Chapter 889

Farmers moved through the rolling sea of green. Small field huts stood scattered here and there.

Ian's lips curled a little higher as his gaze swept over an area that was still being cleared for cultivation.

As I thought, this is far beyond simply reclaiming abandoned farmland.

The region looked even more prosperous than it had been before the frontier joined the demonic realm.

Of course, that was partly because the land had been purified and made safe after transforming into a holy domain. Seeing such transformation in just over a year was remarkable, even to him.

They must have worked themselves to the bone.

Ian finally turned his attention to the city beyond the royal road.

The castle rising prominently at its center and the surrounding buildings seemed almost radiant, as though they had absorbed the sunlight itself. Even the shantytown beyond the walls appeared larger and better organized than before.

As Ian watched the tiny figures bustling about in the distance, a familiar voice drifted to his ears.

"We've finally entered the sacred land. Why do you look like that, Phoebe?"

Ian lowered his gaze toward the fairies and beastfolk forming ranks ahead of the carriage. They were the source of the commotion he had been hearing ever since opening the door.

"That castle was built by our ancestors."

The ones speaking were Idris and Phoebe, walking side by side near the rear of the procession.

Turning to her, Idris flashed a smile that revealed the tips of his fangs. "Ah, I see. So now you finally understand what it feels like to lose your homeland."

"It isn't the same. We didn't leave because we'd committed crimes and been driven out like your people. We chose to leave."

"Really? Then why are you getting so worked up?"

"I'm not. Turn your head away. Your breath stinks."

Watching Idris grin and deliberately flick his tongue out at her, Ian let out a chuckle. Their conversations were still sharp-edged, but it was obvious they had become friends by now.

"The soil is rich... The blessings of the Radiant Goddess and the Goddess of Abundance linger here."

"To take such a beautiful and dignified city and ruin it with those crude additions..."

The other fairies and beastfolk were no different, whispering among themselves as they looked around. Overall, their expressions were generally positive.

That was only natural. It had been a long time since they had seen scenery that felt so clean and alive.

"You seem to be in exceptionally good spirits," Miguel said from behind.

Supply wagons followed in the rear, and Nila, carrying Miguel and Elia, was drawing closer to the carriage.

Meeting Ian's eyes, Miguel offered a somewhat weary smile. "To be so busy looking around that you didn't even notice us approaching."

"It's only natural. This land bears heaven's blessing thanks to Sir Ian," said Elia. She gazed toward the city with eyes untouched by fatigue.

Glancing briefly at Nila, who seemed strangely tense, Ian replied flatly, "I'm not pleased. I'm surprised. It wasn't like this before."

"Well, isn't that basically the same thing? Hey! Where do you think you're going, you little brat?"

Miguel shrugged before pulling on the reins as Nila attempted to walk straight past the carriage.

Nila snorted and slowed its pace, as though suddenly coming back to its senses.

Elia looked at him meaningfully. "Indeed... It must be flourishing at an incredible pace if even you're surprised, Sir Ian. Perhaps the Bastard King will really unite the frontier."

"That depends entirely on how His Highness chooses to take advantage of this age of turmoil."

Before Ian could answer, another voice cut in from ahead. It was Ohara, approaching against the flow of the procession with Lily and Theodore in tow.

"And if there's an advisor at his side who can see farther and more broadly than he can, those odds will only improve," Ohara added with a curious smile as her eyes met Ian's. It was the look of a spellcaster.

One corner of Ian's mouth rose. "I didn't know you had ambitions like that."

"I don't. Becoming an advisor to a ruler is complicated, dangerous, troublesome, and exhausting."

Slowing her pace, Ohara naturally turned to face backward as she continued, "But if it's for the prosperity of the magic tower, sometimes you have to do things you'd rather avoid. Of course, we'll be trading with the North as well... but I have two hands."

With exaggerated flair, she draped an arm around both Lily's and Theodore's shoulders and continued alongside the warhorses.

Only then did Ian nod. "Fair point. Relying solely on the North could create problems. The Red Magic Tower has already been receiving support for a long time."

Of course, as long as Ian remained around, the red-clad pyromaniacs wouldn't openly complain. However, if their influence continued to shrink and support kept dwindling, the day would eventually come when they could no longer tolerate it.

Especially after Ian returned to his original world.

"But becoming the Bastard King's advisor will be harder than you think. He's intelligent and suspicious by nature. He won't keep someone close just because I introduced them."

Ohara looked back at him. "That's only slightly better than serving a foolish, stubborn ruler. Even so, would it be possible for me to speak with him?"

Despite her cautious tone, her eyes brimmed with confidence.

"Well, introducing you won't be difficult. But for now, all of you get inside."

Chuckling softly, Ian jerked his head toward the carriage. He was still leaning against the open door with one hand.

"Yes, Tower Master," Ohara answered immediately and turned around, leading the other two mages with her.

Ian then shifted his attention to Nila, who was walking beside the carriage. "Elia, you too. From here on, I'll be riding Nila."

"Yes, of—" Elia blinked before she could finish. Ian had already caught her with his Willful Grasp and was carefully pulling her toward him.

Dangling helplessly in midair as she drifted toward the carriage, Elia let out a soft laugh. "It really is a fascinating feeling. It's as though the air itself is holding me up."

"If the opportunity ever arises, I'd like to experience it myself. I've always been curious," Ohara added as she climbed into the carriage and passed Ian.

Theodore followed, carrying Lily in his arms, while Elia entered after them, her eyes shining with excitement.

Meanwhile, Miguel, who had already climbed down the opposite side of the saddle, said, "I'll follow from the rear of the procession."

Stepping into the stirrup and swinging himself onto Nila's back, Ian replied, "Don't follow the procession. Follow me. You should be standing with Charlotte."

Miguel blinked and nodded awkwardly. "Again? Uh... alright."

How long is it going to take before he starts accepting that as normal?

Suppressing a laugh, Ian lightly shook the reins.

Nila snorted and quickened her pace.

Ian could clearly feel the tension hidden within the creature's breathing. Even its gait seemed stiffer than usual.

Is it really because of Moro?

Keeping his amusement to himself, Ian glanced toward Max and Anna on the driver's bench. Despite having every reason to be exhausted, both merely nodded with their usual expressionless faces.

"As you already know, those mages were an enormous help during the journey. Theodore was impressive enough, but the Acting Tower Master is no ordinary mage either. Lily hardly had to step in at all," said Miguel.

Nodding, Ian looked toward the fairies and beastfolk marching in orderly ranks. "That explains why nobody ended up seriously injured."

As he approached, they all fell silent and kept their eyes forward. A few still had bandages wrapped around various parts of their bodies. Even so, most of them appeared to be in relatively good condition.

"Great Warrior."

From either side of the procession, Palmer and Nehat glanced toward him and nodded. Ian returned the gesture with a tilt of his chin before looking toward the front of the column.

Diana was walking beside Charlotte at the very front. Presumably, she was accompanying her in her capacity as acting head of the family.

Looks like she wants to get there and rest even a second sooner.

Ian suppressed a chuckle as he watched Diana quicken her pace without taking her eyes off the city.

Charlotte chose that moment to look back at him. "Ian."

Despite spending more than a week roughing it in the field, her black fur and mane seemed glossier than ever. Her golden-trimmed black relic armor gleamed without a single stain of blood.

At least the armor was undoubtedly Elia's handiwork.

Ian jerked his chin forward. "I'll lead the way. The rest of you follow behind us."

Nila immediately strode ahead of the procession, and Charlotte stepped slightly aside after nodding.

As Nila took the lead along the center of the royal road, Diana asked, "We're leaving again as soon as we're done with our business, right?"

Unlike usual, there was an unusual eagerness in her tone. She clearly wanted to lock herself inside the safety of the magic tower as quickly as possible.

"We need to recover from the journey first. If we cross the entire frontier without proper rest, everyone will end up exhausted."

Diana shook her head. "We’re simply walking. 'Exhausted'? Please. People are so fragile these days."

The remark earned a peculiar look from Charlotte.

Snorting softly, Diana added, "What? It's true. The trip here wasn't particularly difficult."

"Well... that's true, but..."

Charlotte flicked her tongue over her lips. Apparently, she still found it strange whenever Diana displayed a harshness that was completely different from Thesaya's.

Ian, however, wasn't surprised in the slightest. He merely let out a quiet snort and turned his gaze forward again.

Swoosh—

Fields of wheat rippled on either side of the road as Orendel drew steadily closer. The number of residents spotting them while working in the fields or walking along the roadside increased by the minute.

"Huh?"

"How did they come from that direction?"

Startled, people stepped away from the road or stopped what they were doing to stare at the approaching group.

Yet their wary looks toward the beastfolk and fairies never lasted long.

"Wait... is that?"

"Lu Solar, have mercy..."

The moment they recognized Ian atop Nila, someone invariably gasped in shock. There were, after all, plenty of people in Orendel who knew exactly who he was.

"Glory to the Radiant Light!"

"We knew you would return someday, Agent of the Saint!"

Once someone recognized him and collapsed to their knees while shouting, those around them quickly followed suit, lowering themselves to the ground as well.

It was enough to make Ian click his tongue repeatedly.

I came to the front so they'd recognize me, but... Getting everyone to kneel wasn't the goal.

Of course, there was no point in telling them to stand or acknowledging every greeting. He would have to repeat himself endlessly, and simply passing through quickly was probably doing them a greater favor.

The reaction he had actually hoped for finally appeared more than ten minutes later.

"W-Wait... that's?"

Someone recognized him from afar and immediately spun around before sprinting toward the city.

"The bell! Ring the bell at once! The Golden One! The Golden Demigod has returned! He's coming through the south gate! The south gate!"

The man screamed at the top of his lungs.

This isn't much better either.

Ian shifted his gaze farther ahead. Among the astonished townsfolk retreating from the roadside, he spotted a city guardsman apparently out on patrol.

The man had clearly heard the shouting. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned toward the approaching group. Even from that distance, Ian could see his jaw hanging open in disbelief.

"What a spectacle," muttered Diana.

A second later, the guard turned and bolted toward the shantytown. He even threw away his spear as he ran, waving both arms above his head and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Well, no one will be blocking our path to the castle now. And the Bastard King certainly won't be making us wait," Diana said quietly.

Ian nodded in agreement. The guard was already screaming for the gates to be opened immediately and for word to be carried to His Highness.

"Ah... so that's why you deliberately moved to the front?"

Miguel finally seemed to understand. His voice was kept deliberately low, likely because kneeling townsfolk lined the road in every direction.

Ian nodded. "Once people know I've arrived, everything's going to be turned upside down anyway. Might as well save some time."

If the commotion was unavoidable, it was better to get it over with early. Of course, he was probably the only one feeling awkward about it.

"Yes... bow lower..."

"The Bastard King will kneel before the Great Warrior too, won't he?"

"Of course he will. If he doesn't, it'd be blasphemy, you foolish beast."

Not only the fairies but the beastfolk as well were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. After all, every human in sight was kneeling and lowering their heads before them.

The increasingly synchronized rhythm of their footsteps was surely no coincidence.

Every direction I turn, it's one headache after another...

However, that wasn't the only reason Ian let out a sigh through his nose. Heavy church bells began ringing from the city walls ahead.

At the same time, crowds started pouring through the shantytown like a rolling tide, converging toward the road in growing waves.