Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 20

A man in splendid attire jumped down from the halted carriage, flustered.

He wouldn’t even receive assistance from the hired coachman or servants, as if he were clutching an opportunity he didn’t want anyone to snatch away.

“Miss?”

With that, the man helped the girl inside the carriage down.

The girl’s clothing gave no hint of wealth at all, clearly indicating her ordinary status.

Completely opposite to the man.

“We have arrived.”

Despite that, the man’s demeanor towards the girl was exceedingly kind. No, it was exceedingly gracious.

“Thank you once again for your kindness.”

“No, I was just passing by this way. Is there anything more you need?”

“You’ve already provided more than enough help.”

“Don’t say that—”

While wanting to offer his goodwill, he still glanced at the girl, gauging her reaction.

The man found himself confused by his own state of mind.

Why am I like this?

He was not the type to be especially kind to children or those of lower status.

In fact, as a merchant, he often looked down on them.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do that with this girl.

She possessed an indescribable uniqueness.

An irresistible uniqueness.

It was not an adult’s kindness shown to a child.

It was a desperate struggle to win someone’s favor.

“I sincerely wish you have a good day.”

When the girl expressed her gratitude with a bright smile, the man could only reluctantly take his leave.

He felt regret at not gaining her favor but was even more afraid of incurring her dislike.

Thus, the girl, having received such meticulous care from a merchant she had unexpectedly encountered, gazed at the mansion before her.

“…Huh.”

She took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Ah, aaah. Um um.”

Next, she cleared her throat and pulled a mirror from her pocket to meticulously check her appearance.

That awkward yet fresh demeanor made one wonder if she really was the same girl who had enchanted the merchant just moments ago.

Knock knock.

Having completed her preparations, the girl, Pien, knocked on the mansion’s door.

“Oh, Pien.”

Soon, the door opened and Ricir greeted her warmly.

Pien replied with a light nod.

Unbothered,

Yet the atmosphere was anything but indifferent.

“What about that beautiful white dress that suits you so well?”

“Seems your eyes aren’t deceiving you. I like that dress too, but it stands out too much. It’s not suitable for traveling.”

As expected.

With that one remark from Ricir, Pien lost her nonchalance immediately.

“By the way, what brings you here?”

“…What do you mean?”

She had made a promise to Ricir and Pamon.

That she would no longer harm innocent people with the power of her ancestry.

Therefore, she could no longer remain the lady of Dintal.

In reality, she was homeless.

So Pamon charged both of them,

“Please don’t tell me you plan to keep quiet now after everything’s been laid out? You definitely said it out loud, asking us to join you on your journey.”

“Ha…”

“Ha!? What’s with that sigh!? It’s unpleasant! It’s rude! Do you think I deserve to be treated like that!?”

“No, that’s not it. I just felt a little breathless… Are you okay? The journey isn’t overly comfortable, is it?”

“That’s for me to decide. Just so you know, don’t get any weird ideas. I’ll only travel with you until I establish my own base.”

“What weird ideas? You wouldn’t try to meddle with people’s brains again, would you? It won’t end with just a simple poke next time. Oh wait, did I poke someone last time?”

“…”

When given attention, she shines like a puppy that has met its owner.

If given the chance, she’d pour everything into gaining favor.

To Pien, humans were such creatures.

Simple, foolish, and insignificant—

Yet when dealing with these humans, she felt quite the opposite.

Just look at her now.

Despite having given them a chance, their dull reactions perplexed her.

As if treated like a child.

It was the first time she had experienced this kind of treatment since becoming someone extraordinary. It was humiliating.

Ever since her first encounter with Ricir, Pien’s thoughts had been solely on him.

“I won’t forgive… this humiliation… I will repay it…”

She vowed to make this foolish man her slave.

Even without the power of her ancestry, Pien knew her abilities were not limited to that.

She was well aware of how charming, beautiful, and unique she was.

“…Well, how about I guess what strange thoughts you might have?”

Pien approached Ricir with a sudden change in attitude.

The delicate girl’s body intertwined with his. Pien looked up at Ricir defiantly, her wide eyes deliberately beguiling.

An alluring movement meant to provoke a man’s desire.

—Or so Pien thought.

Because she had practiced and confirmed this in the mirror.

Yet the image she saw in the mirror and the one Ricir saw were worlds apart.

Awkward wobbly movements. Clumsy eye contact.

Above all, her face was flushed with shame, rich with the confusion of whether she wanted to entice him or was being enticed herself.

Ricir, taken aback, absently patted her head while trying to figure out what to do with the girl gazing up at him.

“Neeigh—”

Receiving such usual treatment as if she were a child caused Pien’s face to redden even more.

“Who are you?”

Just then, a sharp voice interrupted.

Loera tugged on Ricir’s arm, pulling them apart.

“What are you doing here? She’s no longer Bendel.”

At Loera’s words, Pien’s mood shifted instantly.

From a hopeless girl constantly losing to her pride, she transformed into a girl harboring magical powers.

“That’s right. I’m no longer Bendel. So, I’m not your brother anymore. Therefore, it’s none of your business?”

“And no longer your fiancé either. So it’s even less of your business?”

“Oh, haven’t you heard? At Ricir’s request, I’m accompanying him on this journey.”

“Ricir’s request?”

Loera directed a questioning gaze at Ricir, demanding explanation.

Ricir, sharing her incredulous gaze, delivered the conversation back to Pien.

“Have I made a mistake? Isn’t this whole situation a result of your request?”

The fact that she asked him to stop using the power of her ancestry on innocent people could indeed be seen as a request.

It was only after the fearsome Dark Elf lady bore down on her that she reluctantly accepted it.

However, Ricir didn’t see the need to point that out.

“…”

Seeing her fidget nervously suggested she was aware of her pretense, which struck him as somewhat pitiful.

“That’s not entirely incorrect, but…”

“Isn’t that right!?”

When Ricir dropped a coin into the “Match My Words” box, Pien lit up with excitement.

Loera eyed the duo suspiciously.

“What’s with that ambiguous attitude? What of the Dintal family? Did they consent to this? I doubt it.”

How could they not consent?

When a command is given in the name of their master by the ancestor.

Dintal gladly permitted Pien’s departure.

And soon they would completely forget about her existence.

“Of course they gave their consent. They know how special the bond between Ricir and me is.”

“Seems like she doesn’t think that way, judging by her reaction.”

“…He’s just a shy guy, you know? He’s intentionally acting like that out of embarrassment.”

“What do you know about him? You’ve spent less than a fortnight together, haven’t you?”

“And what do you know about Ricir? I hear bastard children in Bendel are treated as non-existent.”

“…”

As their gazes crossed paths, tension filled the air.

“Hmm? Ah~ Pien is here? Loera? Let me introduce you. This is Pien. In fact, she’s an ancestor, right? Isn’t it fascinating? It’s my first time seeing one, too. Is it dangerous, you ask? Well, she’s harmless~ But it’s all good, as just like she tried to use Mental Interference on the Dintal, it was normalized by Ricir’s special powers—now she’s become Ricir’s attendant.”

Before the Dark Elf, who had shown up while transporting travel supplies with a plant zombie, the trio was clearly puzzled.

“Ancestor…?”

“Attendant…?”

“Normalized…”

It wasn’t common to fluster all three of them at once, yet that Dark Elf had achieved it.

As Ricir’s concerns faded, Loera accepted Pien’s presence without difficulty.

“Oh, an ancestor? You’ve been controlling the Dintal family, huh? Impressive. Not to mention, this master and apprentice combo is quite extraordinary.”

Considering the level of the ancestor, she seemed to be one of the more reasonable beings she had encountered lately.

Nonetheless, Loera was not quite pleased with Pien.

“You wanted to make her your puppet, yet you plan to accompany her?”

“Don’t worry too much. Although she’s an ancestor, she’s more harmless than a mosquito.”

“A mosquito…”

Pien muttered with eyes that lost their luster.

“More than anything, I promised. I wouldn’t harm anyone with that power again. My Master has magically certified it, so it should be effective.”

“…Well, if that person took action—”

Loera finally set aside some of her wariness.

Ricir grinned at her wary demeanor.

“Worried about your brother?”

Loera’s expression crumbled, squishing together.

“What are you saying?”

Loera rolled over, sitting alongside Ricir on the couch.

Was she trying to get up? No, not at all.

She slipped off her shoes and turned, resting her legs on Ricir’s thighs.

“Loera? You do realize your brother is sitting here? Do you often showcase such avant-garde manners in front of others?”

“Only in front of you.”

“Didn’t you know? Surprisingly, there’s another person here besides us.”

“Him? He’s just an attendant, so it doesn’t matter. Ugh, my legs hurt, so I’ll stay like this.”

Perhaps it was just a feeling, but her voice sounded spoiled, and her brother couldn’t help but hesitate.

“That’s not an attendant!”

Instead, Pien stood up from across the table, raising her voice.

“Then what am I?”

“I, I—You know! I’m Ricir’s fiancé!”

“Ah~ I see.”

“I’m someone special who has even shared a kiss with Ricir!”

“Ah~ Then… what?”

Loera’s head whipped around to stare at Ricir.

“What do you mean by that?”

The pressure from her legs intensified.

“Ricir! Y-you were happy, right…? You wouldn’t dare deny it!”

Pien moved closer to Ricir, clinging to his arm.

It was a seductive lure, described in words, but effectively the behavior of a child.

“You’re heavy…”

Ricir could feel himself buckling under the dual weight.

“Preparing to leave.”

It didn’t sound like he was unaware, but his Master seemed to be quite firm on this matter.

Shortly after the plant zombie who’d been frantically moving around the mansion disappeared, Elder called for me.

“My disciple? So, are you ready?”

With a lively smile as usual, she opened up about our future plans.

“I would love to travel with Ricir, teaching him various things.”

“But as I mentioned several times, I still have much to do.”

“Moreover, this journey is supposed to be quite perilous, so I couldn’t possibly bring Ricir along.”

I had expected this.

Given what she’d said from the beginning.

I listened calmly to my Master’s words.

“As much as I would really like to bestow my vision magic upon Ricir—”

“That magic comes with substantial restrictions and sacrifices.”

“More than that, there’s the stigma of being the cursed magic of the Dark Elves, meaning he would stray far from a normal life.”

“A good disciple might say otherwise. But I don’t want that.”

“It’s best to experience and feel more before deciding.”

“So, my disciple?”

“My short teachings end here.”

With her usual bright smile, she concluded the conversation.

Though the tone was rather dry for a farewell, I actually felt happy as that was very much in line with my Master’s character.

“Short is an understatement. Even a dinner date would surpass this.”

“My disciple~ I’m sorry, for being a frail Master~ But at least my arms and legs are long, so there’s something nice to look at, right~?”

My Master’s teasing.

“Frail, huh? That’s quite an understatement.”

And to that was added Duran’s quip.

Realizing this would be the last time I would hear it, I felt a pang of regret.

However—

“Perhaps the day will come when we’ll meet again?”

“Of course. Perhaps, perhaps? In our next meeting, Ricir might find himself in the position of Master to me. Given how quickly my disciple is growing, it’s a plausible story.”

“That may very well be the most heartwarming phrase I’ve heard from you yet.”

“Oh really?”

“Absolutely. I’ll become a disciple worthy of that, bestowing the despair of loss upon you as well.”

“Look at you.”

“Duran~ What should I do~? My disciple is angry, right~? Isn’t that so~?”

<You’ve created the monster. Accept the coming future and prepare for destruction.>

Suddenly, that day when I first met the two of them came flooding back to me.

Though one was a book, after all.

My Master had oft-repeated that treating a Dark Elf normally felt like a very special experience.

I felt the same way.

My Master’s normal treatment towards me, the bastard child, was indeed an exceptionally unique experience.

What if I had never met my Master?

Would I have discovered a new path through magic?

Could I have gained independence from the Bendel family?

Would I have reconciled with Loera?

“Master.”

“Yes. My disciple.”

“Though brief, that time has transformed my life. Thank you.”

“…”

I saw it for the first time. My Master’s signature lively smile vanishing.

The Dark Elf with the silver hair watched me with a serene expression. Just for a moment.

“Ahhhhh~ My disciple~”

My Master returned to her original expression, bursting into tears as she hugged me.

“How embarrassing~ I tried so hard not to cry in front of my disciple~”

For a while, my Master hugged me, weeping softly.

… And weeping only.

“Lastly, my disciple? Would you accept this?”

My Master pulled out a small glass bottle and placed it on the desk.

“What is this?”

<Yesterday, while you were asleep, I raided the Bendel vault. This is one of the few valuable items I acquired from it.>

“Duran~ What do you mean I raided it? What would my disciple think of me~?”

“The kindest, strongest, most beautiful, and irresponsible teacher in the world.”

“My disciple~ You always know how to move me until the end~”

<The last modifier seems crucial.>

She handed the glass bottle directly into my hands.

It seemed like a perfectly ordinary bottle, hardly a precious treasure among what Bendel owned.

The contents were a transparent liquid with no distinguishing features.

“An elixir?”

“…!”

Yet the moment the word escaped my Master’s lips, my heart raced.

An elixir.

Something that only completes when rare materials are combined with the touch of a master, the very embodiment of treasure in this world.

In this fantasy realm, power holds unparalleled value.

Everyone is willing to sacrifice their body and life to obtain that power.

An elixir skips, shortens, or even transcends that exhaustive process.

With just one pop, it can yield accomplishments that might take months, years, or even a lifetime to achieve.

It was a genuine cheat.

Those with a bit of money, and a bit of strength, were all fast eager to taste an elixir.

However, if everyone could sip it, it wouldn’t be an elixir.

Even a house like Bendel keeps it tucked away in the vault, unwilling to consume it, which says it all.

Its value is beyond imagination.

For my past self, it was an item that would have been utterly unattainable, even if I lived my whole life trying to get it.

And even if I did manage to obtain it, I would surely trade it for cash, seeking a comfortable life rather than have the audacity to drink it.

“This seems too simple for an elixir, no…?”

“It’s not a cheap elixir, but a valuable one!”

“Uh… Is that right?”

“From its making to its long-term preservation, if you want to maintain and preserve the elixir’s value, you need incredibly meticulous refinement and processing. Bringing in external factors to invest in its essence. Though it appears ordinary, contained within that bottle is a wealth of magical knowledge and skills that even I can’t fully grasp.”

“Are you sure this is okay to give me…?”

My voice trembled involuntarily.

Even if Master were the one to do it, such an opportunity to acquire an elixir was rare.

“Yes, that’s why I want to give it to my disciple.”

“… Master!!!”

“My disciple~.”

<Enough with the nonsense and continue with the conversations already.>

I anxiously lifted the elixir, examining it closely.

“Then what do I do…? Can I just drink it here…?”

Shaking her head.

“No, this isn’t a place suited for drinking the elixir.”

“When, where’s a suitable place for esoteric consumption? What are the criteria?”

“The elixir changes your constitution. And that rapidly altered constitution directly affects your surroundings. Hayeern isn’t a bad place; it’s rather mundane. But mundanity isn’t sufficient. The elixir must be ideally consumed under perfect environmental conditions.”

For once, my Master’s eyes shone brightly as she spoke.

“Uh, could you please provide a material value comparison to make it easier for my inexperienced disciple to understand…?”

“Honestly, the value is far beyond that of money, but… let’s see… a mansion in a big city?”

“A m-mansion in a big city!?”

If I were to understand something resembling a New York City apartment, then that would mean if I mishandled the elixir, a New York City office space could simply vanish?

“Yes. If a mere 10% loss occurs in the elixir’s properties, that would equate to a mansion in a big city disappearing.”

Even 10%?

“Kyaaaaaa—!!!”

“My disciple~ how happy are you~?”

<She seems stressed with Mana Reflux, no doubt.>

I struggled to regain composure and continued the conversation.

“So, Master, where is a suitable place to drink this elixir? Some place like Huangdu?”

“Huangdu would be great, but it’s a bit far. So, my disciple, how about our next destination being Bondales?”

Bondales.

It was a city that could be reached after passing through two or three towns from Hayeern.

The keywords flickered: Kallog Mage Tower.

Multiple Adventurer Guilds and markets.

“It may not be as renowned for magic as the other cities, but it’s not a bad place to broaden your knowledge of magic.”

“Could we drink the elixir there?”

“I’m not saying to gulp it down the moment we arrive, but there are some suitable locations.”

Here.

And here.

And—here.

My Master jotted down those suitable locations on paper.

“Now, then…”

Clap.

My Master concluded the discussion with a cheerful clap.

“My disciple~?”

Then she rose, opening her arms.

I stepped forward and embraced her.

“Please take care of yourself, Master.”

“Of course!”

“At least until I come to take over your position…”

“That wasn’t a joke!”

<Ricir, a joke isn’t permissible. From this day forth, the purpose of my life is solely to witness this little one being betrayed by the disciple she took under her wing. Though I am merely a book.>

“Please be safe, Duran.”

With our goodbyes exchanged, my Master and Duran immediately set forth from Hayeern.

I too exited the mansion to find a means of transport towards Bondales.

──────────

[Title: Ah damn, should I just skip the witch in the western woods?]

Content: Difficulty is genuinely absurdly high

What’s mumumui?

What’s diron?

It’s ridiculous to feel self-deprecating while constantly dying to something with such a name.

– Are you friends with mumumuiham?

– Hang in there, eat what you must.

– [Photo] The elixir offered as a reward from the witch is absurd, so generally, you should defeat her.

– [Original Poster]: Just look at the options available; it seems skipping might not even be possible.

– [Original Poster]: If I kill the witch, is that what I’ll drop?

– The reward from the witch is separate, and that item drops when you raid the Bendel vault, so yes. Think of it as essentially the vital core farming item in Hayeern.

– Just take it slow; you’ll realize through the reward options that it’s not a place meant to be cleared early on.

– [Original Poster]: If I won’t drink it, can’t you just hand it to me?

– Raise your favorability.

– [Original Poster]: Is it possible to raise the witch’s favorability?

– For now, human races are impossible.

– [Original Poster]: Wait, aren’t humans the only choice?

──────────

▶ Another Tale ◀

This is another story.

[Stop]

[Please stop!!!]

[The man screamed]

[But they ignored him]

[“Eron, ohhh Eron…!!!”]

[She was the man’s companion]

[In a place where life and death danced, she could willingly lay her back down.]

[She was the man’s lover.]

[Holding hands, feeling her soft skin, and gazing at the night sky, in those moments, he wanted nothing more.]

[But now—]

[She was calling out another man’s name, moaning.]

[In the embrace of another.]

▶ Incident 17: Corrupted Relations

“Then, we shall depart.”

The scenery visible to them began to move.

It didn’t take long for the silence of the clopping hooves of horses and the rolling of wheels to be broken.

“Alright, everyone. Since we’ll have a long time together ahead, how about we introduce ourselves?”

His voice was so pleasant that it was hard to discern his gender.

The neat blonde hair shone like ripe barley.

The habitual smile, with white teeth on display, contrasted with a slightly tanned skin, and thick eyelashes emphasized the bright sky-blue eyes that seemed to draw in those who looked at him.

A handsome young man radiating charm sat across from them, amiably addressing the other passengers.

“I am Eron.”

The man sitting opposite him responded.

“I am Ricir.”

Eron’s gaze fixed steadily on Ricir.

To all appearances, it was a soft look that seemed to inspire fondness in the gazer.

Because of that, one could never imagine what lay beyond.

‘Just a nobody.’

The owner of that gaze was secretly enveloped in a smug, petty grin of superiority as he assessed them.

Having completed his examination, Eron leisurely checked the status of the other passengers.

“…!”

His gaze locked onto the girl sitting next to Ricir,

Though cloaked in a gray robe with the hood up, her pitiful aura couldn’t be concealed.

Eron alternated gazes between Ricir and the girl for a moment before a bright smile appeared, filled with anticipation for the journey ahead.

“Nice to meet you, Ricir! Although it’s a short time, I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, Eron. I look forward to it too.”

Unaware of what was about to unfold, he wore a carefree smile that one could find humorous.