Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 17

*

▶Another Tale◀

This is yet another story.

*

[She was a hero]

[She contributed to the era of peace by driving away a great part of darkness]

[The crowd cheered the hero’s name]

[They gazed at the pride of the city]

[“””Bendel!”””]

[“””Bendel!”””]

[Radola Bendel]

[As she raised her hand, the assembled crowd in the square responded with fervent cheers]

[The world now knew her face and her name]

[Bendel was known]

[Under the heroic feats and glory, now Bendel and the city would bask in eternal honor]

[With arms wide open, the hero rejoiced at the splendid future welcoming her]

[-Bendel…]

[It was then that a voice, as if conveyed through her skin rather than her ears, reached her]

[-Isn’t it quite gallant?]

[-A great hero indeed.]

[-I wish you could see yourself now.]

[-The foolish, unaware brat is no longer in sight.]

[Though a shiver ran down Bendel at the unpleasantness seemingly etched into her very existence, she forced herself not to show it.]

[No one must know]

[The relationship she had with that horrifying being.]

[-Suddenly, I find myself curious.]

[-How will they react]

[-When they learn that the so-called great and pure hero is, in truth, a cowardly brat?]

[-Should they discover that you kissed the hand of a condemned creature to seize glory…]

[-And that you were willing to sacrifice the future for personal advancement…]

[Shut up!]

[The hero scolded inwardly.]

[With that last thought, the voice ceased to echo anymore.]

[Living amidst glory, the hero had never once shaken off her anxiety]

[Fearing that the glory she had achieved might disappear in an instant one day]

[…it ultimately was never realized.]

[It was one morning when everyone—even Radola—had come to take Bendel’s glory for granted.]

[News spread across the continent]

[The night of the forest had come to an end]

[Night]

[It was a name that referred to the most heinous of existences on the continent.]

[And the night of the forest was one who had struck a deal with Radola Bendel, unbeknownst to anyone.]

[Radola recalled the forgotten anxiety while regaining her peace.]

[Thus, Bendel’s glory would be eternal.]

*

The bastard defied the will of the clan head and fled the mansion.

And that too, accompanied by lady Loera.

Gerhen’s face went pale as he conveyed the facts, including his own blunder.

“I understand, so for now, withdraw.”

Alone in the room, Idor Bendel let out a deep sigh.

He got up and approached the window.

Outside the window, his eyes landed on the garden of the mansion—the statue that dominated its center.

[In honor of the greatest, Radola Bendel]

Bendel’s glory was the value achieved by their great ancestor.

It was their mission to carry on that glory.

That was the mindset a clan head of Bendel must possess.

“I… was too soft…”

Idor’s love for Loera was genuine.

Despite the disappointment she had brought by going against their father’s wishes, that fact remained unchanged.

However.

Idor was the clan head of Bendel.

Before being the father of Loera.

The bastard and lady Loera had lost respect for their clan head.

They would get it back.

Thus Ricir would marry Dintal as planned, and Loera would develop a mindset geared more towards the family.

With a willing heart.

In that moment, Idor had made up his mind.

-Intruder!!!

A voice of urgency rang out from outside the window.

Idor doubted his ears.

An intruder?

Here, at Bendel Mansion?

Who dares?

Idor immediately left the office.

In the hallway, Gerhen was speaking with the family’s soldiers who were on standby.

“L-Lord!”

“Report.”

“There’s an intruder!”

“What’s the scale?”

The soldier who came to report glanced at the clan head and struggled to speak.

*

As the detailed report continued, Idor’s confusion only deepened.

“The intruder’s scale is… as far as we know, just one.”

“They reportedly entered through the mansion’s front door!”

“As for their current actions, they are… enjoying a stroll in the garden…”

“They requested an audience with the clan head, saying they would politely admire the garden until the clan head agrees…”

Both the reporting soldier and Idor looked as if they didn’t understand what they were saying.

“And as a peculiar detail, it is a Dark Elf.”

However, as the following story emerged, Idor’s expression turned.

He immediately opened the hallway window and leaped outside.

Despite being on the fifth floor, his landing was as gentle as a feather.

The following sprint was as fierce as an arrow.

Gerhen followed right behind, but by the time he landed, Idor had already vanished.

With movements that rendered a knight with abilities beyond the norm insignificant, Idor Bendel reached the mansion’s garden in an instant.

A sheer, seemingly translucent yet impenetrable purple robe created an air of stealthy mystery.

The voluminous silver hair cascading to his waist resembled a waterfall of silver.

And above all, those pointed, cursed ears.

Stained with the color of a curse.

According to the soldier’s report, there was a Dark Elf swirling around in the garden.

With an aura of ease as if taking a stroll in her own courtyard.

“Lord…!”

There were already soldiers stationed in the mansion surrounding the area.

Even the knights were in numbers exceeding ten, ready to launch an invasion, making it hard for them to be on the receiving end.

“What are you doing? How dare that filthy creature leave its marks on Bendel!”

Idor’s commanding roar. The soldiers deeply understood his fury.

They too felt extreme displeasure at the thought that a cursed being intruded on their pride, Bendel.

Yet, the reason they could not act until their lord arrived was.

“…”

The clan head’s gaze fixed on a part of the garden.

A decoration trimmed into the shape of a woman from densely grown bushes.

“Morie.”

As Idor said, the decoration resembled one of Bendel’s knights, Morie.

And Idor immediately realized.

That was not merely a decoration made in likeness of Morie, but Morie herself, covered in foliage.

“Morie~ So that was her name~ Thank you? For telling me. I asked the person involved, but no matter how I asked, they wouldn’t answer me. It was quite troublesome, you know?”

Such a thing had happened. Quite embarrassing, indeed.

She spoke in a tone as if she were casually chatting with an acquaintance during a walk.

Along with a lively smile resembling a flower-filled meadow.

All of it created a profound sense of dissonance that blended with Morie, who had turned into grass right in front of her.

“Ugh… ugh…”

The trainees were already paralyzed with fear and had lost their will to fight.

“S-sorcery…! A Dark Elf’s curse…!”

Some rookie knights were unable to even think of drawing their swords.

“Pull yourselves together, Hemton!”

The knights urged them.

“Don’t forget you’re in front of the clan head!”

“…!”

It felt as if some magical language packed with a certain energy was at play.

With the knight’s urging, the atmosphere of those who belatedly recognized their lord changed.

They straightened their posture and drew their swords, aiming them at the Dark Elf.

Fear was nowhere to be seen on their faces now.

That was the presence of Bendel’s clan head.

Idor’s aura dominated the place entirely.

“Everyone, stand back.”

He unsheathed his sword.

First, he carefully sensed the area around him.

“You’re alone.”

“I came here because this matter is something I can handle alone.”

“Now, are you daring to challenge all of us Bendels by yourself?”

“Hmm~”

The Dark Elf pointed her finger at all of them.

The clan head. The knights. And. And—

She shook her head, referring to three of the knights including the clan head.

“Could it be hard to contend with all of us? But that’s okay, right? I’m not exactly trying to challenge Bendel, nor am I aiming to invade.”

Just then, the Dark Elf snapped her fingers.

At that moment, the foliage covering Morie vanished.

“Ah…”

Cloudy, befuddled eyes.

“Sheesh…”

She staggered back towards her companions.

“What did you do to her?”

“I merely offered a little assistance so she can calm down? You know? The white bird flower is greatly beneficial for calming the mind, right? Oh, and a slight vivid visual effect was added to make it proceed efficiently, so I hope you don’t mind? See? We’re already face to face, pleasantly chatting, aren’t we? It’s a very good flow. Let’s finish our business swiftly and go our separate ways.”

“Your arrogance is excessive, Dark Elf. Do you think I will let you leave as you are? How dare you set foot on Bendel without permission.”

“Let me correct you. I didn’t need permission, I’m in a position where I wouldn’t need to get it?”

Bullshit.

Just as Idor was about to shout, the Dark Elf produced a parchment from her belongings.

“Bendel? It’s time to fulfill the contract. As a representative, I’m here to receive the most precious treasure from Bendel as per the agreement.”

“Like a cursed being, you spout insane nonsense.”

“Oh? A mute? No? It doesn’t seem like you’re pretending to not know? What’s going on here?”

Hmm.

The Dark Elf pondered while tapping her lips with her finger.

“Oh!”

She waved her finger, expressing enlightenment cheerfully.

“Did that person, Radola Bendel, say nothing at all?”

“I will warn you once, and only once, Dark Elf. Do not let that name cross your filthy lips.”

“See? This is why contracts must always be documented. Don’t you think?”

In response to the clan head’s chilling anger, the Dark Elf answered with a lively smile.

She unfurled the parchment and held it up for Idor to see.

With the vision of a superhuman, he had no trouble reading the contents of the parchment from afar.

[I, Radola Bendel, swear to the Night of the Forest]

[That when I reach the highest point of the castle built with borrowed power, I will relinquish the most precious treasure there.]

The clan head’s expression turned to one of astonishment.

The Night of the Forest.

It was none other than a title referring to the seven most heinous existences that governed the era of chaos.

Further conversation was rendered meaningless.

No, it was perilous.

Without hesitation, the clan head charged at the Dark Elf.

“Solras.”

Blocking the clan head was a plant zombie that burst forth from the ground.

That very zombie which had earlier crumbled to the bastard’s strike—

“…!”

Received the clan head’s intense stab aimed to kill him with his bare body.

The clan head swung his arm with all his might.

The sword lodged in the creature’s shoulder could advance or retreat no further.

“Lord!!!”

“Support the Lord!!!”

The soldiers skillfully formed a siege and pressed on the Dark Elf.

The Dark Elf, once again, uttered a name that wasn’t amusing in the slightest.

It was a plant zombie of clearly immense size.

It was called Mummum, which had been summoned with all its strength, swirling the earth.

Boom!

A tremendous sound erupted.

“Waahhhh!!!”

“What is this?!”

And screams of despair followed.

The earth literally shattered.

Countless fissures appeared, and countless vines sprang forth through them, binding the soldiers’ limbs with intent.

Thus it continued with two.

The Dark Elf stepped closer to Idor.

Summoning all his strength, Idor swung his sword.

The diagonal slash starting from his shoulder cleaved through the zombie’s body.

At last, Idor’s sword was freed.

…And the split body of the zombie healed as if nothing had ever happened.

Idor realized that the plant zombie was a type of golem.

To destroy it completely, he had to obliterate the core hiding somewhere within its body.

Or overwhelm it with force to blow it away entirely.

Idor’s sword blazed with fire.

It was so vivid and intense, it seemed as if the mana was blooming.

The Bendellyu Extremity.

Just as Idor’s sword intent aimed to engulf the plant zombie, the Dark Elf began to rattle off a series of ridiculous names.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

Idor couldn’t muster a smile at all.

The plant zombies that had once defended against Idor’s strikes all began to reveal themselves.

The enormous zombie named Mummum, which had long since overpowered all the soldiers, sat down, gazing at the flowers blooming on the ground.

“…”

Idor’s determination waned, and a snicker escaped.

“W-who the hell are you?!”

The knight’s steadfast gaze was nowhere to be found.

The look in Idor’s eyes as he stared at the Dark Elf was now clouded with enchantment.

The Dark Elf answered with her consistently lively smile.

“As I said, I’m only the representative of the contract? I have no ties to that Night of the Forest.”

One could tell with a glance that it was a lie.

However, Idor didn’t have the courage to probe further.

“So, what will you do, Bendel? What will you do now?”

As the Dark Elf closed in, Idor tried to widen the distance, but vines sprouted from the ground and bound him down.

“…What do you want?”

“Geez~ You didn’t even listen to my story, did you?”

The Dark Elf exaggeratedly feigned a wail before whispering in Idor’s ear.

“Do the people of the world wish to know the truth? Bendel. That your great ancestors were, in fact, liars. That your true roots lie not with the noble heroes, but with the infamous of the past.”

“Th-that’s…!”

Idor’s despair was not merely due to the oppression of power.

He felt the power contained within the parchment.

The Dark Elf’s unfathomable power. A part of it was embedded in the parchment.

She was indeed the representative of the contract.

Bendel was indeed the subject of that contract.

The great ancestor Radola.

She was indeed a coward who sought power from the most heinous of existences.

A liar who hid that fact and pretended to be a noble hero.

“Hmm~”

Suddenly, the Dark Elf gazed directly at Idor.

Oddly enough, Idor felt none of her attention.

The Dark Elf was indeed facing Idor, but she was searching for someone else in her expression.

Soon after, she let out a heaving sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness~ You don’t resemble her at all~”

The Dark Elf suddenly seemed cheerful and offered the parchment to Idor.

“Let’s not complicate our conversation anymore, shall we? As I said, I’m only the representative of the contract, okay? While I could reveal your embarrassing truths, there’s no need for that if I can get what I want.”

“…Speak.”

“As I said, I’ll be taking the most precious thing from Bendel?”

“What is… that…”

“You may not understand, but it’s a child named Ricir.”

“…!”

Idor’s eyes widened.

His expression twisted in bewilderment.

“I will comply with the request.”

And then relief flooded over him.

Idor saw new possibilities in Ricir.

He saw the value they could bring to the clan.

But if he could solve the impending problem, there would be no more value or possibility than that.

“…”

The Dark Elf’s eyes darkened for a brief moment as she turned to gaze at Idor.

*

Pamon was deeply displeased with Idor’s response.

To claim to take Ricir, the most precious asset of Bendel, and to receive such a reaction… what did he think of her?

Annoyance surged within her.

In her heart, she wanted to take not just what her standards deemed most valuable, but what he believed to be most precious.

‘No.’

That was foolish.

It was ridiculous to harbor such personal feelings towards such a petty human.

Pamon found Idor unpleasant as a human.

Thus, she was even more determined to take Ricir from him.

Pamon completely withdrew her interest in Idor and presented the parchment.

The thorns from the vine pricked Idor’s thumb, drawing blood.

After a moment of hesitation, Idor signed on the parchment.

“Now, with that, Ricir will—… Oh?”

Pamon hurriedly checked the parchment.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my.”

She covered her mouth with her hand, delight spilling from her.

“They’re such foolish people. If only they had better custody.”

“What…?”

Even though Idor’s signature was written, the contract was not completed.

Ricir.

He was no longer the property of Bendel.

Only the clan head and the bastard knew the promise.

The promise made that if the bastard won in a duel, he’d be allowed to leave the clan.

The promise with the bastard that they had taken lightly now enacted its power.

“…!”

Understanding dawned on him, Idor’s eyes widened in realization.

“Wait a minute!!! If you could give me a moment—”

“No? I’d rather not since I’m pretty busy here? Since your signature is already on it, I’ll take the liberty to simply choose what I want.”

“What do you mean—… ack!!!”

The vines covered Idor’s mouth.

Pamon left the Bendel Mansion with a light step.

She left without any further business here.

There was no pursuit.

“Lord. About the lady…”

“…Forget it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Forget everything that happened today.”

“Even the pursuit of the Dark Elf?”

“And the pursuit of the bastard and the lady who left the mansion.”

Idor struggled to erase today’s events from his mind.

He hoped that the cursed Dark Elf and the bastard, along with his daughter, wouldn’t return—

He wished that nothing at all would happen, just as his respected ancestor had done.

*

The price of the contract.

It had taken quite the detour but finally arrived at Bendel.

It was a downfall.

It consumed Bendel quickly as it was overdue.