Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 2

Better to just throw everything away and start from scratch than to sit on needles and try to maintain my place in this world.

When I decided to leave, I struggled quite a bit.

It was the pain of parting with a part of myself.

– Am I really giving up?

– Is it fine if no one in the family acknowledges me?

– Even if I can’t wash away my mother’s disgrace?

This was an emotion that my modern self couldn’t comprehend.

Family? Why are those people my family?

Just because we’re blood-related? That’s an outdated trend. These days, we interpret it differently in our circles.

And my mother’s disgrace? What disgrace?

The real disgrace lies with those who played around and ruined the life of an innocent girl.

The more I thought about it, the less reason I had to cling onto this place, seeking love and recognition.

After my resolve, my determination to leave strengthened.

It wasn’t like I was completely starting from scratch; after all, I’m a noble bastard.

Even a stray dog can recite poetry after three years, and I’ve spent over a decade in a noble house.

I didn’t receive enough love to get a formal education, but I’ve learned a thing or two by observing.

Magic?

The mere fact that I am aware of my past life is perhaps the most mysterious magic of all.

Swordsmanship?

As the wise say, the pen is mightier than the sword.

I can read and write decently. If that’s not swordsmanship, then what is?

Underestimating a bastard?

Go ahead and have another one. I’ll show you what’s what. Those who’ve been hit before know where it hurts.

If there are ranks among bastards, I’d be a premium B-grade bastard.

With that sense of pride and confidence, I show up here today.

Exiting Bendel Mansion and heading to the city center, I found myself at the Hayeren Municipal Library—

which was quite far from the annex.

The annex was much easier to access than the main building, commonly used by folks like me.

And by “folks like me,” I mean not just bastards but those bright students who explore knowledge even in tough circumstances.

“…”

The old librarian at the entrance desk stole a glance my way, then returned to his work.

He may look that way, but he’s quite kind. If I tell him what book I’m looking for, he brings it to me right away.

He doesn’t bother with the formalities when other members of the Bendel family visit; authentic friendship doesn’t care about status.

I made my way into the forest of bookshelves.

“Let’s see…”

The books kept in this annex were those deemed unsuitable for storage in the main building.

Primarily, they consisted of texts lacking in quality and content.

And those dealing with knowledge considered trivial.

I took an interest in these “trivial” bits of knowledge.

The foundation of making a living is to target blue oceans.

If I grasp the knowledge that no one cares about because it seems trivial, maybe one day it will shine brightly.

Again, the miracle of Bitcoin?

With this speculative mindset, I headed to the back of the library today as well.

The sunlight streaming through the window took on a tangible form through the dust, making this a magical space.

I’ve never seen another person here besides myself.

Even the librarian seems to manage the place with a half-hearted effort.

Aren’t librarians supposed to love all books?

“?”

Oh? But there’s a rare guest today.

She had stunning silver hair.

Her skin was a rare chocolate color.

And—

‘Pointed ears?’

An elf.

A Dark Elf, to be specific.

The tall woman, probably around the late 170s cm, was unmistakably a Dark Elf.

Suddenly, I felt an instinctual discomfort.

This happens sometimes.

It’s what I’d describe as ingrained recognition—or should I say prejudice?

They clash with my reason each time.

I suppress those feelings with my rational mind.

This time, it was quite easy.

The intrigue I felt was far greater than the discomfort.

A Dark Elf, huh?

The first time I’m seeing this race directly since shifting to a fantasy world.

“I’m a fan. Can I have your autograph?”

I felt an impulse to talk to her, as if I’d met a celebrity, but I restrained myself.

It would be weird to interrupt someone focused on reading, leaning against the bookshelf.

Tiptoe.

Tiptoe.

I carefully passed by the Dark Elf and headed to the spot where I had noticed a book yesterday.

Where was it again?

Ah. Here it is.

{The Existence of Cats}

In reality, this book isn’t much related to the blue ocean strategy.

It was just out of curiosity.

In a book I read long ago, the treatment of cats was quite unique.

The book claimed that cats are spiritual beings and evil monsters.

Spiritual beings are one thing, but monsters?

What did cats do? What can they do?

I can’t just read for ideas on making a living.

Sometimes, I need to air out my mind like this.

I immediately made my way to my usual spot by the window, laid out my things, and opened the book.

After about 30 minutes of reading—

“?”

The Dark Elf had approached right in front of me.

She tilted her upper body sideways.

What was she doing? Adjusting her eye level to align with the book.

“About cats… exists? There’s such a book?”

She wasn’t addressing me.

It was a personal musing—natural enough to catch on immediately.

The woman sat down casually next to me.

Peeking in curiously at my book as if to read its contents.

She tilted her head around to gaze into my eyes.

“What… what are you doing?”

I looked at her with a sense of bewilderment, trying to convey my confusion.

Then our eyes met at that moment.

“…!”

Startled, she jumped up from her seat.

Like a cat, leaping back suddenly.

Then she took a step back and asked me,

“Can you see me?”

Um, I’m not blind, just a bastard, you know.

She was a strange woman I didn’t want to get involved with.

I turned my gaze back to the book as if nothing had happened.

“…?”

She cocked her head to one side.

“Was that a mistake?”

Thud.

She plopped back down next to me.

I continued reading, and she kept glancing at me reading.

This uncomfortable reading resumed.

‘What even is this situation?’

Go away, will you?

Not long after, the Dark Elf shifted her attention away from the book.

No longer interested in the book, all her focus was squarely on me.

“Interesting.”

Her long fingers danced around my face.

Playing with my hair, poking my cheek, running her fingers along my skin.

This woman was a Dark Elf, a mystical race.

With looks so beautiful it’s a struggle to control my gaze.

Given that, the whole situation was getting rather heated.

Yet, I remained surprisingly calm.

The subtle atmosphere derived from her actions.

The way she moved her hands, filled with curiosity, felt like a person observing animals.

I wondered if breeders checking bloodlines acted this way?

“Snow-white skin. Lustrous hair. Above all, these blue eyes. Aren’t you a noble?”

<They’re stuck-up folks.>

A voice from a book at her hip spoke out.

“A noble is reading this kind of book? Oh my, how amusing. What could it mean? Perhaps she has a rare appreciation for cats?”


<Could she be interested in cat hunting?>


“How rude. How can you say such a thing?”


<If not, why would a noble be reading something like this?>


“…”

Seeming at a loss for words, the woman fidgeted with her hands, showing her displeasure.

This was getting quite awkward.

Her flowing silver hair. The translucent yet inscrutable purple robe.

Her silver eyes, reminiscent of mercury.

She was the very definition of charming mystery.

Yet, judging by her actions—

‘Is she maybe crazy?’

The way she acted, as if she were an invisible being, left no room for other interpretations.

‘But what do I do about this?’

This woman clearly seemed unwilling to leave.

Those penetrating eyes, gazing right through me. She was staring as if trying to see into my soul.

It felt like I was standing at a crossroads of choice.

Should I speak up now?

Or maintain silence till the end?

“Um…”

It was the former.

This woman needed to realize, for some reason, that her game of pretending to be invisible had gone awry.

Before she committed a greater blunder than merely critiquing a bastard.

“I can see you…”

“Hmm? You can see? What do you see? What do you mean?”

Her eyes sparkled as she shoved her face into the book.

“What do you see…”

Tap, tap.

I gently touched her forearm with my fingertip.

“I can see you, you know.”

“Eek!”

She squealed in surprise and leap up again.

Innocently clinging her hands together, looking rather cute.

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[I resisted]


[Resistance Target: Cognitive Decline]

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The great hero, Radola Bendel.

Hayeren is her homeland, a city that her descendants now inhabit.

Knights from all over the continent flocked to Hayeren seeking knowledge.

Under the name of Bendel, Hayeren prospered, and its glory seemed destined to last forever.

Until her arrival.

The once-glorious Bendel Mansion had become a ruin.

Clatter. Clatter.

In what was originally the family head’s office, a black cat rolled around a heavy orb.

It had once been a grand vessel for the courageous spirits of knights, but now it had become a forlorn skull.

The black witch cradled the cat in her arms.

With an expression of boredom, she stroked the cat while gazing down upon Hayeren through the collapsed wall.

It felt as though I was witnessing an ancient city fading into history.

Vines pushing up from the ground shrouded everything in the city.

Even the humans weren’t spared.

They roamed the streets aimlessly.

Where once there should be a head, a massive fruit that mimicked a human face had bloomed.

Ka-ka-ka—ka-ka-ka—ka-ka-ka—

The sound of thorny vines climbing up vocal cords echoed through the city.

The name was lost in the western continent’s city.

People now referred to it as the Black Witch’s Garden.

▶ Fate 5: The Price of a Promise

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