Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 1

The peaceful atmosphere puts the players at ease.

And then it kills them.

All of them. Regardless of whether they’re heroines or not.

Another Tale.

A dark fantasy game notorious for its reputation.

Of course, I never played that game myself.

Killing heroines is a big no-no in our industry. We’ve been advised to avoid that kind of thing entirely.

I was simply watching from across the river as the initial squad blew themselves up, and the reckless later squads were about to follow suit.

For a while, Another Tale was all the rage.

On a YouTube Shorts channel, a video titled [Users Reacting to Epic Betrayal Gameplay] was edited together from posts by Another Tale Gallery users.

Famous streamers uploaded videos of themselves playing Another Tale and writhing in agony.

Instead of playing the game myself, I just cherry-picked the highlights through YouTube, galleries, and Namuwiki.

I participated in the trend in the same way.

In short, I don’t know much about Another Tale.

I hardly remember anything.

If I saw the main character, I probably wouldn’t even recognize them.

But if I were shown the scene where that character dies, that would be a different story.

Honestly, it was never a game that held any significant meaning in my life.

Otherwise, I would have played it myself.

…But why does it come to mind sometimes?

Out of all the many games, why just that one?

A sudden thought occurs.

Maybe this world, this fantasy world, is the world that exists within Another Tale?

“…Nah.”

Definitely not.

This world was too peaceful to be one from a dark fantasy story.

About a year ago, I became self-aware of my past life.

Because of that, the ego of a modern Earthling and the character from the fantasy world have merged into the being that is now me.

Not much changed.

I was still a young master of the Bendel noble family.

The Bendel family was what you’d call an esteemed family.

Bendel Territory was somewhat isolated from the central areas, but that was a result of the previous head of the family having no interest in politics.

Bendel had a long-standing tradition of producing renowned swordsmen.

In other words, the perception of the people in this household was exceptionally sharp.

Living among human weapons, I had grown up swinging swords since childhood.

Therefore, the first emotion I felt upon becoming aware of my past life was fear.

What would happen if my family figured out this strange occurrence that had happened to me?

This world was a fantasy where all kinds of mysteries and miracles existed.

Suddenly, our family’s persona has changed one day?

It would be plausible here, unlike on Earth.

The problem was that those who swap bodies and souls indiscriminately in this world become prime targets for extermination.

A young master whose persona has suddenly shifted?

The two options that immediately come to mind are [1. Interrogate] and [2. Torture].

So, I tried my best to act as though I were before my ego was mixed up.

So that my family wouldn’t notice the changes in me.

What a wasted effort.

Not long after, I realized that it was all futile.

The perception of members from a swordsman family was far too keen to be deceived by someone like me!

—And so unfolded a scenario completely different from what I had worried about.

Me.

A bastard.

My mother was nothing but a mere servant.

She got pregnant by the head of the household, but that didn’t change the facts.

My father, being too noble, would never take her, a servant, as a concubine.

The child of such a servant.

The family had no interest in a nobody like me.

Since they had never cared, they wouldn’t notice any changes.

Even if they did notice a change, it wouldn’t be significant to them.

It was baffling.

Should I be happy about this?

Let’s think positively.

Well, at least one huge problem has been resolved.

Another thing: in this world, being a bastard is the most common and degrading insult.

I was born immune to such insults?

It was about as uplifting as being born an orphan with immunity to parental abuse.

Having survived the crisis of self-awareness, a new phase awaited me.

—So, what now?

I managed to become the young master of a prestigious noble family, yet I’m still a bastard.

People in the family, not to mention the retainers and servants, treat me as if I don’t exist.

What kind of future awaits me if I stay put here?

—Joining the army…!

In this world, there exists a culture where bastards enlist to gain their parents’ recognition.

Absolutely. Never. Ever. Will I. Do that.

In my past life, I was twenty-one.

I barely escaped the cursed shackles of military service through death.

There isn’t even a smartphone here.

Without a doubt, enlisting was off the table.

So, let’s think this through.

Would a bastard, the family’s shame, boldly declare, “I don’t want to go to the army like other bastards!”?

The family would be wide-eyed, hanging on my every word.

And then, with a grudge packed tight, they’d send me off to the roughest battalion.

Ultimately, I arrived at a very reasonable conclusion.

Escape.

Would anyone really feel upset if a bastard who was treated like a nobody actually vanished?

With that logical thought in mind, I recently ramped up my preparations for escape.

The early-rising bastard is more self-sufficient.

Today, the bastard stepped out of the annex where the servants live in the Bendel Mansion, right at dawn.

“Ricir.”

At the entrance of the annex, there was a woman welcoming such a bastard.

It was Maya, the dedicated maid of my younger sister, Loera.

“Good morning, Maya.”

“Miss Loera has requested a meeting. It’s for lunchtime today. Please come to the front yard of the main building.”

I let the greetings slide and responded in a rather brazen manner, but this is a significant improvement.

A maid of Bendel and a bastard of Bendel.

Who holds the higher status?

Clearly, it’s the maid.

Most of these maids come from noble families.

Unlike me, who is half-baked, they are entirely noble.

The retainers of the Bendel Mansion treated me like a young master, but that was purely ceremonial.

Underneath their demeanor lay deep contempt.

Maya in front of me used to treat me as a nobody.

But now?

“…”

“…”

Look at her.

As our eyes met, Maya bowed her head slightly.

It’s because I’ve been greeting her warmly every single day that it has come to this.

It’s truly remarkable progress.

At this point, she’s treating me practically like an emperor.

Since becoming self-aware of my past life, my life has been improving day by day.

…But, wait, does Loera want to meet me?

That can’t be a good sign.

Usually, when people from Bendel seek out a bastard, it means they’re in a rage.

“What now? I have urgent business today.”

A very important business that just popped into my head.

Spending time outside until evening to avoid running into Loera.

“Should I convey that you will visit once you finish your business, sir Ricir?”

“Please tell her not to wait for me.”

“Of course. I’m sure you won’t keep Lady waiting.”

I bet I will.

Oh. No doubt about it.

Of course, the upset Bendel lady wouldn’t just let it slide, but that’s not my problem.

What can you do?

Tell Dad?

What can Dad do?

Disown me from the family?

Bring it on.

Karma points are on the line.

“…”

“…”

Maya raised her head and looked at me questioningly.

But when I flashed her a cheerful smile, she hurriedly averted her gaze and left.

I too have to be on my way.

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▶ Another Tale ◀

This is another story.

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Father.

When I return here, will you acknowledge me then?

Will you regret the harsh treatment you’ve given me in the past?

I do hope so.

So, please, oh God.

Have I not suffered enough already?

“Please…”

The man wept.

He instinctively sensed it.

He would die in this unnamed snow-covered mountain where the icy winds howled.

At that moment, his father’s face appeared in his mind.

The man had come here for his father’s honor.

But the father he recalled was still looking at him with disdain.

From that point on, the man’s sobs became indistinguishable from laughter.

His breath had all but exhausted itself before he hit the ground in surrender.

When his breaths grew cold, he stared into the void and began to mumble.

Alright.

Finally, the man’s breath ceased, and his body slumped.

At that moment, an ice pillar fell from above and pierced through his skull.

Shortly after, the bastard rose up.

With lifeless eyes, the bastard gazed in the direction of his homeland.

▶ Fate 19: The Returned Bastard

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▷ Fate 19: The Returned Bastard – has been deactivated.

Associated benefits will be granted.

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