I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain Chapter 175

Charlotte and Thesaya’s eyes widened simultaneously. v and Philip also stopped what they were doing and looked at Ian.

"Leave? What do you an, Ian?" Thesaya asked next.

Ian answered calmly, "I an exactly that. Once we enter the Empire, you two should leave."

"Why...? We just finally—mmph." Thesaya’s words were cut off by the large hand of the beastfolk.

As Thesaya rolled her eyes, Charlotte spoke, "You wouldn’t say this without a reason. What is it? Do you have another task for us?"

"Well... there are several reasons."

Ian nodded casually and looked at Thesaya.

"Your request is complete, Thesa. Nothing is targeting your life anymore. So for now, there’s no need for you to stay with us."

"Paynt! You need to receive the paynt for the request!" Thesaya shouted, pushing Charlotte’s hand away forcefully.

Thesaya then continued, "That’s how it works. A mission must be followed by appropriate paynt."

"I’m not saying you won’t get your paynt."

"Then?" Thesaya asked, puzzled.

Ian lifted his glass and looked at her. "You are now an elder elf, Thesa. But no one knows what that truly ans for you, not even yourself. You don’t know how to wield weapons, and you’ve lost the powers of a vampire. So, at present, you’re just a faster, more perceptive elf."

"Are you saying... I’m not helpful?"

"In a sense, yes. For now." Ian took a sip from his glass as Thesaya’s face froze in shock.

He continued as he set the glass down, "You need to understand yourself, Thesa. But that’s sothing no one here can help you with. Maybe other elves can."

"...!"

"That’s why I’m telling you to leave. Go to the southern part of the Empire. Find the other elves. I’ve heard there are a few young trees of Life there. Discover who you are, awaken your abilities, and beco a true elder elf."

"... And regain my mories?" Thesaya asked, her eyes showing a slight change.

Ian shrugged. "If you can do so without changing fundantally, then try."

"Changing... how?"

"No one knows if you, with all your mories, will be the sa as you are now."

"You an she might beco a typical elf? That makes sense."

Charlotte muttered, looking at Thesaya.

"She might be like this because she doesn’t have her mories."

"So, you’re saying you prefer the way I am now, without mories?" Thesaya blinked, as if considering the idea for the first ti, and then asked.

Ian and Charlotte just shrugged.

Thesaya’s expression turned peculiar.

"You guys are... really sothing...."

There was no longer any sign of shock or disappointnt in her eyes. Instead, a variety of other emotions had taken their place. Ian couldn’t discern all of them, but to him, they all seed embarrassingly sentintal.

"Alright. I won’t go out of my way to recover my mories. It’s not like it is sothing I can force, anyway. If it could happen, it would have by now, right? But... anyway... thank you guys. For saying that."

... I can’t bear to listen to this.

Ian frowned slightly as he spoke, "I’m saying this for your sake because it helps too. If possible, find your place in elf society. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. Even without your mories, you are still an elder."

"I understand. I’ll give it a try."

"Just to reiterate, it won’t be easy. Elves are not the most trustworthy of folks."

"It doesn’t matter if it’s difficult."

Thesaya, speaking firmly, gave a confident smile.

"I’ll do it, Ian. I’ll beco a useful elf and co back."

Ian nodded calmly. "You don’t have to co back. Staying there might be more helpful, not just for , but for Charlotte as well."

"... Why for the kitty?"

As Thesaya tilted her head in confusion, Charlotte looked at Ian with wide eyes.

eting her orange gaze, Ian continued, "I heard sothing before. If things continue as they are, soon the elves will use the church to exterminate the beatfolks. They might not kill all of them, but they might enslave them."

Thesaya’s eyes widened as she looked at Charlotte. v and Philip were equally surprised, as this was the first ti they had heard this.

"Why didn’t you tell this?" asked Thesaya.

Charlotte averted her eyes from Thesaya’s gaze as she replied, "Because it wasn’t certain. It was just sothing one elf said."

"You an that guy, Findrel Aynas," said v, narrowing her eyes.

Charlotte growled low and nodded. It seed she was recalling the mood of that day.

Ian took another sip of his drink and said, "Charlotte did everything she could to save you. Now it’s your turn to help her."

"...." Thesaya’s eyes darkened to a deep green.

Charlotte spoke in a monotone voice shortly after. "I don’t need her help, Ian. I saved her to repay the debt of her saving my life multiple tis."

"This is about your kin. Put aside your pride and principles."

Ian’s firm words t her gaze.

"There was sothing we agreed to discuss after this matter was over. Let’s talk about it now."

Charlotte’s eyes widened montarily.

Ian continued in a steady voice, "You’ve fulfilled your role more than enough. Even though it started forcibly, you’ve always exceeded expectations. The debt you had for attempting to kill has long been repaid."

"...."

"So go with her. Teach her about the South. You’re the one who knows it best. And after that, save your people."

Ian paused, looking between Charlotte and Thesaya.

"You two have moved past the grudges between your kin and beco friends. You’ve saved each other multiple tis. This ti will be no different. Support each other in achieving your goals. Naturally, it will also benefit ."

Charlotte, her mouth opening and closing as if at a loss for words, finally managed to speak, "... Saving my people doesn’t seem like sothing that would benefit you."

"That remains to be seen. I might have a reason to go to the South," Ian said with a shrug.

"Are you coming to the South, Ian?" Thesaya asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"As I said, maybe," Ian replied.

"So that’s why you told us to stay there... Alright. I’ll wait there. And...."

Thesaya nodded and murmured, then turned to Charlotte with a peculiar smile.

"In the end, we’re together again, Charlotte."

"... Don’t call by my na. It’s disgusting." Charlotte, avoiding Ian and Thesaya’s gaze, took the glass of wine in front of her and sipped it slowly, as if buying ti to process her thoughts and feelings.

Philip, who had been watching them with a strange expression, turned to Ian and smiled.

"As expected, you are remarkable, my lord."

"Yes, truly... noble," v added nonchalantly.

Ian, grimacing as if disgusted, lifted his glass. "I’m saying this for my benefit. Having these two stay there helps , so don’t get any wrong ideas."

It wasn’t just empty words. The southern part of the Empire was one of the additional regions included in the DLC of the ga. And to Ian, it was an unexplored territory.

During his ti playing, he focused solely on clearing the main scenario, leaving non-essential areas for later. In fact, that applied to nearly all the DLC content. When he could no longer progress the story, the option to explore the DLC areas also disappeared.

However, it was going to be different this ti. At so point, he would set foot in the South. If Charlotte and Thesaya were there, they would surely be a great help in navigating that unknown territory.

However, whether that situation existed in the ga or not is uncertain...

Ian casually brought his glass to his lips. The battle with the Vampire Empress had made one thing clear: even when he created scenarios that didn’t exist in the ga, events would still unfold in so way.

While the risk of unexpected butterfly effects persisted, the newfound freedom to make decisions without being constrained by the ga’s flow was significant.

"Who is this elf that spoke about the beastfolks? Since we’re talking about it, it might be good to know," Thesaya asked suddenly, as v and Philip exchanged amused smiles.

Ian reached into his pocket dinsion and pulled out a silver brooch shaped like a flower.

"He said his last na was Aynas. It seed like a notable family. This is their emblem."

"Hmm.... Aynas. Got it. I’ll rember that."

Ian continued, "They might track us down. Probably to kill and Charlotte. If that happens—"

"Kill them. Whoever it is." Thesaya interrupted firmly.

She t Ian’s gaze with a sly smile. It was a smile that reminded him of her vampire days.

"I care about you guys more than the elves. They’re just my kin, but you are my family. Isn’t that how humans think? Those who threaten families deserve to die."

Ian, chuckling briefly, raised his glass and added, "You sure know how to say so embarrassing things."

“So what? It’s not like I’m making it up.”

"Just keep it to yourself next ti."

"I won’t. It’s funny to see your reaction."

"...."

"I understand your point well, Ian," Charlotte said.

She put down her glass and looked Ian straight in the eye before she added, "I don’t know how to express my gratitude properly."

"... Can’t?"

"Yes. Even though you told us to, I still feel I owe you a debt. And it’s the sa for them."

Charlotte turned her gaze to v and Philip.

"Unlike you, I might not get another chance to repay the debt if I miss this opportunity. I could end up stuck in the South for a long ti."

"...." Ian turned his head.

v nodded silently, sipping her drink, while Philip avoided Ian’s gaze as he brought the at to his mouth.

Charlotte continued, "So, let us stay with you until we catch and kill the corrupted one they are chasing, Ian. After that, we will leave for the South as you instructed."

"... A request," Ian finally said, gripping his glass tightly. "This is a request, not an order."

"... Yes, request." Charlotte’s lips curled into a slight smile as she raised her glass.

Philip promptly raised his glass as well, smiling as he t Charlotte’s eyes. "Thank you, Charlotte. It’s reassuring to know you’ll stay with us."

"I agree. I wasn’t expecting a reward, but I can’t refuse the help of a skilled warrior like you," v added as she lifted her glass.

Thesaya, watching the group, quickly grabbed her glass. "Then I’ll also consider this as repaying my debt to you all. After all, you risked your lives for my request."

"Indeed, you are different from other elves, Thesa," Philip responded with a smile.

Soon, all eyes naturally turned to Ian.

"... I don’t know how you all get along so well." Ian let out a small laugh and extended his glass.

The group clinked their glasses together and drank in unison.

"Now that we’ve brought it up, it’s best we move on to the main topic we didn’t finish earlier."

Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, Philip turned to Ian.

"When would be the best ti to leave, my lord?"

Ian, refilling his glass, looked at Charlotte.

"How many days will it take to fully resupply our equipnt?"