Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 33

“Balaka?”

Glia’s pitiful voice sought the necromancer who had manifested through her body. There was no response from the necromancer. Glia felt the connection linking her to Balaka completely severed.

The deceased had returned to where she belonged, the spirit world. Abandoning all efforts made to return to this world since her death. Perhaps even risking never coming back again.

“Why?”

In an irreverent manner, the two characters popped into Glia’s mind.

Run.

In an instant, Glia’s body crumbled weakly. Salana approached and struck the back of her neck.

Thus, the shaman’s scheme, carrying the necromancer on her back, concluded in a minor commotion.

“Salana, excuse me for a moment.”

Ricir moved without delay.

He approached Salana and placed his hand on her scar.

“Ah…”

Salana unconsciously placed her hand over Ricir’s. How could she express the feeling of the moment? It was like the filth clinging to her body was being washed away.

Ricir removed his hand. Salana immediately took out a mirror to check her appearance.

Healed. No other words were necessary. Salana’s skin had regained its original color. Scars and wounds remained, but they were things that could be easily healed with just a fraction of the effort she had put in so far.

Salana spent some time admiring her reflection, gently caressing her restored skin.

Ricir smiled contentedly at the sight of Salana.

At this point, it was undoubtedly a great success in achieving the original objective of “making a good impression on the high-ranking adventurer.”

Ricir had high expectations riding on this matter.

‘It suddenly occurs to me that being a bastard does nothing for me.’

This was a painfully felt realization from the recent events.

Despite being acknowledged for his abilities and invited, he was often belittled because of his bastard status.

If it weren’t for the complete support of high-ranking adventurer Salana, he wouldn’t have been able to say or do anything. Furthermore, without the name of the high noble Durayeg, the power of normalcy wouldn’t have been accepted.

‘On the contrary, what if I wasn’t a bastard but a high nobility?’

There was no need for deep thought. The moment he introduced himself to Salana stating he had such and such abilities, everything would have been resolved in a heartbeat. Salana would have pursued him, Meltas would have been wary, and Glia would have been in a panic.

Thus, Ricir arrived at one conclusion.

‘Should I aim for a rise in status?’

He had thought that escaping his bastard life would free him from the constraints of status, but it turned out to be the opposite.

An essential element for the happy life Ricir envisioned had been added.

Money. And Status.

In that regard, this encounter with Salana was very significant.

With the connection of a high-ranking adventurer, establishing himself in Bondales and laying the foundation for a rise in status would be much easier.

As Ricir was organizing his thoughts, Salana, who had also gathered her thoughts, spoke up.

“Ricir. Let me formally introduce myself again. I am the Master of the Black Hand, the Black Snake. The phrase ‘Master of the Assassin Guild’ might resonate more with you.”

“?”

What the?

Ricir was taken aback.

When she said she would formally introduce herself, he thought perhaps she would provide him a full course experience of Vendales as a high-ranking adventurer. But what? Master of the Assassin Guild?

‘If I had to be exact, I’m dealing with someone who is orders of magnitude greater than a high-ranking adventurer… but… but… huff…’

Ricir’s gaze trembled uncontrollably.

Salana found Ricir’s reaction cute and burst into her signature cheerful laughter.

“I owe you a huge debt. I thought about how to repay it, and this was the only thing that came to mind.”

Swish.

Salana presented Ricir with a piece of parchment she had pulled from her robe.

“If you ever have someone you want to kill, write their name on here. I’ll make sure to fulfill your wish, even if it means breaking the code.”

“?”

Ricir was dumbfounded.

‘What is this, a death note?!’

It was a reward that was entirely different from what he had expected.

‘If I had to compare, it’s an extremely significant compensation, far surpassing a networking opportunity with high-ranking adventurers… but… but… huff…’

Seeing Ricir’s shocked expression, Salana handed the horrifying object to him.

Put it in.


Put it in.

Ricir was horrified watching Salana casually hand over such a sinister item as if it was just a trinket.

That was when Meltas’s voice came from behind.

“Is it acceptable for one who calls themselves a master to be so secular?”

He seemed more bewildered than when he had encountered the necromancer who returned from death.

Assassins were isolated entities. They committed murder solely for the beliefs they held and isolated themselves completely from the outside world.

Contrary to being perceived as a figure of terror, they lived lives far closer to that of monks.

But to act as a high-ranking adventurer in the secular world and hand out a hit list? Especially someone of the caliber of a guild master?

“Blind faith is a noble thing.”

His humble nodding seemed to suggest, “I’m not noble, so I’ll do as I please.”

Meltas thought Salana was the kind of assassin who should rightfully be feared.

“Meltas, just to ask, are you planning to take anything from what happened today out into the world? Even a little?”

Salana spoke as the cheerful high-ranking adventurer he remembered. But her eyes, sucking in the surrounding light, sent a chill down Meltas’s spine.

Without a doubt, she was a level 6 mage, one whom even Meltas, an elite of the Gray Mage Tower, would not casually confront.

“Perhaps I’m getting old. My memory seems hazy… I can hardly remember why I came here.”

“Ha ha, to say one should die when they age. There’s no need to be so self-deprecating.”

“…It seems my memory is indeed getting hazy. When did I say such a thing?”

Salana threw Glia’s unconscious body over her shoulder.

Then she approached Ricir and lightly tapped his face affectionately.

“Did you know? Thanks to you, I’ve lost my excuse to roam about outside.”

“Uh… Have I done something unnecessary?”

“Ha ha! But I’ll let it slide. To be honest, I was getting a bit tired of it too. By the way—”

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Salana began to stroke Ricir’s face with her palm.

“You. Your skin is really nice?”

“Is that so?”

“Yep. I’d even say I’d like to swap my skin with yours if possible.”

“…It’s a bit scary to hear that right after revealing you’re an assassin.”

“Ha ha! What do you think an assassin is?”

Salana raised Ricir’s hand to her disfigured right cheek.

“Lastly. Could you do that just once more?”

She wasn’t asking him to use the power of normalcy—

Ricir carefully rubbed her cheek.

“…”

Salana closed her eyes and surrendered her body to his touch.

“Mmm~ This sensation, I feel like I’m getting addicted. Should I take it all away?”

“…My arm?”

“What do you really think I am?”

Salana continued to indulge in Ricir’s touch for quite some time afterward.

Ricir thought for a brief moment that in that moment, she looked just like a big puppy, moving her head to match his hand.

“Alright. That should suffice. Ricir, let’s meet again when the opportunity arises.”

Salana said this and promptly left without turning back.

Ricir stood there in daze and took out the parchment he had kept in his pocket to check it.

“Make sure to remember this. When using that item, exercise utmost caution.”

Meltas spoke, visibly alarmed from the side.

“Are there even any alternatives?”

*Clears throat. Well then, shall we be off?”

Meltas fiddled with his braided beard as he spoke.

“We… you say?”

“Why? Do you have any other business after this?”

Ricir recalled the schedule he had set before meeting Salana.

Originally, he planned to have a meal with Pamon before parting ways and visiting the Adventurer Guild.

Today, the mutual aim with Pamon was to find a job.

*Clears throat*

Meltas continued without waiting for Ricir to respond.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Ricir, I’ve taken an interest in you.”

“…”

Ricir tightened his arms around himself with a serious expression.

Meltas gazed at him with an increasingly grave face.

Ricir relaxed his arms and nodded, then continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.

“May I ask what brings Ser Meltas to a bastard like me?”

“…Ahem. I understand. You must be holding onto the attitude I initially showed you. But this is a matter that would benefit you as well, so I hope you take it positively. What do you think of the Gray Mage Tower?”

The Gray Mage Tower.

Also known as the Gray Tower.

This group, known for its most liberal traits among all the mage towers, was also one of the representative institutions of Bondales.

“Simply put, I would like to recommend you as an apprentice at the Gray Mage Tower. Let me be clear, you must realize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Meltas’s words were indeed correct, and thus, Ricir was taken aback.

“But I have no notable family or school to speak of.”

Very few places, like the mage tower, asked for status and background.

Though Meltas had been greatly upset by the fact that a bastard like Ricir was invited, he was relatively more open-minded than the mages belonging to the tower.

“The minimum requirements to belong to the tower are not about family and schools. The realm of being tier 3. Surely you must meet that condition.”

“As far as I know, just being tier 3 isn’t enough for acceptance into the tower.”

“Is that so obvious? Anyone at your age reaching tier 3 is no small feat. It’s clearly within the realm of ordinary people. And the tower is by no means a place kind to ordinary folk. Yet- I still wish to recommend you to the tower. Do you know why?”

“Perhaps because of the power of normalcy?”

“Exactly! Thank goodness you’re not so foolish as to overlook the specialness of that power.”

As soon as the power of normalcy was mentioned, Meltas’s mood noticeably lifted.

“The power to extinguish all corrupt energy, regardless of type! Good gracious! This is Meltas Dradnov! In my entire life walking the path of magic, I have never heard of such a power!”

Meltas’s trembling hand pointed at Ricir.

“You have the obligation to fully awaken that unique talent as a mage! You understand what I’m saying, right? Anyone who walks the path of magic!”

“…I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to say this in this atmosphere, but— actually, magic is just a means for my livelihood.”

“What?!”

His body froze. It took him a long time to recover from the shock.

“Why would such a unique talent belong to someone like you…!”

Meltas’s braided beard and hair trembled uncontrollably.

“Do you really think I can adapt to the tower?”

“…Ahem. For now, just come by and see it. There’s no need for a hasty decision.”

Ricir was more than willing to agree.

It was certain that having ties with the tower would prove beneficial in various ways.

“Oh, by the way, I need to stop by somewhere before we arrive at the tower. There’s something I need to find there. Is that alright?”

“Go ahead.”

The two left the laboratory, heading toward the heart of the Magic District.

“Here we are.”

As they entered a little further, Meltas pointed out the destination.

It was a magic shop named “Blue Trace.”

“Meltas?”

The moment the two entered the building, a woman recognized Meltas and approached them.

‘Oh…’

Ricir couldn’t help but admire her.

Wearing a wide-brimmed pointed hat and adorned in splendid robes, she looked every bit the part of a mage.

The peculiar thing was that her robe was cut out in the chest area.

Boldly showcasing an overwhelming cleavage.

‘She must have a tremendous sense of pride in being a mage.’

As Ricir was secretly admiring her, the woman looked Ricir up and down.

“What’s this? You’re walking around with such a rookie? Have you finally thought about taking on a disciple?”

“That’s none of your concern, Marina.”

“From your reaction, it seems he’s not a disciple, then. Well, it makes sense, given that an urchin barely at the beginning of tier 4 wouldn’t be your type.”

“What nonsense are you—… Wait, what did you just say?”

Meltas, who had been ignoring her comments with a sullen face, looked at Ricir in shock.

“…!”

His eyes widened in realization.

“Uh.”

Then, Ricir too gradually recognized the changes happening to his own body.

To calm the astonished Meltas, he said, “It’s nothing to worry about. It happens from time to time.”

Just before leaving the laboratory, he had been firmly positioned at tier 3, and now, somehow, he had attained tier 4 status.