Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 11

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▶ Another Tale ◀

This is another story.

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[Fear]

[The first feeling the girl recognized upon realizing her own change.]

[Since when was it?]

[When did she stop longing for the world outside the shadows?]

[When did she stop desiring warm, soft white bread?]

[It felt as if a massive hole had been drilled into her soul.]

[The girl forgot how to yearn.]

[And she discovered something new to long for.]

[It was blood.]

[The girl without a home, parents, or guardians was ignorant and unlearned.]

[Yet, she knew it was strange to prefer darkness over light.]

[She knew it was odd to crave red blood over white bread.]

[The girl ran away from her new desire.]

[It was a short escape.]

[Freed from hunger and deficiency, the girl bloomed like a flower in the dark.]

[All sorts of pests swarmed, trying to exploit her.]

[The brutish and ugly hands that had stolen her food and shelter were now reaching for the girl.]

[Insignificant.]

[That was the first feeling the girl had regarding the adult desires she had feared so much.]

[The girl realized.]

[The lack of desire is not a curse, but a blessing.]

[The new desire was an expression of her innate superiority.]

[She commanded it.]

[Thus, like a natural order, the relationship of master and servant settled between them.]

[Amidst the chaos of shouts and desires in the slums, the pure white girl walked gracefully forward.]

[I’m hungry.]

[A scent of blood wafted behind her.]

[This cannot be.]

[With rank comes the dignity it deserves.]

[The girl no longer feared her own desires.]

[Now that she knew what it meant.]

[“I’m special.”]

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[“I’m special.”]

[What dignity is fitting for someone as special as herself?]

[How should she conduct herself to enjoy it?]

[There was a time she constantly pondered this.]

[Moderation was the conclusion she arrived at.]

[She remembers the sight of nobles tearing at meat with oily, glistening hands while drunkenly pursuing women with glassy eyes.]

[How ugly it was to be dominated by desire.]

[What difference was there between the savage and herself if she pursued blood and power as they did?]

[She absolutely couldn’t be seen like that by others.]

[She was honest with her desires but careful not to be consumed by them.]

[“Miss, that might be a bit difficult…”]

[She held back her urge to fully strip the servants of their identities.]

[“I’m sorry… I’ve been worn out lately…”]

[She suppressed her desire for blood, striving to maintain her dignity as a superior being.]

[That’s how the girl perceived it.]

[But the truth was different.]

[The girl was not as special as she thought.]

[She was just a girl.]

[No longer feeling deficiency—]

[Able to pursue what she desired—]

[A girl from the slums who had never known home, parents, or friends.]

[The girl’s distorted childhood games seemed as if they would continue indefinitely.]

[However, the girl did not understand how strong desire could be.]

[And around her, there were no adults to guide her onto the right path.]

[Still.]

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[In that place lived a harmonious family.]

[She received the love of family all in one body.]

[In that place lived a lovely girl.]

[…she received the love of everyone.]

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[The red sky, shaped as if by someone, made the distinction between night and day meaningless.]

[The city was silent and eerie.]

[As she walked into the city gates, the first thing that entered her view was the towering spires scattered throughout the city.]

[Thud] [Thud] [Thud] [Thud]

[The viscous liquid that fell from those at the top of the spires drenched the city and flowed somewhere.]

[The hero navigated the streets following the liquid.]

[The destination was a mansion located deep within the city.]

[As she opened the mansion’s door, a crimson wave of liquid rushed out like a tsunami.]

[Something submerged in the liquid revealed itself.]

[It was a mountain.]

[A mountain made of piled up flesh.]

[Atop it lay a naked girl, pure white.]

[Crimson and pure white seemed perfectly at odds yet harmonized beautifully.]

[The pure white girl awakened.]

[She wore an utterly innocent—and thus sinister—smile.]

▶ Character 3: Pure White Girl

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“This is nonsense… This can’t be happening… My powers… just for this…?”

I know how intense emotional fluctuations can be during the stormy teenage years.

It’s because I went through it too. I mean, I’ve experienced it twice even.

Is there anyone else who’s gone through puberty twice? In that sense, I proudly considered myself number one on the puberty rankings.

Should I thank fate for it?

Now, I had a hunch regarding the reason for Pien’s emotional upheaval.

“Hey, Pien. Don’t be too sad.”

I looked into her eyes as she sat on the floor, muttering in despair.

“There are many other men in this world besides me.”

This is called the agony of unrequited love.

“What kind of nonsense is that…!!!”

Unable to contain her surging emotions, Pien collapsed and began to sob.

This is what you call an emotional flood.

My comfort had seeped deep into her soul, causing the tightly closed emotional doors of the teenage girl to swing open.

I gently patted Pien’s back.

“Yeah. Cry. Cry as much as you want. Everyone becomes an adult by crying like that.”

“My powers are being reduced to nothing because of a MAN…!!!”

…Well.

I put the teasing aside for now.

The baby bird that had been following me and Pien, a whirlwind of emotional instability.

Which of those was Pien’s true self?

It was probably the latter.

I poked her back, wanting to ask for an explanation.

“Hey! Stay away from the girl!”

It was then that Galant’s shout reached my ears.

“…!”

I shrank back like a criminal caught in the act.

It couldn’t be helped; Galant was Pien’s knight.

What if Pien, returning to her baby bird form, makes me the bad guy this time?

Then it wouldn’t end with just a glare and my fist making a terrifying sound.

As I pondered how to navigate the situation, it was at that moment.

“…Wait.”

Galant’s reaction was strange in some way.

“Bendel family’s Ricir… am I wrong? What brings you here…?”

It felt as if all memories of this place had faded.

He prioritized me over Pien, who was lying on the floor.

A little spark.

Pien’s antics.

Galant’s odd behavior.

There’s surely some connection between the two.

With that judgment, I took action.

“I noticed she seemed to have difficulty moving, so I intended to assist her.”

“…Is that so?”

Galant looked quite skeptical.

Seeing that, I was convinced.

Right now, Galant doesn’t recognize Pien.

I’m certain of that.

If not, he would have drawn his sword against me long ago.

Now the question is how Pien would respond—

“…He’s right.”

It was an unexpected development.

Pien matched my statement and requested my assistance.

Upon rising from our seats, we exchanged brief words with Galant.

Detecting an odd atmosphere between us, he seemed suspicious but eventually accepted it and left.

Thus, the situation was momentarily resolved.

Yet my questions only grew deeper.

What the heck is going on?

The innocent baby bird that was Pien has suddenly transformed into a strange girl.

Galant, who used to idolize Pien, suddenly doesn’t seem to recognize who she is.

“This is—!”

“What?”

Pien’s trembling voice jolted me from my thoughts.

“I really helped you, didn’t I?!”

“Helped?”

“That was it! I could’ve put you in a difficult position, but instead I helped you, right?!”

Though it was an unexpected assertion, I understood what point she was trying to make.

“Strictly speaking, that’s true.”

“!!!”

When I acknowledged it, color returned to Pien’s troubled face.

“Then—”

“But, you know, that’s quite similar to a robber who, instead of killing you, takes your money and expects you to be grateful for it.”

“Th-That’s not…! What I mean is…! What I’m saying is…”

Pien, who had been floundering for a moment, suddenly pressed her body close to mine and spoke.

“R-Ricir doesn’t actually dislike me, does he?”

“Eh?”

“I know. I know how beautiful I am. How much men adore me. Do you know that each time my servants bathe me, they marvel at how clean my skin is? They’ve never seen skin like this before. It’s such a compliment to be an aristocrat.”

Pien’s delicate hand stroked me.

Just like before.

Her touch was overtly entwined with mine.

Was this really Pien’s hand? It felt so sticky.

But now her touch was—

Awkward. Clumsy. Hesitant.

It was definitely Pien’s hand.

It felt like the clueless pure white girl trying too hard to seduce a man.

It seemed all the sensuality that sparked from Pien had vanished.

“If Ricir desires, I’ll let him use me as he wishes…”

“No—”

“You should know how glorious it is!!!”

With shaky eyes, Pien seemed to look for an answer, leaving her words hanging mid-sentence.

“Many men wished for this…!”

And she caressed my face with an alluring hand.

“But I never allowed anyone. You understand how special I am, right? Understand how special this situation is.”

“…”

It felt similar to a child who thought of themselves as an adult trying too hard to seduce someone.

As the sticky atmosphere wrapped around us yet again, it was uncomfortable for a different reason now.

“So please…”

Pien squeezed her eyes shut.

She pushed her lips out.

Wait. Pufferfish lips.

Pien? That’s not right.

You’re putting too much force into your lips.

‘I’m losing it.’

This was neither a kiss nor a peck.

It was just a peck.

I shoved Pien away, feeling pure guilt wash over me.

Pien expressed her shock openly.

“Why…?”

“Pien. Let’s date when you get a little older, okay?”

“What are you talking about!!! Ricir, you’re eighteen years old! I’m older than you!!!”

“Really? How about you be the older sister from now on?”

“Aren’t you listening to me!?”

As I wrestled with Pien, a familiar voice reached me.

“Ricir~ Didn’t you say you were going home to rest?”

Outside the alley stood my Master, holding a basket of bread.

“Oh! Master. It’s good to see you. I didn’t expect to meet you again. Feels like experiencing a refreshing morning twice?”

“Oh dear~ Duran~ I was planning to scold Ricir thoroughly, but that thought has completely vanished~?”

<What a lousy teaching method. Why not just break that stick? >

“By the way—”

Master’s gaze shifted towards Pien.

“My disciple? Who is this girl?”

“Oh. Allow me to introduce her. I mentioned before, didn’t I? That I might be entering into a political marriage. This very child, Pien, is the one.”

“Oh my.”

Master’s expression suddenly hardened as she scrutinized Pien up and down.

“Then I’ve interrupted your romantic moment, haven’t I?”

“A, actually—”

What great timing.

I sought Master’s counsel regarding what just happened.

The innocent girl, her guardian.

And the bastard child.

About the events the three of them had experienced together.

“I think I might understand something~”

“As expected of you, Master. You know everything.”

“Then, then~ Is there anything else you want to ask? Master knows everything~?”

“In that case, could you predict my future?”

“Let’s see. Oh my. What’s that girl? She seems to be a half-dark elf and human, right?”

<Ricir. Just take this chance and tell her directly. I don’t want to see her die from embarrassment.>

I flinched.

Pien tensed up all over.

“What, what is that voice…?”

“Oh. Pien. Don’t be scared. It’s just an ordinary talking book.”

Pien’s attention became fixated on Duran, who hung from Master’s waist.

“The magic book… speaks so fluently?!”

“It’s the miraculous life that only my Master could have created.”

<Miraculous life? Damn it. Ricir, you’re really moving me.>

“…!”

Pien expressed her amazement with her whole being.

She lost strength in her legs and plopped down onto the ground.

<I heard that your fiancé’s lady seems to be a progenitor.>

Progenitor. That sounds familiar.

Is it a vampire?

That’s right. I believe that’s how they referred to authentic vampires.

<Progenitors have the power to enchant people. It seems like that progenitor was using her power to create a ruckus.>

Pien’s a progenitor.

I was momentarily taken aback, but I accepted it quickly.

If Duran’s words are accurate, then it all makes sense.

“Is that true, Pien?”

“A, not really…?”

“Pien~ Did you know? When progenitors are enchanting, their blood glows bright red~?”

“Is that true, Master? What color does it originally have?”

<If they encounter a progenitor in the temple, they immediately get subjected to an inquisition without reason, and the punishment won’t end until they die. By the way, if that happens, Pamon might do a better job than the temple's fanatics.>

“Th-That’s right…! You’re all correct!!!”

Pien turned pale at Master and Duran’s lethal conversation.

“It was likely Galant showing that behavior because the power of this child normalized your unique color.”

“Normalization…?”

Pien seemed to struggle to understand its implication.

Leaving Pien behind, I proceeded to ask Master one more question.

“So, Master, is it true that Pien’s—enchanting power—is currently in a dormant state?”

“From the way Galant reacted, that seems to be the case—”

Master’s mood appeared somewhat light-hearted.

“I can’t believe it. That unique color is absurd. To think it would normalize the power of a progenitor.”

“Master, it isn’t normalization; it’s restoration…”

“But this cannot be explained as just restoration, can it?”

“…”

“Wait a moment?”

Master grabbed my wrist.

“…”

Her usually bright face lost its luster, revealing her bewilderment.

“My disciple? Did you somehow drink some kind of elixir?”

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▷ Fate 3: Pure White Girl – Deactivated.

Special bonuses will be awarded.

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