Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 25

The news of the lady’s recovery reached us from the carriage.

Of course, Ricir had no idea who that lady was.

However, it was clear that she was someone very special to the man standing before him.

The moment news came from inside the carriage that her condition had improved, the man’s tense atmosphere immediately calmed down.

After giving a quick glance to Ricir and the others, he hurried back to the carriage.

“Whoa…”

Left behind with his companions, Ricir let out a deep sigh.

He realized he had been holding his breath without even noticing.

It was due to the pressure created by that man.

He felt as if he were facing an excited wild beast, his mind and body tense.

Tap, tap.

Pamon nudged Ricir’s arm from the side.

“Let’s go.”

She urged him to leave the spot quickly, her expression serious.

Pamon also felt the pressure from the man they had just encountered, sharper than Ricir’s.

‘A level five. At least.’

An unstable mental state combined with such strength was the worst combination for a traveling companion.

“Wait a minute… Heh… it seems like something good happened… Heh… how about we wait a bit and ask again…?”

At that moment, Rona interjected into the conversation.

Her tone was somewhat peculiar.

It was as if a woman were trying to imitate a man’s voice forcefully.

Her actions were the same.

Suddenly rolling up her sleeves to flaunt her wrists, walking exaggeratedly, and tossing her sweat-drenched bangs back nonchalantly.

Since becoming a slave, Rona had been forcing herself to act like a man.

As if denying the fact that she had become a woman.

Of course, she wasn’t as skilled as she hoped.

“Heh… heh…”

“Are you okay, Rona? If it’s that tough, just drop it.”

Despite Pamon and Ricir’s refusal, Rona insisted on taking their burdens.

And then she proclaimed.

That she could keep up just fine, so there was no need to match her pace.

The sheer sweat pouring from her and her labored breathing were the results.

Her arms, so neatly displayed, were thin and trembling like a sapling.

“I’m- not struggling…! Heh-”

To anyone watching, Rona was clearly showing off.

“Not struggling? Then why, when you found the carriage, did you mutter, ‘I’m alive…’? And why do you look like you’re about to cry when Pamon says to just go?”

“I-I never said that!”

“Really? Was it just my imagination? Then, Pamon says to just go, and you agree, so it might be right to just go. No, wait a minute. Is it fair for a slave’s vote to be treated the same as Pamon’s?”

“…Y-You have a point! If the master absolutely insists on taking that carriage, then as a slave, I have no choice but to follow!!!”

Pamon let out a sigh as she listened to their back and forth.

“How on earth did I end up with such foolish companions? Ricir. Playing with a slave can wait for later; let’s leave now. That person from just now… my gut feeling isn’t good.”

“Pamon. I’ve recently realized something; do you know what it is? You shouldn’t judge people by their first impressions. A poor girl… a charming young man…”

“…”

“…”

The would-be mind controllers pouted unhappily but ultimately offered no rebuttal.

“So, what’s your point? That someone with a good first impression might turn out to be trash, while that person with a bad one could actually be a good guy— is that the logic?”

“What I mean is, let’s not react too sensitively. Why would someone driving a fancy carriage go around harming passersby? As Rona said, let’s just ask if they can give us a ride again when they return. And why do you say trash? Rona’s the trash, right Rona?”

“…Do I have to answer that?”

“No matter what anyone says, I think Pamon’s a good person. So, don’t be too hard on yourself. There’s plenty of self-blame to go around for Rona. Right, Rona?”

“…Yeah.”

“Got it, so let’s stop.”

Pamon got annoyed at the realization that she felt better due to Ricir’s nonsense.

How much time passed?

The man stepped out of the carriage again.

This time, he approached Ricir and the others with a more composed demeanor.

“Sorry for the delay in introductions. I am Dares of the Durayeg family.”

Durayeg.

Ricir chewed on that name.

Nobles memorize the names of other noble families as a basic courtesy.

To curry favor with those of higher rank and to disregard those below.

Thus, it was an essential matter for nobility.

For Ricir, who had been universally dismissed by all nobles, it was a tale from another world, but still, he kept a mental list of noble families’ names.

Durayeg was a name noted on that list, relatively high up and prominently recorded.

Most nobles would likely feel the same.

Durayeg was one of the few noble families that stood above the others, a high-ranking noble house.

“I apologize for the earlier events. My fiancée’s condition suddenly worsened at night, which led to my overly sensitive reaction.”

“Oh dear. I sympathize. Is your fiancée doing alright?”

As Ricir spoke, Pamon and Rona’s expressions twisted in dismay.

Who on earth are you?

Ricir was trying his best to show the respect befitting Dares’s status.

The shift in tone and atmosphere.

An unadorned sense of elegance emanated from him.

“…Excuse me, but may I ask which family you are from?”

Dares seemed equally astonished, soon asking about Ricir’s background.

“I apologize. I should have introduced myself sooner. I am Ricir—the bastard of a family. So feel free to act casually with me.”

“…”

Dares’s eyes widened.

He thought he was speaking with a noble offspring, and yet, a bastard?

Dares continued the conversation with visible surprise.

“Let’s get to the point. Ricir. If you have something to discuss, please state it again.”

“I was wondering if there was a place for me and my companions in the carriage—”

Ricir trailed off, glancing at Dares.

He was conscious of the “sickly fiancée” Dares had just mentioned.

Most likely, Dares’s next words would be a refusal.

Though Ricir didn’t show it on the surface, he felt quite disappointed inside.

‘If I let this slip, how long until I reach Bon-Dales?’

The elixir left to languish in his pocket.

His magical training stuck at a standstill.

He felt a twinge of anxiety, questioning whether he was wasting time meaninglessly.

Hmm.

At that moment, Dares sighed.

“The thing is— my fiancée mentioned that if you all need help, she wished for us to assist you.”

Three options presented themselves before Ricir.

To visibly express joy.

To ask why.

And—

“…What a kind man you are.”

To compliment the fiancée, who was clearly someone very special to Dares.

If it was the right thing to say, Dares’s previously displeased expression softened somewhat.

“That’s exactly it. She has too much kindness for her own good. But, I’d like to know. Are you willing to indulge my fiancée’s whims?”

“I’m just grateful for her goodwill.”

That was both his fiancée’s request and Dares’s whim.

Dares led Ricir’s party to the carriage, which he had originally intended to send away.

As they walked, Ricir introduced his companions to him.

“This is Pamon, my companion. And this is my—… slave, Rona.”

“…”

The moment Dares’s gaze landed on Rona, his expression twisted.

“A slave who seems rather unsuitable for carrying burdens.”

Given that Rona appeared to be an ordinary frail woman drenched in sweat while carrying two loads.

“If it’s alright, may I ask how the duty of labor fell onto that slave?”

Dares’s face showed signs of disappointment creeping in.

“I had my companions drugged and intended harm upon me. They forced me to become a slave to pay the price for that crime.”

“…?”

Dares looked at Rona with astonishment.

“…”

Rona could do nothing but bow her head, trembling in shame.

“Ahem. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. Everyone, follow me.”

Dares guided them into the carriage.

The interior of the roofed carriage seemed to have some magical enhancements, making it more spacious than it appeared from the outside.

It already accommodated four people yet could still hold another four comfortably.

At the innermost seat of the carriage sat a woman wrapped in a blanket.

“Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Todina.”

Her skin and hair looked dried out, and dark circles hung under her eyes.

Despite that, the woman named Todina welcomed Ricir’s party with a bright smile.

“Hello, everyone. You must have been startled by Dares. I can’t express how worried I was when he dashed out of the carriage looking fierce. I should have stopped him, but I was choking at that moment…”

Ugh.

Dares made a groaning sound from the side yet did not stop Todina.

“Miss Todina, Lord Dares shared your kindness with us. Thank you sincerely.”

“Oh, thank you. But please, thank Dares. I’m just stubborn, and he always indulges me. Oh, by the way, this is Damin. She’s a wonderful girl who looks after me all the time.”

The brown-haired maid sitting next to Todina gave a friendly bow.

“And this is Lord Topin, who traveled a long way at Dares’s request to assist me.”

A graying man with white streaks in his hair lightly bowed.

“I am Topin. I study healing magic at the Bloom Academy. And this is my assistant, Elthni—”

“I am Ricir.”

Ricir once again introduced himself and his party before them.

At that moment, Todina covered her mouth with her fist.

Her body shook as a series of dry coughs escaped.

“Lady.”

“…Thank you.”

The maid Damin offered warm water to Todina.

“Cough!”

As she drank the water, Todina’s cough worsened.

After several harsh coughs, she gathered herself with a dry breath.

It was a sound akin to an old man gasping for breath, not even pleasing to hear casually.

The atmosphere inside the carriage dampened instantly.

As silence was about to descend, Topin opened his mouth.

“Todina.”

“Yes, Topin?”

“As your physician, I must tell you that coming out to greet me was absolutely not a wise choice. Aren’t you being rather unaware of your situation?”

“…”

Todina’s expression twisted sourly.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been cooped up at home for so long that I was just desperate to see the outside.”

“Don’t blame Todina; I insisted on bringing her out.”

“It’s not your fault, Dares. You merely complied with my request. I should have listened to you. Had I known this would cause concern for others…”

At that point in the conversation, Dares interjected.

“Did you say Ricir?”

Topin turned his attention to Ricir.

He displayed clear discomfort upon learning that Ricir was a bastard who couldn’t even say his family name.

A bastard in this presence.

He continued with an authoritative tone.

“Considering my patient’s condition, this carriage can’t accommodate anyone else right now. I hope you understand.”

Topin gestured toward the carriage door.

“Topin…!”

“Todina. I am your physician now. Here, I would like for you to entirely follow my instructions.”

“…”

Todina squeezed her eyes shut.

“I’m sorry… Ricir… because of me, you’re in this awkward position…”

Topin pointed toward the door again, more urgently this time.

“Perhaps I should—”

After much thought, Ricir opened his mouth.

“I may be able to help Miss Todina.”

Tch. Topin clicked his tongue.

“Ricir, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from making irresponsible statements in front of my patient.”

“…”

“Or would you care to elaborate on how you plan to help? What do you know? What have you figured out in such a short time? For months, countless healers have used all their knowledge to help Todina. They sought to determine what tormented her. But none have uncovered it. And yet, you claim to know something?”

Topin steadied his breath before saying in a colder tone.

“I’ve become agitated. That’s not good. Ricir, I wish for you to leave for the sake of the patient. This includes maintaining an optimal environment for both myself and those around me.”

Ricir didn’t reproach Topin’s rude demeanor.

He was merely doing his utmost from his perspective.

For disregarding him due to being a bastard? Well, that’s what one might expect from a noble.

Ricir’s interest was primarily focused elsewhere at the moment.

The peculiar feeling he sensed from Todina.

His instincts, honed through experience, urged him to inspect this dissonance further.

‘Just once would be enough…’

He initially planned to use the pretense of an examination to check on Todina’s condition.

But it’s clear that as her primary physician, Topin wouldn’t permit such a breach.

So, what else could he do to get closer to Todina?

To reveal the existence of the unique color? No.

How could he confidently unveil something he himself didn’t understand well?

Moreover, if he leaned on a specialized topic like the unique color now, Topin would likely view it as a challenge to his authority and exhibit his disdain once more.

“…”

After careful consideration, Ricir took a coin from his pocket.

An ordinary coin of no significance.

“Miss Todina, this is my lucky charm.”

“A lucky… charm?”

“Yes. Thanks to the special power contained within, I’ve been able to overcome several crises. If it’s alright, would you accept this charm, Miss Todina?”

As he spoke, Ricir scolded himself internally.

‘Was this really the best I could do?’

A haphazardly concocted excuse and plan sprang forth spontaneously.

“A lucky charm…?”

Fortunately, Todina didn’t find it strange, although it caught her off guard.

She glanced toward Topin.

Topin begrudgingly nodded.

“Does this mean I would be stealing your luck?”

“I have too much luck as it is; losing a bit wouldn’t matter.”

“…You’re incredibly kind, Ricir. I’ve put you in such an awkward situation… It would normally be right for me to refuse here—but—”

Todina grasped Ricir’s outstretched hand holding the coin tightly.

“I feel so greedy… Really… How wonderful it would be if such luck came my way…”

At that moment, Ricir focused all his attention.

On Todina’s hand.

On the dissonance emanating from her.

“Ahh!”

It was at that moment.

The maid Damin who sat beside Todina writhed in pain.

All their gazes turned to that spot.

Instead of the sweet maid who had warmly greeted them, an old woman in a maid uniform occupied that seat.

The plans of the dark mage that had unfolded over months came crashing down in an instant.

“How could!!!”

The dark mage couldn’t comprehend the incomprehensible phenomenon consuming him.

“…”

“…”

Pamon and Rona felt a sense of unpleasant familiarity with the grotesque old woman.