Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 39

Youngest Master in the history of the Gray Mage Tower.

Heinya Ye Mastien.

People spoke of her.

Perhaps she could become the greatest magician in the history of the Gray Mage Tower.

Her life as a mage was filled with brilliant successes.

Not a single failure, not a single setback.

At the end of every problem and conflict awaited the conclusion that she was right.

Thus, the genius magician awakened an absolute belief in herself.

…In this way, the genius magician forgot how to doubt herself.

Heinya Ye Mastien.

People spoke of her.

She might have become the greatest magician in the history of the Gray Mage Tower.

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▶ Fate 64: Guidance

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[Title: This drunk crawling around near Bondales Tower is seriously ridiculous]

Content: I heard that if you give them any drink, they’ll answer any question, so I thought they were just some open homeless kid, but

What the hell, 6th-tier magic just opened up as a conversation keyword.

Even listening to them excitedly chatter, a new 6th-tier magic actually got unlocked.

What the heck is this?

Is the threshold for mages that high in the Tower?

– : If you tell their identity, it’ll be a spoiler, but is it okay?

– [Author]: Ah, they were originally successful but became a character whose life got wrecked by this trashy game?

– : Ah, lol.

– : Seriously, all the characters whose lives got wrecked were originally doing well before getting screwed over.

– : Is it a sin to be born into a world of this trashy game… one has to pay for it, huh?

– : It’s like seeing someone born in Hell Korea working 80 hours a week.

– [Author]: So what is it?

– [Author]: Did they originally become some well-regarded mage in the Tower?

– : They were the youngest Master in the Gray Mage Tower.

– [Author]: ?

– : And a scion of a major noble family, yeah.

– [Author]: Isn’t a major noble family the one right below royalty in this game?

– [Author]: So why are they begging for drinks on the street?

– : The reason they were cut off from the Tower is the same reason they were cut off from their family.

– [Author]: Ah, lol, is it black magic again?

– : No, no, not that.

– : They experienced mana overflow while researching lost ancient magic and ended up a wreck.

– [Author]: ?? How’s that a reason to get cut off?

– : Their family and the Tower warned them, you see? It was obvious they would end up like this.

– : The family and the Tower were seriously at the level of pointing a knife at them saying ‘stop,’ but they still insisted, ‘I can do it, if it’s me…!’ then exploded.

– [Author]: So they were just an idiot, huh, lol.

– : But still, it’s not like they were just an idiot—this one has done plenty of show-and-prove.

– : For real, looking back at the past, they give off this vibe of being the greatest genius who even blasphemed the gods.

– : Seeing this fallen state, people still shout, ‘They could have been the greatest magician in the history of the Tower.’

– : [Photo] They were even incredibly beautiful.

– [Author]: You mean this bug-like creature left with only its limbs was originally this blonde ponytail beauty?

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[Title: Seriously, what the hell, this ‘Guidance’ fate ends in an incredibly uncomfortable way]

Content: The quest was to help Heinya with her magic rehabilitation, so I thought

She would successfully make a comeback as a magician, but damn it.

As soon as she could use magic again,

She straight-up killed herself with magic.

Did I choose the wrong option or something?

Was I supposed to choose [You could have been the greatest magician in the Tower] instead of [You are the youngest Master in the Tower]?

– : No, no, either way she kills herself.

– : But if you pick the latter, she contents herself with a smile while doing it.

– [Author]: No, seriously, what’s with smiling and contenting while committing suicide? That’s even creepier.

– [Author]: Is there any way to save her?

– : How about developing time magic?

– : If I go back and give her some tough love before she becomes the greatest genius who even blasphemed the gods?

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“He hasn’t drunk the elixir yet…?”

Heinya stared blankly at Ricir for a moment, then smirked and crossed her arms.

She interpreted Ricir’s behavior as [an excuse born from embarrassment after being caught not drinking the elixir before the duel].

“Right. So you realize your actions aren’t quite honorable, huh?”

“Is that so…”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to deny it. Actually, I welcome the fact that you’ve drunk the elixir. Do you know why?”

Heinya said with an air of superiority.

“…”

From the moment we first met, I’ve felt it, this arrogant girl.

Being around her is seriously draining.

Ricir suddenly felt thirsty and took a sip of tea.

“Here.”

Immediately, Didoa filled the teacup again.

Her emotionless eyes sparkled slightly as she gazed at Ricir.

As if she were looking at something.

“Thank you?”

Hooray. We talked naturally again.

Didoa returned to a waiting state, looking satisfied.

The energy being drained from both sides.

Ricir thought that he needed to play along with Heinya and get her to leave soon.

“Why am I curious about why you’re welcoming the elixir I drank? That’s a pretty intriguing question.”

In response to Ricir’s seemingly reluctant attitude, Heinya momentarily twisted her expression.

But she quickly regained her composure and spoke in an arrogant tone.

“Honestly, I felt a pang of guilt.”

“A pang of guilt? That’s unexpected.”

Hmm.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Heinya waved her finger from side to side, making sounds to match.

“Unexpected? No, you must be aware of it, right? The fact that you hurriedly got the elixir before the duel.”

“…So, that’s it? My asking for a duel against someone who is significantly lesser than you made you feel a bit more at ease after seeing me secretly munching on elixirs?”

“That’s right. However— to be honest, I’m not entirely at ease yet.”

Heinya gauged Ricir’s mana.

At the time of their first meeting, he had just barely entered the 4th tier—

Now, he had just crossed out of the very beginning of the 4th tier.

Given he had drunk the elixir, what an astonishing achievement this was, but it was still greatly lacking to catch up to Heinya, who was preparing to enter the final phase of the 4th tier.

“You may have gone through the trouble of getting the elixir, but you’re still weaker than me, right?”

“Now that you mention it, should I just concede this duel to you?”

“Well, I do understand that a mage’s abilities aren’t solely determined by mana. But still—”

Heinya gathered mana in her palm.

It wasn’t pure mana, but mana imbued with Heinya’s energy.

Homogenization.

The ability to fully wield mana as one’s own.

It is the fundamental power of independent cultivation and magic that can only be mastered by mages who have reached the 4th tier.

“That’s impressive homogenization. I heard you just started learning it, but have you already mastered it?”

Didoa commented while watching Heinya’s homogenization from the side.

Heard that?

Heinya proudly gestured at Ricir.

“I certainly remember. When I saw you at the magic shop, you had just barely reached the beginning of the 4th tier. So I’m asking, can you handle homogenization?”

“I’ve just begun to grasp the concept of homogenization.”

“See? And yet you plan to duel me?”

“…”

Ricir focused his eyes at the homogenized mana.

That feels oddly familiar.

Interpreting Ricir’s reaction in her own way, Heinya scolded him.

“What on earth were you thinking accepting my duel request?”

“It’s just a duel, right?”

“Just a duel, but— don’t forget? The losing side must fulfill any request from the winning side.”

“Of course, I remember that. Just you wait. I’ll truly achieve a life-changing dream with that.”

“Life-changing?”

Heinya felt an eerie chill run down her spine.

“What on earth are you planning to request— well, it doesn’t matter. You probably won’t be able to bring it up until the end.”

“What that may be, you’ll find out soon enough. So, why have you come all the way here asking me this? You didn’t just come here to scold me for drinking the elixir, did you?”

“Ah, well— it’s to give you one last chance.”

“One last chance?”

A handicap.

Heinya said this while sprinkling the mana she had just homogenized.

“If you ask, I could exclude the homogenization from our duel. You might think it’s not a big deal since you don’t know what homogenization is. But you’d better think carefully. The level of magic is sharply divided depending on whether the mana is homogenized or not.”

After a moment’s hesitation,

Ricir recalled the “homogenization” he had just seen and felt.

“I’ll graciously decline that offer.”

“What?”

“If I accept such a handicap, I’d think I would easily back out of making my request after I win.”

“…Ha!”

Heinya scoffed, amused.

“Oh, really? Then I don’t have to refuse, right?”

“Why don’t we just do our best by any means necessary to avoid any future comments afterward?”

“I like that.”

“I’m sure you would.”

“?”

Ricir pulled out a vial and handed it to Didoa.

“Master Didoa. I think it’s time to start.”

“Shall we?”

“What? What are we starting?”

A strange sense of unease struck Heinya, and she pretended to show no interest.

In response, Didoa replied in her usual emotionless tone.

“Taking the elixir.”

“…Pardon?”

Heinya’s facade of ‘not caring’ shattered.

She turned in panic between the vial of elixir in Didoa’s hand and Ricir.

Then she exclaimed in disbelief.

“Another drink!?”

Ricir chuckled.

“What do you mean another? Do I look that spoiled?”

As Ricir said, drinking elixirs in succession was a luxury even nobles would struggle to afford.

“No, that’s not even the problem! Drinking the elixir twice in a row? Your body won’t be able to take it! Master Didoa, shouldn’t you stop him!?”

With a serious expression, Didoa turned to Ricir and asked,

“Ricir, have you consumed any elixirs recently?”

“No. Not just recently; I’ve never had any in my whole life.”

“That’s correct, Lady Heinya.”

“No— no— Master Didoa? Weren’t you supposed to assist him with taking the elixir?”

“I’m about to help him now.”

“???”

Heinya kept alternating her gaze between the elixir vials in Ricir’s and Didoa’s hands.

Her expression was gradually unraveling. Along with her world.

“No— no— no—”

Repeating one word like a broken record, Heinya was left behind.

Didoa carefully examined the elixir, then busily moved around the laboratory, grabbing several kinds of reagents.

After mixing them on the spot, she said,

“Ricir? Can you take off your outer clothing for a moment?”

“Uh? Oh, alright.”

Ricir quickly complied with Didoa’s instructions and became half-naked.

“I’m sorry for making you undress alone. Feeling embarrassed? Should I take off too?”

“No, it’s really fine.”

“Ricir is kind, I see. Alright then, may I touch you for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Soon, various reagents were applied all over Ricir’s body.

Didoa explained the chemicals to Ricir during the process of application.

Ricir’s expression grew complicated as he listened.

“Um, Master Didoa? Just to check, these reagents aren’t some valuables, right?”

“It’s fine.”

“…So you’re saying they’re valuable? Is this what a supporting role for elixir consumption involves?”

“No, this is just an additional step. It’s not strictly necessary, but it’s good to have—”

“So right now, I’m consuming expensive reagents that I don’t even need, huh?”

“I’m doing it because I want to, so don’t mind it.”

“…Thank you, Master Didoa. I don’t know how to repay this—”

“If you really want to repay me, I think it would be nice if you called me simply instead of saying Master Didoa.”

“…Didoa?”

Hooray. I feel closer to Ricir.

Didoa nodded her head in satisfaction with her usual emotionless face.

At long last, Didoa, having finished all preparations, opened the vial of elixir and handed it to Ricir.

“Remember, after drinking the elixir, you must follow my instructions completely.”

“Understood.”

“Did I perhaps sound too harsh? I’m sorry if I made you feel bad.”

“…I want to say don’t worry about it; feel free to say it how you want.”

“Okay. Thank you. As I mentioned repeatedly, that elixir is quite a high-grade item. In other words, it contains tremendous power. Such elixirs inevitably come with excruciating pain during the absorption process. Just so you know upfront, Ricir won’t be able to completely endure that pain.”

“So what am I supposed to do then?”

“Even so, you have to endure as best as you can. While enduring, you need to manage the elixir’s energy. 50 percent. At least you need to absorb 50 percent of the elixir’s energy. That alone will be incredible. I’ll be by your side, so don’t be scared, got it?”

“Understood.”

Ricir exchanged a glance with Didoa before downing the elixir.

He braced himself for the approaching massive backlash.

As his heart raced wildly—

Blood boiling hotly—

His insides twisting and turning—

That kind of backlash.

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[He resisted.]

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“…Master Didoa, when will that pain come?”

The backlash that didn’t come after waiting endlessly.

Ricir looked at Didoa with a patient expression akin to a waiting patient with the needle inserted.

“…”

“Master Didoa?”

Didoa’s emotionless eyes were twitching slightly.

She spoke with a dazed voice.

“It seems to have finished.”

“What? It’s over? Nothing’s happened? Is something wrong? How much of the elixir have I absorbed— how much?”

To the panicking Ricir, Didoa uttered in even greater surprise.

“It looks like all of it…”

“What?”

“It seems you’ve absorbed everything…”

“…Didn’t you say that absorbing even 50 percent would be impressive?”

“…Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?”

“…For now, I think I feel fine.”

Didoa nodded her head.

“Whatever it is, congratulations. It seems the outcome of your elixir intake is a resounding success.”

Watching all of this, Heinya muttered blankly.

“What the…”

Ricir.

He was gazing at the threshold of the 5th tier.