Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 38

Actually.

Didoa caught on to her deception before Tulan could take everything away from her.

Tulan’s every act of kindness towards her was a lie, and it became clear that her only interest was in using her status.

Yet, Didoa couldn’t bring herself to cast Tulan aside.

-Didoa, you know you’re all I have, right?

-…

-You’re my only confidant, my most treasured friend. I meet so many people outside, but- the one I respect the most will always be you.

-…Yeah.

For someone who had lived a half-blood life in loneliness, experiencing kindness and goodwill for the first time was overwhelmingly sweet.

Perhaps. This might be Tulan’s way of expressing emotions. Her true feelings could be mixed in here.

It was a false hope Didoa once held.

──────────

Tulan…?

The first person to react to Tulan’s frenzied state was Sophia, a follower of ‘Master Tulan’.

Sophia stared blankly at Tulan, whose face was twisted with rage.

“…!”

Tulan regained her senses upon seeing Sophia.

This was not the time to be expressing anger freely.

‘It’s still reversible!’

Tulan genuinely believed that. If she used her influence wisely, controlling the disoriented people freed from Mental Interference would be a cinch.

Tulan approached Sophia, embodying the beloved ‘Master Tulan’ persona.

“Sophia-”

“Stay away!!!”

Sophia screamed at Tulan.

“What are you planning to do to me…!”

“Sophia…! Calm down, I can explain!!! You’ll believe me, right? You wouldn’t doubt me, would you!?”

Tulan cautiously continued to draw near without stopping.

“Stay away!!!”

Panic-stricken, Sophia swung her arm. The wave of mana she conjured pushed Tulan’s body back.

“Ugh…!”

Tulan’s body was carelessly thrown to the ground. She immediately lifted her head and glared at Sophia.

“Eek…!”

But as Sophia stepped back in fear, her gaze immediately shifted to other followers.

“Maley?”

“Brandon?”

“Horen!?”

These were people who would never leave Tulan’s side, always trying to impress the ‘Master Tulan’.

They were the ones who would openly show joy at receiving her attention.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Now, they visibly expressed their outright rejection of Tulan’s call.

They began to distance themselves, preparing to summon mana at a moment’s notice.

“How could you…!!!”

Tulan squirmed in betrayal.

“Tulan…”

It was Parozan who called Tulan’s name with a muted voice then.

“Master Parozan!”

Tulan lit up as if she had discovered a lifeline from the sky.

Tulan had always looked down on Parozan.

When she treated him kindly to manage her connections, he would shoot her disgraceful glances in return.

How tiring it had been to deal with someone utterly clueless about their proper station.

But in that moment, Parozan’s unpleasant feelings were more welcome than ever.

“Please, just listen to me, Parozan! Something, something is happening! That half-blood girl and the bastard are teaming up to get me—”

Tulan tried to rush to Parozan, acting helpless.

Based on previous experiences, if she acted this way, that foolish man would surely lose his composure.

“…Do not move.”

“Parozan!?”

“I’m saying this for your own good. It would be best if you refrained from any actions from now on. If I see any rebellious movements… I will take action immediately.”

“Don’t do this, Parozan! How could you treat me like this!”

“…”

“Back when you kept inviting me for dinner… what happened then? Parozan…? Parozan! You- you- disgusting human…! You pig-like—”

At that moment, Tulan completely forgot to create her friendly Master Tulan persona.

“You all are the same! You acted all sweet to win my favor—do you think I’ll just let this slide!? I will definitely remember this!!!”

In a fit of rage, she hurled curses at Parozan and her followers.

And yet, her expression bore a strange satisfaction, firmly believing that her statements would strongly pressure them.

But that expression quickly twisted.

Before she knew it, they were looking at Tulan as if she was a hideous bug.

“What the hell…! How dare you look at me with those eyes!? You’re nothing but insignificant apprentices!?”

“And what about you?” Parozan retorted.

“What do you think you are?”

“I am—”

Tulan’s confident response got stuck in her throat.

“I am…”

Only then did she realize.

The pride she once held in her perceived charm and reputation—

None of it amounted to anything without the title of ‘Master.’

Without Didoa, she was nothing.

A memory floated in Tulan’s mind from a certain day.

Her paltry self as she worried about being denied her research materials.

“No! No, no!!! No…”

Now Tulan pleaded with a trembling voice.

“Everyone—please come to your senses…!!! That wicked half-blood girl and the bastard are plotting together!!! How can you trust those two over me? You’ll regret this— you must regret it…!”

Parozan shook his head. Even he, who once admired Tulan, felt any semblance of sympathy for her vanish.

Everyone present looked down at Tulan with cold eyes.

Except for one person.

Except for Didoa.

“Tulan.”

“Didoa… Didoa!!! No, Master Didoa—”

Tulan no longer knew what kind of expression she was wearing.

“I-I’m sorry…!!! I must have lost my mind for a moment!”

“…”

“Please—please forgive me!”

“Tulan. Can I ask you one thing?”

“Yes! Yes! Master Didoa! Anything you like!”

“Have you ever been sincere even once?”

“What? What do you mean—”

“Have you ever truly thought of me as a friend?”

“…Yes! Of course— you’re always my friend, Didoa!”

Tulan desperately tried to create the friendliest smile she could muster.

Yet despite her efforts, what ultimately surfaced was a smile drenched in servility.

At this moment, Didoa realized.

“So that’s how it is.”

Tulan had never once treated her sincerely.

“…”

Didoa felt a pang of embarrassment.

The truth she had tried so hard to deny and ultimately refuse to accept.

A truth she now found herself accepting all too easily.

And also a lack of any emotional reaction within herself.

Why?

At that moment, Didoa felt a gaze coming from across the room.

Ricir. Overlapping Didoa with his past self, he was looking at her with a genuine concern.

“…”

Didoa nodded.

And she understood.

How could she not be surprised by the fact that Tulan had never once shown her sincerity?

How had she managed to not feel any hurt?

Because there was no longer a reason to cling to that.

Now that she understood what genuine goodwill and kindness truly felt like.

Didoa responded to Ricir with an awkward and clumsy smile.

Then she turned back to Tulan with an expression devoid of emotion.

“I get it. Tulan, I will forgive you.”

“…What?”

“What you did to me. It doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

“…”

Hahaha.

Hahahaha!!!!!

Tulan, who had been blankly watching Didoa, lost her sanity.

Then, her expression turned stiff with cold realization.

Before she knew it, a vial was in Tulan’s hand.

She poised to throw it at Didoa right away.

“Didoa! Watch out!”

Meltas and Parozan swiftly erected a mana barrier around Didoa.

Tulan was not flustered.

She seemed to have been waiting for just that, turning her body.

Thus, she faced Ricir on the opposite side.

The person Tulan hated most at that moment was none other than Ricir.

The bastard who had suddenly appeared and ruined all her plans.

Just as Tulan was about to hurl the vial filled with pure malice at Ricir—

“AAAAAAAH!!!”

A scream erupted from Tulan. A green flame erupted from her body in an explosion, engulfing her.

The green flames were quickly extinguished, but that was all it took.

-Clank!

The grip on the vial slipped, and it fell to the ground.

Tulan’s body had collapsed lifelessly onto the floor. The Master Tulan, who had been admired by the mages of the Mage Tower, was no more.

What remained was nothing more than an evil woman, her hair melted away, her skin scorched.

“Gasp— Gasp—”

Meanwhile, Didoa’s eyes widened as she gasped for breath.

A level of agitation seldom seen from her usual impassiveness.

All present recognized immediately that the one who had caused the explosion was none other than Didoa herself.

Didoa could forgive Tulan for all her actions.

But only one. She could never forgive her for attempting to harm that man.

“Are you okay!?”

Didoa shouted towards Ricir.

“Ah— yes! I’m fine.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Didoa brushed her hand over her chest.

“Thanks to you, Didoa! Thank you for your help!”

“…Yeah.”

Didoa’s expression wavered at Ricir’s continued gratitude.

As if a sprout timidly blossomed on the parched ground.

After the incident was settled and the onlookers dispersed, Didoa’s laboratory regained its tranquility.

“Didoa— no, Master Didoa, I’ll handle the aftermath of this incident. You should rest for now. You will be busy concerning the trial going forward. Please assist Ricir with taking the elixir during your break.”

“Understood.”

Didoa gave a nod after staring at the restrained Tulan for a while.

“Sir Meltas, did you mention a trial?”

“Indeed, Ricir. It’s a principle that matters of the Mage Tower are settled within the Tower. Tulan will undergo a trial according to the Mage Tower’s code and will be punished afterward.”

“Are there any… tortures involved?”

“What do you think the Mage Tower is? By the way— Master Parozan, it’s time for you to gather your wits.”

“…I still can’t believe it. Tulan was a Black Mage.”

“Neither can I. I can’t believe I mistakenly thought of Master Didoa as a mere apprentice.”

Meltas, recalling all that had happened between Tulan and Didoa, furrowed his brows.

He gave a slight bow towards Didoa.

“Didoa, I apologize once more for my rudeness in the past.”

Parozan did the same. Both masters bowed their heads towards Didoa.

“…”

Didoa awkwardly returned their bows.

“Oh, right. Ricir. You can expect to receive significant attention from the Tower due to this incident.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You’ve uncovered black magic that even the masters failed to detect, and you’ve identified the black mage who is the mastermind behind it all. Surely, you can expect due recognition.”

“That means…! I might not need to be Master Meltas’s apprentice, and still enjoy various rights within the Tower…!?”

“Such an extraordinary thought.”

Having entrusted Ricir to Didoa, Meltas left with Parozan to deal with the aftermath of the incident.

Ricir and Didoa.

Only the two of them were left standing awkwardly in the laboratory.

“Want to sit down for a bit?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Didoa guided Ricir to the best seat in the laboratory and headed for the pantry.

Moments later, a teapot filled with tea and a dessert box appeared on the table.

“Here.”

Didoa poured tea into Ricir’s cup and placed dessert on a plate.

“Ah, thank you.”

With each sip, each bite, the cups and plates filled up.

‘Wow. Food copy bug.’

Ricir fell into confusion.

“Need anything else?”

Her emotionless eyes were glimmering.

Ricir dazedly shook his head.

“Alright. Just let me know if you need anything.”

Ricir did not realize.

The emotionless lady before him was desperately eager to become friends.

The infinite banquet was a manifestation of her tearful, albeit clumsy, efforts.

If he dared demand her organs for their friendship, she would gladly provide both without hesitation.

Didoa’s hands, adorned with intricate patterns, kept fidgeting.

‘How can I get closer?’

Her once-impassive eyes sparkled as she watchfully observed Ricir’s cup and plate.

*

The rumors quickly spread throughout the Mage Tower, resulting in an outraged individual appearing suddenly in Didoa’s laboratory.

“You!”

It was Heinya, Ricir’s sparring partner, and she had a shocked expression upon spotting Ricir’s condition.

“Is it real! I can’t believe it! Did you really take the elixir?!”

That part of the rumor especially caught Heinya’s attention.

Ricir.

She remembered that he was supposed to spar with her soon.

And he was consuming an elixir before their match.

It was not a life-or-death duel, nor a match for honor, simply a sparring session, yet here he was preparing to take an elixir—

A daring luxury that even Heinya, born of noble blood, would never dare to consider.

“Are you seriously going to take an elixir just to win our spar!? No, to think you would even go as far as taking an elixir for a mere spar with me?! Do you really think this is right!?”

“?”

Heinya, too flustered, was stammering.

In the midst of an endless tea time, Ricir responded in surprise.

“I haven’t taken the elixir yet.”

“?”

*

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▷ Fate 44: Parasite – Deactivated.

Corresponding benefits will be issued.

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