I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 465

As Ian's gaze narrowed slightly, Lucia continued, "Even without counting the time outside the Wall, you're not still treating me like a child, are you?"

"That's... not exactly it..." Ian finally pulled the bottle from his lips and muttered.

The way he smacked his lips said it all—he knew full well he contradicted himself. After all, Lucia had been burning monsters to ash or crushing them with her flail without flinching for some time. Lately, he'd even found himself quietly impressed.

"Still, this is a different matter."

He had his reasons, or at least justifications. Fighting monsters was about survival; drinking was not.

"What about you, Diana?" Lucia then spoke, narrowing her eyes and turning her head.

"What?" Diana responded from her sky-gazing, without the slightest hint of interest. She probably hadn't even been listening.

Lucia looked at her steadily and added, "Do you also think I'm too young to be drinking?"

"In a situation like this, why waste time on something so—" Diana trailed off, her sarcastic tone faltering as she lowered her head.

Only then did she realize Lucia and Ian were both staring at her. Her brows drew together, slowly twisting into a frown.

"Whatever's going on between you two, handle it yourselves. Why drag me into it?"

"So," Ian cut in flatly. "What's your opinion?"

Diana bit her lower lip hard. Then, closing her eyes, she exhaled. "Honestly?"

"Yeah. Honestly," Ian replied without missing a beat.

A long sigh escaped Diana's nose—resignation more than frustration. She knew she'd been pulled into something unasked for. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

"If we're talking about adults, then drinking isn't a problem. And treating Lucifer like a child, in the first place, makes no sense. In fact..." She glanced at Lucia's now-brightening eyes and shrugged one shoulder against the storage box. "You could say it's insulting to her."

Silence followed. Diana glanced at Ian. He gave no response, only wetting his lips quietly. Then, at last, he murmured, "Well, she's got a point."

"Knew you'd say that," Diana replied with a faint, relieved smile.

"I've thought this for a while, but you're far too protective of Lucifer, Ian Hope. And that kind of overprotection..." Diana, casually nodding as she spoke, trailed off. She saw Ian's brows slowly furrow as he looked at her.

Freezing for a beat, she quickly added, "Not that it's a bad thing. It just means you care. But that's exactly why you offering her a drink carries a lot more weight, Ian Hope."

"Is that a cultural thing among fairies?" Lucia added in gently, likely supporting Diana's point.

Diana nodded right away. "It is. When a fairy comes of age, it's tradition for the family head to pour the first drink and light their first cigarette."

"Even the cigarette?" Of course, the mention only made Ian's brow furrow deeper.

"Yes." Diana tilted her head, puzzled by his reaction, but answered smoothly. She then turned to Lucia. "It's a very honorable rite. You're only allowed to smoke after that."

Sharing a smoke with the family head, huh?

Ian glanced aside, biting back a sigh at what he could only describe as a fairy-style insane tradition. Lucia looked up at him again with that calm, steady gaze, waiting for his decision.

Ian held her gaze for a long moment before finally letting out a low breath.

He knew it was time to treat her accordingly—to acknowledge her by the standard she had now reached. Honestly, he'd known the moment she first brought it up. Asking Diana's opinion had just been his way of making peace with that truth.

"Just so you know, this is really strong stuff." Of course, he couldn't help the mix of emotions that came with it.

I can't believe I'm teaching that little kid how to drink. Sure, Miguel had probably snuck her a sip or two here and there, but still...

"Drink it slowly, just a little at a time. Even when it's not this strong—always." He handed the bottle over as he spoke.

Lucia nodded, without a hint of a smile.

"I'll remember. First sip, slow and small. Always," she replied solemnly, holding the bottle in both hands with quiet reverence as if performing some rite.

Ian exhaled once more through his nose and released the bottle.

At last, Lucia's eyes curved faintly with a subtle smile. "Don't worry. I know people from my family line don't exactly have the strongest tolerance."

"Be even more careful now. You need water to process alcohol."

At Ian's added warning, Lucia tilted her head slightly. "Really? But I heard sailors drink alcohol instead of water. Same with dwarves."

"That's because of the—no. Never mind." Ian shook his head as if to clear it, then smacked his lips before continuing, "Just be cautious when the drink's strong."

"Yes. I will." Lucia gave a firm nod, then finally lifted the bottle to her lips.

Her throat moved with a single swallow—and then, "... Cough!"

With a low cough, she pulled the bottle from her lips, face scrunched in a deep grimace. "I knew it, but it really is strong."

"Tastes awful too, right?" Ian asked.

Lucia nodded, though a faint smile returned to her lips.

She held the bottle back out to Ian and added softly. "Still, it really does feel like it washes down the throat. It's so hot that it's almost cold."

"Yeah. That's the point, really." Ian gave a dry chuckle, taking the bottle from her. As he did, a deeper smile tugged at Lucia's lips while she rubbed her throat.

Diana was the only one not smiling. With a sigh that made it clear she couldn't understand either of them, she turned her gaze back to the sky.

Ian, after another sip, glanced her way and spoke. "Here. Diana."

As he tossed the bottle lightly toward her, Diana reflexively reached out and caught it.

Ian lay back, arm behind his head, and added, "Get some sleep, will you? We'll go wherever you say, and even if you lead us somewhere completely off track, I won't hold it against you."

With that, Ian shut his eyes.

As Diana blinked belatedly, looking down at him, Lucia stepped over and spoke gently, "That goes for me too, Diana."

Reaching to open the storage box, she continued, "So try not to feel too responsible. Just so you know, we've been through situations like this—"

"—more times than you can count?" Diana finished flatly.

Lucia blinked and looked at her. "I was going to say it a few times, but you're right. How'd you know?"

"I've heard it before. Back when he explained the situation we were in." Diana turned her eyes forward again.

Lucia followed her gaze and saw Ian lying before Moro, unmoving, as if dead to the world.

Lucia's lips curled into a faint smirk as she said, "Did he say anything else?"

"Just that this doesn't even qualify as a particularly grim situation."

"Then that's probably true. Which still means it is grim, of course..." Lucia shrugged and turned back to the box, pulling out a blanket. "I'll do everything I can to protect you. After all, you're only here because of me, Diana."

With a soft smile, Lucia handed Diana a blanket and turned away. Diana watched her walk over and cover Ian with the other blanket.

After a quiet pause, Diana murmured, "Still, I really don't want to run into that giant worm again, Lucifer."

As she raised the bottle to her lips, her swamp-colored eyes drifted to the sky, where ominous shadows writhed in the darkness.

***

Ian opened his eyes in silence.

His mouth and nose were dry and his throat itched, but the headache and nausea were completely gone.

I guess that's the only upside of this place.

Ian sat up and glanced at Lucia sleeping beside him. She had dozed off, her mask half over her face, breathing softly. Crouched just before her, Moro was in the same state.

Seren's still out too. Is she even going to wake up properly at this rate?

Just as Ian pulled the blanket off his lower half, he paused. His gaze was about to drop to his right hand when a whisper came from behind.

"You're up early, Ian."

Turning his head, Ian took in the sight of Diana, sitting beneath the stone pillar in the same posture as the day before. The only differences were the mask now covering her face and the blanket draped over her shoulders like a cloak.

Ian's eyes flicked to the empty bottle beside her as he muttered, "Told you to get some sleep."

"I did, a little. Don't worry. Fairies only need to sleep once every three days or so."

Didn't seem that way with that one, Ian thought, then nodded faintly.

Even after becoming an elder, Thesaya still sprawled on the floor of wagons more often than not—but she rarely ever truly slept. The only times he'd seen her completely out cold were after especially intense battles.

"So? Do you know which way we're going?" Ian asked, turning his gaze back to his right hand.

Diana nodded. "More or less. Want me to explain?"

"Keep it brief." Flexing his fingers, Ian began loosening the chain links on his wrist.

Diana sighed softly before she continued, "Long story short, we'll have to cross the desert to get out of here quickly. Judging by the signs, we're likely in the southern part of this desert. The reason I think that is—"

"Skip it. Go on."

"Looking at the flow of the chaos, I don't sense immediate danger or disruption nearby. But as you know, that could change any moment."

As he listened to the explanation, Ian slipped the glove fully off his hand. A cascade of dust spilled out from inside.

"For now, I'm thinking we follow this great canyon. Not every part of the desert is within that worm's domain."

Shaking out his hand, Ian looked at his right palm. Coiled tightly around his middle finger was a black serpent.

Shed its skin, huh?

Ian eyed remnants of Yog's discarded skin still clinging to its tail. It wasn't just fatigue that put the creature into such deep sleep—unlocking a new skill might have triggered it. The fact it had grown noticeably longer even didn't surprise him.

"If we're lucky, we'll reach a part of the desert outside that thing's territory before it's too late. Not that it'll be safe, but it won't be anything like the archdemon's domain."

Guess I'll have to start wearing it around my wrist now, Flexing his stiff fingers, Ian muttered to himself under his breath.

Yog was still unconscious, but it was clear it'd be waking up soon.

"After that, we'll probably circle the Isolated Sea. That part won't be too difficult. Just a matter of walking."

"The Isolated Sea—is that what used to be called the inland sea?" The voice came from his side. It was Lucia, already stirring and pushing upright with bleary eyes.

Diana shrugged in response.

"That's what it used to be. Now, it's part of Bukikia's domain."

"Bukikia." Lucia murmured the name, then turned to Ian, wide-eyed. She had spotted Yog, coiled tightly around Ian's finger.

Ian just shrugged slightly and began pulling his gloves back on.

"Just so you know, you'd best drop any thoughts of fighting that thing. It lives in the sea. Even if Sir Seren wakes up, there's no way the few of us could take it down."

"Yeah, yeah. Do what you want." Ian finished pulling on his gloves and rose to his feet, a light cascade of dust falling from his body with the motion. As he turned, he gave the blanket in his hand a brisk shake and started walking.

"I'm just going to follow wherever you lead," said Ian.

Diana watched him approach for a moment, then spoke in a quiet, even tone, "Just to be clear, I still can't say for certain exactly where we are—"

"You're not sure. I figured. So don't worry, just lead the way." Ian tossed the blanket into the supply crate, then reached inside and pulled out a leather water pouch. He threw it lightly into her arms

"This is our lifeline now. You're in charge of it."

Diana's eyes narrowed slightly, looking at the water pouch. "Again with this pressure..."

"If you ever end up on your own, you'll need something to survive. Unless you'd rather stick around and fight with us."

"Fine. I'll guard it with my life." Diana stood abruptly, movements sharp. She swept past Lucia—approaching with a blanket—without a glance.

Seriously...

Ian let out a faint laugh and turned to Lucia. "You ride Moro. I need to stretch my legs for a bit."

Led by Diana, the group began to leave the canyon, just as planned—keeping the cliff on their right as they moved forward.

Diana glanced around constantly, unease clear in her movements, but Ian wasn't concerned. If nothing else, he trusted her will to survive.

"I've got a question." Walking beside Moro, Ian finally broke the silence.

"Yes, go ahead." Lucia turned her head, her palm still resting gently on Seren's back.

Ian looked up at her and asked, "Can you tell me everything you know about the white mage?"

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