Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 26

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▶Another Tale◀

This is another story.

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[The Family Has Gathered]

[The wedding, which had been postponed repeatedly, has finally taken place.]

[Cheers and applause.]

[Amidst everyone’s blessings, the two appeared.]

[The rumors were true.]

[The lady, whose illness had worsened by the day, has regained her health.]

[Her wrinkled, shadowed skin now looked as fresh as if she had been reborn.]

[The groom, who seemed to have lost all happiness to despair, was smiling brightly, at least for today.]

[However—]

[Is it just me?]

[The groom’s bright smile seemed somewhat gaunt.]

[It was a contrast, as if the shadow from the bride had transferred over to him.]

[“Dares. What are you thinking?”]

[“…”]

[It feels like a distant memory.]

[Before she fell ill.]

[I remember the smiles she used to give.]

[Surely, they were that bright.]

[Surely, it is that bright smile—but—]

[Why does it feel so strange now?]

[“Dares?”]

[Is the current smile of hers feeling foreign?]

[“…No.”]

[It must be just my imagination.]

[The groom shook off the unpleasant thoughts.]

[This is a hard-won normalcy and happiness.]

[For now, I should simply enjoy it.]

[-Even if it’s a fake happiness that’s rotting on the inside.]

▶Fate 41: Worm-Eaten Happiness

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“D-Damin!?”

Todina screamed.

The maid Damin, who had been with her since childhood, had suddenly transformed into someone else entirely.

…Into a horror that could hardly be described.

A white-haired, wrinkled man in a maid outfit.

The shock was both mental and physical (cornea).

Todina struggled to keep her sanity intact, feeling like she might fly away at any moment.

But the old man, too, was in a bind.

The black magician Gusra.

He had spent years planning for this, and months executing it.

All for the sake of perfection.

And the results were indeed perfect.

“What the hell happened!!!”

That was before Ricir handed Todina the lucky coin.

Gusra, managing to regain his composure, quickly escaped from the carriage.

Being surrounded in this cramped space was dangerous!

“Ah.”

As Gusra vanished, Todina collapsed, complaining of dizziness.

“Please take care of Todina.”

A harsh voice, yet filled with intense emotion.

Dares drew out a staff tipped with a red gemstone and followed Gusra.

“Eltny!”

“Yes, Topin!”

Topin handed Todina over to his assistant Eltny and followed the others.

“Let’s go, too.”

Next came Ricir’s party.

Those who had been gravely harmed rushed to pursue the aberrant.

A spear of fire surged through the air, striking Gusra.

“Grrk—”

Caught off guard by the sudden magic dispel, Gusra struggled to pull out his mana.

The black curtain around him absorbed the fire spear.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The fire spear flared up and repeatedly extinguished itself upon contact with the curtain.

The surrounding air grew hot enough to cause mirages.

That sequence of actions only settled after that point.

“Why…!”

Dares finally spoke after pouring out half his strength.

“Why did you approach Todina? Why did it have to be Todina?!”

“…”

Blood flowed from Gusra’s nose and mouth.

He had suffered injuries from Dares’s attack while in an unstable state due to the magic dispel.

Continued magical torrents tore through the old black magician’s insides.

“Dares, allow me a moment.”

Topin came to heal Dares.

No one stood next to Gusra.

Still, Gusra wore a smile filled with aged confidence.

“It didn’t have to be Todina. She simply happened to come into my grasp when I reached for the opportunity. If you’re to blame anyone, why not blame your lover’s weakness and foolishness?”

“You bastard!!!”

With Dares’s volatile mana surging again, flames enveloped his body.

“Dares!”

Topin shouted in shock.

The uncontrolled flames roared like they would burn everything to ash.

Dares’s skin began to dry rapidly.

“Damn…!”

While Gusra appeared to be overwhelmed on the surface, he quietly laughed at Dares.

‘Duraegra was, after all, still just a child.’

To lose control so easily.

The black eyes of the old black magician glimmered like a snake with its prey in sight.

Duraeg Dares.

He is a genius that will surpass even me in the future.

But for now?

He is far too inexperienced.

Gusra had already begun to regard Dares not as an enemy, but as prey.

Thus, the one he truly needed to guard against was elsewhere.

“…”

Gusra’s gaze shifted from Ricir’s group in the distance to the carriage.

‘That lucky coin…’

That was the very thing Gusra was most wary of right now.

‘The bastard… ever since those bastards got closer to the carriage, my power has begun to waver.’

‘And the moment that lucky coin touched Todina—my power, which had been invading her, was repelled.’

‘That’s it. I need to destroy that!’

‘Before that foolish bastard realizes the value and power contained in the coin!’

As a result, Gusra felt a simultaneous sense of relaxation and anxiety.

The best scenario he envisioned was to have the young magician before him lose control of his emotions and drive himself to self-destruction.

A talented magician.

An experienced healer.

And a damned coin.

Time was on their side.

If they delayed, they would suffer immense losses.

“Dares. Why have you stopped?”

“…”

“Is it enough now? Is the revenge for your lover, who was toyed with by me, enough for you?”

Gusra covered his face with his palm.

His skin wriggled, returning to the appearance of the maid girl.

“Over the past few months, I’ve spent a long time with Todina, Dares. Don’t you want to know what happened when Todina and I were alone together?”

Hee hee hee hee hee.

On that face, an ugly smile that a maid girl couldn’t produce was drawn.

“…You bastard!!!”

Whoosh!

A roaring blaze engulfed Dares.

“Dares, calm down! He’s just provoking you!”

“How—how can you say that? How can I calm down right now!?”

“Because you must! Your state is too unstable! You could go beyond magical torrents and experience mana overload!”

“I don’t care!!! If I can just burn that filthy bastard to ashes!!!”

“Damn!”

A searing heat penetrated.

Topin quickly distanced himself from Dares.

‘What a disaster!’

The only fighting force they had, Dares, was about to self-destruct from the black magician’s provocation.

Topin felt his mind blur at the worst-case scenario unfolding before his eyes.

This was a classic moment where the fiery temperament of those who wielded flames acted as poison.

“Damn it—snap out of it, Dares!!!”

The mid-level healer Topin did his utmost to calm Dares.

Topin’s mana, imbued with healing power, gently embraced Dares—but—

It was suddenly scattered by the fierce energy that had swallowed his body.

“Get out of the way.”

At that moment, a haughty gesture and voice pushed Topin aside.

A pure white girl approached Dares.

“It’s dangerous to get close right now!”

The ends of the girl’s robe were singed by the heat generated from the flames. She ignored it and reached out toward Dares.

The mercy of the original ones enveloped him.

“…!”

Dares’s pupils dilated.

His body rapidly relaxed as well, along with his spirit.

Thud.

Dares collapsed to the ground, supported by his staff.

The fiery energy that had once been consuming his body was now perfectly stabilized.

“How…?”

Topin was astonished.

The girl’s power was something even the mid-level healer Topin could hardly comprehend.

To her, it seemed trivial.

The girl, who had perfunctorily achieved a tremendous feat, casually turned back to return to her place.

Pamon returned to Ricir’s side, snorting lightly at him.

With a pompous yet elegant smile, she said, “How about it? You couldn’t do something like this, could you?”

Hmph—

Ricir made a gesture with his thumb that was hard to interpret.

“Indeed, Pamon. Our party’s treasure. Now she’s not just avoiding hurting people, she’s actively saving them!”

“…Are you mocking me?”

“Of course not! It’s just a misunderstanding that arises when I try to explain your greatness with my limited vocabulary. Is there a word or expression you’d like me to borrow?”

“Forget it. Just shut up.”

“You’re wonderful. I love you. Hug me.”

Pamon averted her gaze in disgust, but her expression also seemed to quiver in a way that suggested she didn’t completely dislike it.

“…”

Gusra stared blankly at the two of them.

Having a perfect plan come to a screeching halt was shocking enough—

The manner of that halt was even more astonishing.

“Topin…”

“Dares! Are you alright!?”

“Ah… I don’t know what’s happening, but my head feels clearer… I’ve caused you trouble…”

“What nonsense is this!!!”

Gusra couldn’t contain his outburst.

Again.

Once again, things were going smoothly, but their intervention had thrown everything into disarray.

“These damn bugs—”

The old black magician finally lost his composure.

Blood poured from every hole in his face.

Even in an unstable state due to the magic dispel, he had drained all his mana.

“…!”

And they would pay the price for forcing out the black magician’s full power.

Gusra abandoned his principle of minimizing losses and achieving his goals.

“I’ll kill you all. Bugs.”

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Watching the whole scene from a distance, Pamon spoke.

“Shall we go?”

“Go?”

“Then what? Are we going to jump in there?”

Pamon glanced at Gusra, then shook her head in disgust.

There was no reason for Pamon to risk herself fighting a black magician with such a vile power.

Ricir felt the same way.

“We’ve done enough. No, we’ve done more than enough. If we took the chance to hijack the carriage, they won’t have a say in it, right? Aren’t I right, Rona?”

“Uh. Uh!? Uh… I think you’re right. I think we should just go for now.”

Rona, who had been vocal about her masculinity till just last moment, spoke with a subdued tone.

“You… have criminal tendencies, don’t you? Our way of thinking is completely different…”

“Not the time to say that!”

“…Just kidding—I understand what Pamon is trying to say.”

They had already provided sufficient help.

There was no reason to assist them while suffering damage.

Ricir was also understanding this rationally.

But why was that?

Knowing this, why couldn’t he let them go?

Devotion and sacrifice?

Was it due to his unusually heroic nature?

No. It was different.

‘Is there really anything worth losing for…?’

Ricir’s instincts, born from his own power, warned him.

There was no reason to avoid that black magician.

As if there were no reason to avoid stepping over an ant.

“Ha.”

Pamon sighed at the sight of Ricir.

“I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking your power can somehow make it all work out—some vague thought like that, right? Let me ask, is that different from—what we’re dealing with here?”

This?

Rona’s expression twisted in humiliation.

However, she had no retort, so she sadly sulked.

“Pamon. No matter how you put it, Rona wasn’t that ugly.”

“I… don’t think I said that… No, more importantly, was I ugly…?”

“What to do with this man? Could you at least show a little seriousness?”

Pamon said so, but deep down she understood Ricir’s response.

Like Ricir, the presence of the black magician felt trivial.

It’s hard to admit, but that was only thanks to the man named Ricir being right next to her.

While she couldn’t define it exactly—

She couldn’t imagine this man experiencing humiliation concerning ‘that kind of power.’

Just by looking at the events that had transpired a moment ago.

‘What was that?’

To think a black magician with that level of power could be dispelled by a single ‘coin.’

Now, Pamon felt neither fear nor awe of Ricir’s power.

She just felt bemusement.

“So, what is it you want to do?”

Pamon asked Ricir, who was still deep in thought.

“For now, I know you’re worried about me. I must say, I was somewhat touched.”

“I—was never worried!?”

“So let’s do this.”

“Just so you know! I’m not helping, so don’t count on that.”

“Neither am I planning to involve you, Pamon. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

The corners of Pamon’s tightly shut lips twitched.

“I’m not going to help, but if you desperately plead with me…”

Mumbling.

Ricir, with his head down, couldn’t hear Pamon’s murmuring as he walked towards the carriage.

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“Uwaahahahaha!!!”

A strange sound, halfway between a scream and laughter, erupted from Gusra.

“Indeed, Duraegra!! So hot! So hot! Yet!”

The flames engulfing the old man dwindled.

The melted skin of the old man regenerated anew.

Smooth and soft skin. Gusra, now back in the form of the maid girl, Damin, spoke.

“Still too inexperienced. I said it too! If I were to burn this old man alive, it would be a grave miscalculation!”

Grrk—

Dares and Topin took ragged breaths.

“Dares. Are you alright?”

“To be honest—I’m nearing my limit.”

“Damn—”

They were aware that the black magician’s level was extraordinary.

However, who would have thought it would be at the 6th level while they were at the 5th level’s later stage?

With the battle dragging on, the colors of defeat weighed heavily on them, and they were conclusively aware of that fact.

Tch.

Gusra licked his lips, looking at Dares.

“How unfortunate! Truly unfortunate! That quality vessel must be shattered by my own hands!”

“Damin… What did you do to Todina’s maid?”

“Dares, at this stage, are you still worrying about that insignificant girl? What a pity. Rest assured about her. She’s become my precious doll, dutifully performing other tasks. And just to let you in on things, your fiancée, Todina, will undergo the same procedure. Both her body and her mind will be consumed by my power, leaving but a mere shell.”

“…”

“Now, let’s wrap this up. It would be too dangerous if that dreadful item continued to touch my Todina.”

“How dare you speak in such filthy terms—”

“Chuckle. Come, young magician. You must reclaim your lover!”

Once more, the black magician drew upon his strength.

And reluctantly, the magician and the healer squeezed out their final powers.

As the final confrontation was about to commence—

“Dares!”

Their gazes turned toward the carriage.

While they had been engaged in battle, Ricir received the coin he had handed to Todina previously and infused it with his own energy.

…Instantly learning the specialized act named enchant.

“…!”

Gusra shuddered at the sight of the coin grasped in Ricir’s hand.

‘It’s certain! That’s a sacred artifact!!!’

The wicked power contained within Gusra recoiled intensely against the energy contained within the coin.

Destroy that thing!

“This is yours! It might help you!”

The coin slipped from Ricir’s hand.

“Where do you think you’re going!!!”

At that moment.

Gusra’s arm bubbled and swelled, extending endlessly.

He reached out to snatch the coin from the air.

Then, an explosion erupted from his hand.

The clash between the power contained within the coin, and Gusra’s own, generated a shockwave that swept the surroundings.

All of that occurred in a mere instant.

“Guaahh—Guaahh—Guaahh—”

Gusra’s elongated arm.

Half of Gusra’s face.

They were melting away like mud.

Yet Gusra still wore a victorious smile.

“It seems like your damned luck has run out here.”

The destruction of the sacred artifact brought Gusra immense fatigue.

The exhaustion accumulated from battling Dares until now was nothing in comparison.

But it’s fine.

Nothing would hinder him now.

Realizing the surrounding situation a beat late, despair flickered across Dares’s and Topin’s faces.

Seeing their reactions brought an inner satisfaction to Gusra, but he couldn’t savor it for long.

He was starting to reach his limit.

“Damn pests.”

The black magician muttered grimly and moved forward.

“Wait—!”

But once again, the voice of the bastard interjected.

“I have one more! Please take this!”

“?”

It sounded just like a person pulling out a normal coin from their pocket.

Gusra doubted his ears, and his expression soon turned to one of despair.

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