Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 36

The apprentice sat blankly on the bench.

It was because the research materials submitted to the Mage Tower for the semester’s成果 were not just on hold but completely rejected.

“Scholarship completely excluded… Promotion on hold… Application for a personal laboratory on hold…”

All sorts of horrendous thoughts crowded the alchemist’s mind.

“I’ve seen your research materials.”

“…What?”

It was then that a figure approached and suddenly spoke.

“Hostile understanding of black magic from an alchemical perspective. Quite interesting. Challenging. And yet it got rejected.”

“…”

“The Mage Tower is more progressive than any group, but at the same time, it is the most conservative. You must never touch the lines they have drawn.”

“…Master, what do you need from me?”

She was none other than the Master of the Gray Mage Tower, an existence far above the apprentice.

An evaluator and judge of apprentices.

Even though the Master showed personal interest in the apprentice, the apprentice remained curt in response.

From the atmosphere, it seemed she intended to make various suggestions under the guise of advice, but in the current situation, it would only serve to salt a painful wound.

“I felt a sense of kinship.”

“…Kinship?”

How on earth can you and I be the same? The apprentice desperately tried to hide her discomfort.

“I wanted to pass your research. But, the other Masters were vehemently opposed. They said that leaving behind a bad example would poison the Mage Tower. They said it would have a negative impact on other scholars.”

“…So, what do you want to say? Are you here to personally tell me how my research was dismissed by the respected Masters?”

“I told you. I felt a sense of kinship. In fact, I went through the same thing as you.”

The apprentice scoffed to herself. The idea that she went through the same thing was absurdly self-important and ridiculous.

What could she possibly know?

Unbeknownst to the Master, who continued her speech, she was only further pushing her own narrative.

“It was something I didn’t realize at the time but found out later. When I underwent the entrance exam, the same conversations happened even on the top floor of the Mage Tower. There were opposing voices arguing that leaving behind a bad example would have a long-term negative impact on the Mage Tower.”

“…But you’re here now.”

“That’s right. It’s not written in the records, but someone present there raised their voice for me.”

“So, basically, it was thanks to that person that you could be affiliated with the Mage Tower. Who was it?”

“I wanted to know that too. But I never figured it out. The Mage Tower accepted me, but they didn’t fully acknowledge me. They didn’t record the meetings where discussions about me took place, making it easy for them to bury it at any time.”

The apprentice lifted her lowered head. And looked up at the Master.

The Master nodded and continued her tale.

“It’s still the same now. Formally, I am a Master of the Mage Tower, but I am not recorded on the Mage Tower’s list. Yet, as you say, I am here. People do not acknowledge me, but they cannot deny me either. All of this is because I had an opportunity. An opportunity to prove myself. And that opportunity was because—”

“Because of someone who raised their voice for you.”

“That’s right.”

The Master extended her hand to the apprentice.

“I want to give that opportunity to someone else as well.”

“…”

The apprentice once again looked down. In a place where the Master couldn’t see, she revealed her emotions.

It was the vile smirk of a hunter who had discovered an opportunity.

Apprentice Tulan.

She composed her expression, and the vile hunter immediately transformed into a reformed apprentice.

Tulan held the Master’s outstretched hand and said.

“I won’t let you down, Master Didoa.”

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A hostile understanding of black magic from an alchemical perspective.

It was clear why the Mage Tower rejected Tulan’s research. There was no assurance that her research would remain within the bounds of ‘orthodoxy.’

Those who wielded unclean powers had not always been placed above others from the beginning.

Even those who walked the path of righteousness could easily veer off course and lose themselves.

The Mage Tower’s judgment was reasonable—

If one were to discern right from wrong, the one who made the erroneous judgment would be Didoa.

Didoa knew that as well.

She recognized that her judgment was not rational.

Nonetheless, the reason for her irrational judgment was simply that her emotions had taken precedence.

Didoa had lived her entire life oppressed as a half-demon.

If there was one significant event in her life, it was undoubtedly passing the entrance exam.

That single recognition transformed her, merely a half-demon, into a Master of the Mage Tower.

Had it not been for that, she would have ended up making drugs in the outskirts of the city.

Didoa had never forgotten that fact. That is why she had always yearned for it.

Hoping that she too might become someone who could provide others with such an opportunity.

Thus, Didoa vowed.

No matter what happens, she would believe in Tulan.

“You foolish girl. How dare a half-demon pity me? Fine. Go ahead and pity me to your heart’s content.”

Thus, the opportunity Didoa provided became an invaluable chance for Tulan.

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Having been persecuted as a half-demon all her life, Didoa was clumsy in dealing with people.

“Didoa—Ah! I’m sorry. You feel so friendly… What? When it’s just the two of us, I can call you that? I’m so happy!”

Tulan seized the chance to exploit the emotional gaps Didoa showed towards her.

“As your professor… I’ll do my best!”

Didoa granted Tulan authority beyond that of a mere assistant, and Tulan fully took advantage of it.

She interacted with the people of the Mage Tower under Didoa’s name.

She freely used research materials of the Mage Tower under Didoa’s name.

She conducted research under Didoa’s name.

She filled Didoa’s surroundings with her own traces.

“Tulan? It feels like my chair has been moved?”

“Ah! You’re right! I did move it!”

“Why?”

“I sat in it, and it was so uncomfortable! You know it’s all for you, right?”

“…Right.”

At some point, Didoa realized that there were more of Tulan’s belongings in her own laboratory than her own.

“How can you do this to me?”

“Tulan—”

“Enough! If you don’t allow this, I will quit as your assistant.”

“…This is really the last time.”

“Really!? Thank you, Didoa! You’re the only one for me!”

Didoa, who had struggled with interacting with people, grew through her relationship with Tulan and realized something.

That she had allowed too much under the name of understanding.

To Tulan, she was neither an understanding figure nor a friend—just a target of exploitation.

Didoa later tried to rectify this.

But by the time she recognized the problem, it was already too late.

“Didoa. What is that habit of talking to Master Tulan?”

When Didoa tried to speak for the sake of conversation, that was the reaction that came back from the apprentices around Tulan.

“…Apprentice, what are you talking about? Master Tulan? Tulan, can you explain?”

“How dare that dirty half-demon!”

One of the apprentices pushed Didoa. Didoa, too startled to react properly, was pushed down.

Tulan looked down at Didoa with a cold gaze and said.

“Didoa. I clearly told you to exercise restraint when others are around.”

“…Tulan?”

“I must have been too lenient with you. Didoa, you are under a one-week discipline order. Use this time to reflect on yourself.”

The ‘Parasite of Oblivion’, a power given to the Demon Followers by the demon.

It had now completely come into effect under the right conditions.

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▶ Destiny 44: Parasite

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[Title: Wow, the story of the Parasite Destiny is actually wild]

Content: Parasite of Oblivion < Isn’t this one ridiculously OP?



Isn’t it like a hypnosis app effect on a massive scale?



If you can’t conquer the world with this, then honestly, you’re hopeless?



-: I tried learning it too, but no.



-: You’ll realize when you actually use it, but the conditions are crazy strict, so you can’t just use it.



-: It might only work on low-level mobs under level 10.



- [Writer]:? So, what about Didoa?



- [Writer]: She’s level 45.



-: That’s not a lie, and Didoa got caught.



-: Lmao, Didoa is such a loser ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ



-: She gave everything to Tulan as a friend, so the effect of the Parasite of Oblivion triggered, right?



- [Writer]: So, what exactly is the requirement?



-: Equip items that you have ownership over +



Increase the affinity with every character that is activated alongside the target to achieve a higher affinity.



- [Writer]: No, lol, let’s say the first condition is okay, but how does the second one even work?



-: Tulan is an individual, right? Didoa is a total loser.



-: Think of it like the coolest social butterfly at school stealing friends from the biggest loser at school.



- [Writer]: Ah.



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[Title: So, what exactly is Didoa < What is she doing?]



Content: What is she doing without killing Tulan?



-: Tulan is gaslighting her, yeah.



If she dies, it’s said it can never revert to the way it was.



-: What kind of gaslighting? That’s like mental magic level.



-: Didoa has an incredibly low resistance to mental magic (acting friendly), you know.



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[Title: So how on earth do you break the Parasite Destiny? LOL]



Content: Is it just killing Tulan?



-: Just return the favor Tulan did to Didoa.



- [Writer]:?



- [Writer]: So fill Tulan's laboratory with Didoa's stuff and make the other students love Didoa, the pitiful half-demon instead of the top social butterfly?



-: Yeah.



- [Writer]: Is that even possible?



-: If you do extremely tedious work, sure, but...



-: Usually, it’s just too damn tedious!!! It's better to wait for the sub-quest to pop up.



- [Writer]: What is a sub-quest?



-: Capturing Didoa and making her stand trial in the Mage Tower after a shooting spree.



-: Honestly, it’s truly heartbreaking looking at Didoa’s psychological depiction in the aftermath of that.



-: They believed killing Master Tulan would solve everything, but there was no way out, and “Apprentice” Didoa ended killing “Master” Tulan ㅋㅋㅋ



-: After that, she goes crazy and starts killing other apprentices while escaping from the Mage Tower, for real; they make her return to the Mage Tower for a trial.



- [Writer]: Uh, that sounds a bit...



- [Writer]: Wait, if that happens, won’t she not be able to clear the ‘all destiny’ achievement?



-: Bondales has plenty of destinies that are hard to clear anyway, LOL.



-: For real! The Necromancer teaming up with the Master Assassin? What kind of nonsense is that?



-: Two regional boss-level monsters appearing simultaneously? Legendary, legendary! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ



-: It’s better for your mental health to just skip clearing everything in Bondales, yeah.



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“Ricir.”



Ahem. Meltas, with his signature cough, patted the seat right next to him.



Ricir, come here and sit.



Ricir’s brows furrowed. Clearly, a physical disgust was showing on his face.



“...”



Meltas started a secret conversation with a hurt expression, lowering his voice as Ricir sat beside him.



“Ricir. How about reconsidering?”



“What do you mean?”



“I'm talking about entrusting the elixir to Didoa.”



“Is there a problem with that?”



“...”



Meltas mumbled. He had so much to say but didn’t know how to articulate it.



The public perception of half-demons wasn't good.



They are born with a relatively sensitive mana sensitivity and display a fanatic obsession with mana!



Half-demons would eat their own parents if it meant obtaining more of their own mana!



That was the perception and prejudice against half-demons. Most people were not free from such prejudice. Meltas was no exception.



In fact, Meltas had heard some unfortunate stories regarding this matter.



He had heard that Didoa would secretly smuggle various research materials from the Alchemy department. Furthermore, it was said that if it weren’t for Tulan, Didoa’s supervising Master, she would have been apprehended long ago.



Meltas knew it too. How foolish it is to evaluate someone solely based on prejudice and rumor. But as a human, he couldn’t entirely free himself from those two things.



They say three people can create a tiger. With numerous Masters and scholars making disparaging remarks about Didoa in front of him, Meltas struggled to maintain neutrality.



“I think I’ve inaccurately conveyed something previously. When I said that a skilled alchemist is good, I meant it in terms of Tulan.”



“I think it would be better to seek help from other Masters—”



Meltas stopped and turned his gaze, just like Ricir’s, towards the figure of Didoa, who was openly eavesdropping on their conversation, trying to amplify the sound around her with her palm over her ear.



Her clumsy appearance could be better described as a poor attempt at eavesdropping.



"Didoa. What are you doing?"



“I’m just curious about what you two are discussing.”



Thanks to her still expressionless face and tone, her absurd behavior invited various interpretations.



“...”



Meltas felt embarrassed, thinking that Didoa’s invasive conduct mocked his own.



It felt like he had been caught badmouthing her without her knowledge.



"My elixir is indeed of the highest quality. So, wouldn't it be better to consume it under optimal conditions?”



At that, Ricir felt Didoa’s actions were a playful complaint.



Let me join in too.



It felt as if he could hear Didoa say that in her characteristic emotionless tone and expression.



“How high-quality is it? It piques my curiosity. If possible, could I see it?”



“Here it is.”



Ah, uh.



For a brief moment, Meltas was astonished by Ricir innocently handing the elixir over to Didoa. After a moment's thought, he decided to respect Ricir's judgment.



After all, wouldn’t anyone act in front of 'Master Tulan', the assistant of that Master?



“Let’s see.”



Didoa took the elixir, albeit standing with her back crossed behind her, leaning forward, and adjusted her head's position to observe the elixir held in Ricir’s hand.



“What a peculiar way to observe. Is that also part of alchemical technique?”



“No. I thought if my hands touched this precious elixir, you might feel uncomfortable.”



“?”



Ricir suddenly felt the reciprocal feeling of hardship.



So this is how it feels when I make a bastard joke?



Ricir didn't pressure the reticent Didoa with more insistence. Instead, he helped facilitate her observation of the elixir by shifting it around.



“Ooh.”



After a moment of observation, Didoa let out a small exclamation.



Her expression and tone had remained unchanged, but it was her way of showing surprise.



"This is a piece from the Ghosralta alchemists. Indeed, it’s an incredibly high-quality item."



"Ghosralta...? How can you tell at first glance?"



Ricir, just like Didoa, inspected the elixir from various angles, but to his eyes, it looked like a transparent liquid in a plain bottle with no distinguishing features.



"Rub the bottle's opening carefully. You'll feel a subtle relief."



"...Oh, indeed—"



"Gedratsa."



"Gedratsa?"



"Gedratsa is a vision technique where Ghosralta shamans treat the container that holds the solution as part of the alchemical process."



“Oh…”



“The simpler way to explain it is that the contents and the bottle itself together form a single elixir.”



"Is that a good thing?"



"Gedratsa is one of the highest-quality methods of preparing reagents currently known. Even with identical materials, using Gedratsa for elixir production can elevate its efficacy by a level."



"The shamans’ technique, you mean?"



Meltas questioned, an expression of bewilderment on his face. Didoa returned her upper body to an upright position and continued.



"Conversely, it’s the shamans’ technique that's to blame."



"Explain further."



"Black magic, necromancy, spirit magic, and magic. To shamans, they're all just forms of sorcery. In fact, aside from those mages who strive to uphold orthodoxy, everyone falls into this category. They have blurred boundaries when handling power, and thus, they don’t hesitate to dabble in other forces.”



Didoa gestured towards the elixir.



"Gedratsa is an alchemy reinterpreted through sorcery, augmented with the principles of black magic. It’s a technique that minimizes the unavoidable loss of components arising from the production process by substituting it with the creator's vitality."



"...!"



The identity of my beloved elixir?



Ricir checked the elixir in surprise.



Didoa continued her explanation.



"Therefore, even though elixirs made using Gedratsa are highly effective, they struggle to gain full recognition due to their inherent value. Because they contain the power of black magic, improper consumption might lead to mana alteration."



“Is my elixir fine?”



Ricir asked with a worried expression.



"I was just about to get to that—In that respect, your elixir can be deemed the finest of the finest.”



“Eh?”



"The chronic flaw of Gedratsa, the essence of black magic, is absent from your elixir."



At that moment, Ricir also began to ponder.



Huh? If it contained the essence of black magic, I should have sensed it long ago?



“Perhaps it was produced through some additional process that removed the essence of black magic—I’m amazed. That’s possible? And you even took action to realize it.”



Ricir suddenly reminisced about the first time he received the elixir from Master Pamon.



Now that he thought about it, there might have been a slight prickling sensation in his hand at that time—



"Had it gone awry, not only would the power within the elixir have altered, but that distorted power would have flowed into the body, causing a chaotic mana disturbance. Only a lunatic obsessed with alchemy would attempt such a feat. As a fellow alchemist, I feel a sense of awe. Do you know anything about this alchemist? If possible, I would like to meet and exchange knowledge."



"Maybe I was that person."



Didoa thought for a moment and finally added a hint of a smile at one corner of her lip.



"This is fun. I don’t quite get jokes, but I like yours."



Though she seemed to have a disdainful demeanor, Didoa was genuinely pleased.



It wasn’t that she found Ricir’s joke amusing, but rather she enjoyed the fact that he was joking with her.



So, instead of arguing back, Ricir said to Didoa.



"You seem to be very knowledgeable in this field. Therefore, I’m asking this: Didoa, could you assist me in analyzing the elixir?"



"What you mean is for me to analyze the components of the elixir and provide my insights, right?"



"That’s correct."



"Are you sure about this?"



Ricir looked around the vicinity.



The interior of Tulan the alchemist's laboratory.



The traces of some kind of presence lingering throughout every corner of the room.



He nodded.



Ricir's resolve solidified even more.



Rather than asking Tulan, it would be better to ask the Didoa right in front of him.



"Yes, please."



"Shouldn’t you ask Master Meltas' opinion?"



"If I were to express my opinion honestly, I must admit I’m quite shocked. Didoa, I never expected your understanding to be this profound. I can’t fathom why Master Tulan spoke so negatively of you."



"That Master Tulan seems to be rather strange."



"Hey, what do you mean by that, Ricir?"



"..."



Didoa, who had maintained her expressionless demeanor throughout, faltered slightly.



"Ricir..."



Just as she was about to carefully open her mouth, someone opened the door to the laboratory.



It was Master Tulan and her followers, the apprentices.



"Didoa. You’re letting guests in without my permission—... Master Meltas!"



Tulan, who had intended to sternly reprimand Didoa, was interrupted when she noticed Meltas and sweetened her smile.



"To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence without any notice?"



"Ah, it’s actually because I was hoping to ask you for assistance in consuming the elixir. By the way, didn't you mention you’d return around sunset today?"



"Me?!"



"Didoa said that."



"..."



Tulan’s expression clearly showed her discomfort.



That was enough.



Meltas and the apprentices directed hostile looks at Didoa.



Ahem.



Meltas said.



"Actually, I was about to ask Didoa to help with the elixir consumption in place of you, who is currently absent."



"So you're saying Didoa lies about being late... Didoa, what did you say?"



"First, she did convey a positive willingness to help."



"Didoa..."



Tulan still maintained a friendly smile.



Her actions only served to intensify the sharp gazes directed at Didoa.



"That half-demon again burdens Master Tulan..."



One of the apprentices muttered.



Didoa felt anxious.



The first action she took was to gauge Ricir’s reaction.



"…"



Did he feel resentment towards her, as intended by Tulan's remark?



His previously friendly expression had stiffened.



"Ah."



It felt like the last remaining support had crumbled beneath her. Didoa lowered her head.



For a moment, she felt a fleeting escape from this horrific nightmare.



Yet, the man who had briefly helped her now sought to be part of her nightmare.



The anxiety she had momentarily forgotten through her meeting with Ricir had materialized once again.



'I won't escape this nightmare.'



The emotionless gaze of Didoa dimmed further, the slight light within fading away.



Just as she was about to murmur some sort of spell—



"Master Meltas?"



Ricir leaned in and whispered something in Meltas' ear.



"...!"



Then, Meltas gasped in shock and turned to Ricir.



"Is that true?"



"Yes. I can swear it with my power."



"... Understood."



After that, they held another round of discussion, and abruptly, the atmosphere in the place shifted.