin leader had fallen to his knees.

Ian was flabbergasted.

What nonsense about ransoms? Are you worth that?

"Excuse me, just to check, are you royalty?"

"No. But..."

It wasn't worth listening further.

Ian drew Anor-lsil and aimed at the assassin's chest.

"..."

Just before he swung the sword, his fingertips trembled slightly.

To medieval people, killing was as routine as daily life, but not for Ian.

Glory and sin are two sides of the same coin.

Murder is an honorable act but also a sin that eats away at one's humanity.

Suddenly, the darkness lifted.

Belenka approached Ian and said,

"I can do it instead."

Ian looked at Belenka.

She was his knight.

She could bear Ian's sins without him having to get his hands bloody.

But Ian shook his head.

"No."

Ian was not a modern person; he was a medieval resident.

Here, there were no laws or officers to protect Ian.

To defend oneself, one must wield violence.

Ian needed to become accustomed to violence.

"If you spare me, I'll give you a treasure map hidden with gold and jewels! I can give you alcohol and women too! Please spare me!"

Ian scoffed in disbelief.

Money, alcohol, women.

That's all the wealth gathered from a lifetime of killing?

Ian positioned the blade's tip downward, plunging it between the collarbones.

"Gurk!"

The blade smoothly disappeared into the flesh.

It was Ian's first time wielding a sword, yet he miraculously avoided hitting any bones—a stroke of beginner's luck perhaps.

When Ian pulled out Anor-lsil,

Thud.

The assassin collapsed like a wine bottle from which the cork had been popped, spilling blood profusely.

Belenka whistled softly.

"Indeed a good sword. It's usually not so easy to pull out a blade that's been driven in so deeply."

"..."

"Is this your first time killing someone, Ian?"

Ian nodded mechanically.

A strange sensation lingered at his fingertips—excitement and trembling.

And that sensation was eerily pleasant.

Humans instinctively pursue violence.

By destroying others and instilling fear, they affirm their own strength.

Violence carries a pleasure addictive enough to ensnare humans.

"Yes, revenge is sweet. But Ian, don't forget that even revenge is an act of taking life."

Belenka lightly patted Ian's shoulder.

Because violence is pleasurable, humans can easily become addicted to it.

Those addicted to violence are no different from monsters.

Belenka pointed this out.

She hoped Ian would remain a pure human forever.

"[Those who play with the devil's toys will one day become devils themselves]. When we reach the village, let's go to the temple and pray, Ian."

"...Right."

Ian took Belenka's advice to heart.

Revenge is also murder.

Revenge could be justified, but to someone addicted, it was like a game.

If one were to draw a sword just because someone bumped into their shoulder, that wouldn't be justice but madness.

Ian felt he had become even more medieval.

He was already medieval, but now even more so.

For modern people, murder is a crime, but for medieval people, it's a matter of honor.

Now, Ian was [The One Who Defeated the Assassins].

"Is everyone alright?"

Once the situation had settled, Ian checked on the monks.

Fortunately, all the monks were safe.

They had hidden under the dining table as soon as the commotion started.

"Oh! Ian!"

"Truly...! You must be a messenger sent by the heavens!"

The monks rushed to Ian, competing to greet him.

Even Takarion hesitantly offered thanks.

"Um... thanks, I suppose... well fought..."

Ian nodded nonchalantly.

Both physically and mentally, he was so exhausted he felt he could collapse at any moment.

But it wasn't over yet.

"I'm sorry to say this, but we need to leave quickly!"

It was Sister Mionia.

The infuriated monks immediately cursed.

"Trying to deceive us again?!"

"What kind of scheme are you plotting this time!"

"First, change out of that obscene outfit!"

Sister Mionia's face turned red.

"Uh, I'm not an obscene nun! And I'm serious!"

The atmosphere could turn hostile.

Ian intervened to mediate.

"Let's hear what Sister Mionia has to say."

"Hmph! You call that a sister? Can you say that after seeing how she's dressed?"

"Why? She looks pretty."

Ian's comment surprised Mionia, who covered her mouth.

The monks were confused,

And Belenka sighed.

"There he goes with his sweet talk again."

The monks wondered briefly if Ian had been seduced by a demon.

But the faithful Brother Ian surely wouldn't be seduced by a demon...

They concluded that Ian's sense was just a bit off.

"Hmm..."

"Maybe it's because he's a wizard, he has a unique way of seeing things..."

Mionia gave Ian a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Kira whispered to Belenka in a low voice.

"Ian seems to like those kinds of clothes..."

"Must be a guy thing, I guess."

Hem hem.

Mionia raised her voice.

"Everyone, listen. Soon, barbarian warriors will invade this place."

"Barbarian warriors?"

The monks were startled.

Barbarian warriors were not a common sight in the Empire.

"Yes. As far as I know, they are mercenaries hired by Count Lumin, prepared in case the poison assassination failed."

The assassins themselves were aware that the assassination using [tomatoes] was uncertain.

In fact, the [tomato assassination method] benefited only the assassins, allowing them to claim that the clergymen died mysteriously after they had merely served food.

If they truly intended to ensure the monks' deaths from the start, they would have prepared an actual poison.

However, Count Lumin, a devout follower of Heaven's Faith, did not want to burden the assassins with the heinous sin of murdering clergy.

So, they initially prepared a tomato assassination.

If the assassination failed, they would simply smile and send the monks on their way, then attempt a second assassination.

That would be the [Barbarian Assassination Method].

"Barbarians..."

"This is serious," the monks murmured, worry spreading across their faces.

Followers of Heaven's Faith would never harm clergy due to the fear of repercussions in the afterlife.

But barbarians are different; they are pagans!

They do not believe in Heaven's Faith, so to them, killing hundreds or even thousands of clergy is not frightening at all!

Count Lumin had cunningly prepared the most suitable assassins to kill clergy—barbarian warriors, who were ruthless murderers, well deserving of the term 'clergy killing machines.'

"We must seek help from followers of Heaven's Faith as quickly as possible."

Ian nodded.

If the barbarian warriors attacked, it would be difficult to guarantee the survival of the monks.

Ian, capable of using various spells and even possessing a space-moving scroll, had nearly zero chance of being killed by the barbarians.

However, nearly zero does not mean absolutely zero.

In the dreadful sanitary and medical conditions of the medieval period, even a stray arrow could result in a fatal poisoning.

Avoiding pointless fights was always the right choice.

Ian had one advantage: the enemy were barbarians.

This land was imperial territory, overflowing with followers of Heaven's Faith.

Knights eager to earn glory would rush over, laughing and competing to help.

Any knight Ian met on the road could become a shield for his group.

"I understand the situation, but there's still something I'm unsure about."

A monk pointed at Mionia and said,

"What if this woman is trying to lead us to the barbarians?"

Ian looked at Mionia silently.

She was the woman who had altered her nun's habit to seduce Takarion, making it somewhat indecent(?).

Could they trust a woman who was once their enemy?

"Sister Mionia, swear to heaven and tell us the truth. Why did you betray them? Why are you on our side now?"

Mionia sighed as if exhausted.

"I just wanted to escape the convent life, so I did as I was told. I participated in the assassination knowing it was to kill Takarion. Yes, that's my sin."

"You were trying to kill me from the start?"

"Will you shut up for a second. Sister, please continue."

"But the assassins intended to eliminate all of you. I didn't want to see you all die. That's a sin I couldn't bear. So, I told the truth."

If Mionia hadn't betrayed them, Ian and his group would have simply walked out of the house after eating.

But soon, they would have encountered barbarian warriors and fought.

Mionia had ruined everything. Conversely, she had also saved everyone.

"You made a difficult decision," Ian remarked.

"...It's not something to be praised for. It was merely reaping the sins I cultivated."

"If you had remained silent, you could have gotten what you wanted. Instead, you kicked it away yourself."

Ian said with a smile.

"Perhaps it's not yet time for you to leave the convent life."

The monks nodded in agreement with Ian's words.

Choosing to follow divine teachings over immediate benefits is a behavior more fitting for a clergyman than an ordinary person.

All the monks decided to trust Mionia's words—except for one.

Except for Takarion.

"What?! She tried to kill me! And that doesn't bother you???" Takarion exclaimed incredulously.

"Well, that can happen," Ian replied matter-of-factly.

"What do you mean, that can happen?"

It seemed Takarion still lacked self-awareness.

Considering how much he had done.

"Sister Mionia! You said you liked me! That you respected me!"

Takarion's voice was almost desperate.

Mionia responded sternly, "Are you an idiot? You believed that?"

"It... it was a lie?"

"The very idea that I could like you is laughable. Don't you even look at your face when you wash? Oh, right, you probably don't realize since you barely wash."

"That's too much!!! You even said you liked my gospel!"

"Ah, the gospel. Honestly, your gospel is awful. It truly deserves divine punishment, you know? You tried to make Saint Marcus a hero at the expense of treating other saints like idiots," Mionia criticized bluntly.

"Well, that was simply to highlight the achievements of Saint Marcus..."

Takarion attempted to justify.

"The Saint Garhan who you described as a complete fool is Count Lumin's most revered saint," Mionia revealed.

"..."

Takarion's face turned pale.

"Wait... you tried to kill me just over that?" he asked in disbelief.

Mionia scoffed, "Just over that? Do you think living a life of faith is a joke?"

Ian nodded in agreement.

Indeed, issues involving a favorite character are serious matters, especially if your favorite character is turned into an idiot in some weird fanfic.

As an ex-modern person, Ian could somewhat understand Count Lumin's rage.