Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 29

“What is that sound?”

Ricir chuckled at Pamon’s suggestion.

But with a sound of “Huh?”, they plunged into contemplation.

“Now that I think about it, it might not be a bad idea?”

“…Huh?”

Pamon, feeling a bit guilty for making a lame joke, glanced at Ricir only to find them looking slightly perplexed.

“Y-You really mean it? You want to share a room with me?”

“To save money, right?”

“…”

It was an overwhelming lack of self-awareness that drowned out their shamelessness.

Though it was likely the answer they sought, Pamon’s response remained ambiguous.

Meanwhile, Ricir’s gaze shifted to Rona.

“Then, what about the room… Oh, wait. What will happen to Rona? How do slaves usually handle situations like this? Do we just leave them at the stables?”

“…The stables?”

Ricir took a moment to assess Rona’s reaction before responding.

“Of course, that’s a joke.”

“A joke? Then what was that pregnant silence just now?”

“I was just thinking about what other slave owners might do. I’ve never had a slave before.”

“Raise…? I’m not a dog, what are you—”

“If the roles were reversed, what do you think Rona would do?”

“…If I were the owner, I think I would have rented an extra room!”

“Aha. And then you’d add that fee to her debt and make her work even harder, right? Carrot and stick? I get the idea.”

“…That’s a feeling I really shouldn’t understand.”

*Clears throat.*

Pamon stepped in, trying to change the subject.

“Rona has a point. Sharing a room with a slave is nonsense. ‘According to Rona’s opinion’, we should rent an extra room for her.”

She spoke as if she were merely following Rona’s suggestion.

“Wait? So what happens to our plan to save on lodging by staying in one room?”

“…”

Pamon subtly avoided Ricir’s gaze with a shameless expression.

“It can’t be helped. Rona, you’ll have to sleep in the stables tonight.”

“…”

Rona’s expression crumpled.

When Ricir said it, it felt like a joke, but when this woman said it, it really didn’t feel like one.

“Hey, Pamon. Don’t be so harsh. Rona worked hard, you know? Honestly, I was surprised. I didn’t expect her to work this hard. Rona deserves to sleep well at a nice inn, just like us.”

Ricir casually tapped Rona on the back, expressing appreciation.

The sweat-soaked shirt she wore communicated a mixed feeling to her.

“Yikes…!”

Rona recoiled from Ricir, trying to cover herself with her arms.

“W-Wait! Just so you know, if you’re expecting me to do something weird, you might want to reconsider! I’m not some sort of harlot!”

“Rona. Or should I say Eron? Who would expect that? And by the way, I feel like I need to remind you that the fact you seduced me while I was naked at midnight doesn’t change.”

“That was…!”

“Enough, stop sulking up front and let’s move on. We’re all tired. Let’s rent a room and wash up. They even have a private bathroom in the room! Can you believe it? Much nicer than the room I had in the mansion. Looks like this bastard got lucky.”

Ricir entered the inn with a light step.

“…”

“…”

Pamon and Rona silently watched his retreating figure.

They definitely accomplished their intended goal—

So why did they feel this indescribable sense of humiliation?

Eventually, the two women declared their separate rooms.

“Should we? But honestly, it felt strange. Three guys sharing a room? Sure, do as you please. The bastard has gone mad. Today, the bastard treats!”

And at Ricir’s casual acceptance, they felt another wave of irritation rise.

“Wait! Rona! Pamon! I’ve changed my mind! Let me sleep in the same bed with you!”

I almost shouted that the moment I paid the room fee.

It was a fancy inn, so I was somewhat prepared, but the actual fee far exceeded my expectations.

The pouch of coins I had saved up over a year working various odd jobs had begun to realize its own futility.

I was learning that to exist as a bastard here in Bondales required more money than I’d thought.

Only a week would pass before my funds ran out.

Was it that the bastards’ income was low, or was the cost of living in the developed city of Bondales peculiar?

Probably both.

At this rate, I might have to move to the outskirts of town.

My life would shift from the genre of fantasy (hopeful version) to fantasy (despair version).

The innkeeper there would certainly look at me like I was insane if I asked where to bathe.

When I’d ask what was in the soup, they’d glare at me as if I were insane.

If I complained about a smell or mentioned that rats and bugs came out of my room, they’d respond the same way.

It would be an environment where the sensibilities of a modern person would struggle to survive.

Of course, even if I could withstand it, I had no intention of living that way.

My purpose in leaving wasn’t just to flee.

I wanted a better life.

If I’d been satisfied just escaping the disdain directed at bastards, I wouldn’t have left my family.

I wanted a better life than what I had as Bendel’s bastard.

Better than the lives of those who looked down on me in Bendel.

Ideally, as good as my life back in my modern world.

Above all, I had a means to achieve that now.

The power of purification, and magic.

After finishing my meal and returning to the inn, I immediately sat on the bed to gather my breath.

I cleared my mind and prepared to focus.

In this luxurious inn with a private bathroom and high-quality meals,

Today’s indulgence wasn’t just a celebration of my new start in this city.

From Hayeren to Bondales,

It was the first long journey I had ever experienced.

The journey turned out to be tougher than I had expected.

I had attempted to practice magic during breaks, but I couldn’t focus at all.

How regrettable it was.

In fact, this whole endeavor was about alleviating that regret.

In perfect relaxation, I would organize the insights and achievements gained from this journey.

‘Normally, I would take a deep nap and then start, but—’

Right now, even that felt like a waste of time.

After all, come tomorrow morning, I’d have to check out of this inn.

‘Just breathing makes money vanish, huh?’

The moderate anxiety I felt served as just the right motivation.

“…”

As I organized my thoughts, my breathing had steadied enough.

I immediately shook off all distractions.

I focused. On the mana flowing through my body.

On that flow. On the sensation of feeling that flow.

What should I call this state?

Setup? Either way, I was ready.

‘Alright.’

I first pulled a coin from my robe.

A lucky coin.

I intended to recreate it.

According to Pamon, it was part of a magic known as Enchantment, which bestows specific properties on objects.

-This doesn’t seem like a technique that can be handled at only the 3rd rank, though?

When explaining, Pamon had complained in disbelief and irritation, demanding to know how I did it.

I wanted to ask her the same.


How did I manage that?

It was a creation of my subconscious.

The purpose of this recreation was to transition that technique from the realm of the subconscious to the realm of consciousness.

In other words, complete mastery through systematization.

“Hah.”

I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Systematization, huh?

It was a ridiculous expression I chose, but it was quite the spectacle.

A complete novice in magic, locked away in a room without any expert guidance or reference, merely relying on sensation to play around with magical senses—how could one call that systematic?

If formally trained mages found out, they’d probably get furious and whip their beards in outrage.

“That’s not magic!” they’d say.

But what can I do?

There wouldn’t be a teacher to guide a bastard like me, nor any spellbooks to consult.

-My disciple~

-I am the book.

“…”

I thought I heard a strange voice for a moment, but it must be my imagination.

For a while, I rolled the coin around in my hand.

It was a process of recalling the sensations from the carriage.

That highly systematic action did not fail to impress me.

“Here it comes.”

A spark of recognizable sensation flashed.

I didn’t let go of that feeling.

Even if the color of the sky outside changed and something flowed from my nose.