Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 4

“Am I Pamon’s disciple?”

<Suddenly?>

The book spoke the words I couldn’t find.

<What’s this, Pamon? Are you serious?>

“Do you think I’d joke about something like this?”

<I wish it were a joke. I bet Ricir thinks the same.>

“Yeah, probably. So I’m sorry for Ricir, who’s forced to respond.”

Pamon, speaking to the book, didn’t even change her expression or alter the atmosphere.

She calmly spoke in her usual lively tone.

Her attitude left me confused about how to take her words.

Still, I was curious.

The significance of the priest-disciple relationship in this world wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

I was curious as to why this extraordinary woman suddenly wanted me as her disciple.

“Um… is it because of my constitution?”

I wasn’t originally a bastard like this; right now, I was taking a bath in kimchi soup.

Was the constitution Pamon spoke of something incredible?

Was it enough to make such an extraordinary person want to slobber over me?

“Is it the Bendel family’s afterbirth, huh?”

“Well, I guess I’d have to say that. It’s that which makes the conversation meaningful.”

“The conversation is meaningful, you say…”

“I’ll explain. Ricir has the right to know.”

*

Pamon’s story was shocking.

Long ago, Radolla, an ancestor of Bendel, made some kind of deal with Pamon’s master.

Radolla gained power from that deal and promised that in the prosperous future, he would repay with the most precious treasure of the Bendel family.

“…So, that’s me?”

“Yep.”

“…Maybe you should reconsider?”

I admit it.

Me? For a bastard, I’m pretty cool and sexy.

But to be the most precious treasure of Bendel?

That’s up for debate.

If I declared that at Bendel, a truck full of guys would come out with swords drawn.

Or is my constitution that peculiar?

“Do you really dislike being my disciple that much?”

Pamon asked with her still lively face.

Dislike it?

It’s not easy for a useless bastard like me to seek out a master.

Especially not someone as extraordinary as Pamon.

In a normal situation, I would have been given time to reflect on whether she had made a hasty decision before I changed my mind.

But there are circumstances, you know?

The scale needs to be sufficiently large.

Bendel Radolla.

That guy is basically the founder of Bendel’s lineage, right? The name fixed on the large statue at the center of the mansion.

Am I the payment for the contract he promised?

The disgrace of the family turning out to be the greatest treasure?!

Is the world a joke? Is this a light novel?

I can’t even imagine what consequences might arise if things go wrong.

If I mess up, that’s to be expected, but I might also bring great disaster upon the Bendel family.

“Why not? Let’s give it a shot.”

That part particularly appealed to me, so I accepted the proposal.

If it could lead to my downfall along with Bendel collapsing, then really? This better not be a dream.

At eighteen years of age.

For eighteen whole years, I’ll show them the resentment of a bastard.

If you swing your sword recklessly and cause chaos, then it’s only fair to pay the price in this world.

If I fall, we all fall together. Isn’t that what true family is?

Bendel, which had felt so distant, now seemed close. This must be the warmth of blood relations.

“Really!?”

*Clap!*

Pamon clapped joyfully.

“Yay! I’m so glad. It doesn’t look like I’m dragging Ricir along against their will.”

Is it just me, or did something downright ominous come out of our master’s mouth?

“…So, my answer wasn’t that significant, was it?”

“Not at all! I’m this happy. Ricir is willingly becoming my disciple!”

“However, Master, I must say, I’m a bit worried now. Will I really be able to meet your expectations?”

Our master was clearly no ordinary person.

Plus, a mage.

While I might have picked up a bit about swordsmanship over the shoulder, I knew nothing about magic.

Could I really live up to the expectations of someone like that?

“Well, well. You shouldn’t worry. My disciple Ricir, do you know what your greatest strength is?”

“I’m a bit sharp for a bastard. I’m brave.”

“Cute.”

“…Huh?”

Our master pinched my cheeks with both hands.

“You’re doing just fine, Ricir. Just keep at it.”

Wait a second. Am I a disciple or a pet?

A sudden anxiety washed over me about my master’s unconventional interpretation of the teacher-disciple relationship.

*

“Shall we go out for a walk?”

My master and I left the library and walked along the street.

Thanks to the cognitive inhibition magic, people didn’t seem surprised to see a talking book and a beautiful Dark Elf.

It seemed like a pretty handy magic.

Could I learn that too?

“Hmm…”

My master kept humming thoughtfully, deep in contemplation.

Leaning against my arm, her vibrations transmitted straight to me.

“How troublesome… so troublesome…”

“What’s bothering you so much?”

“Ricir, my disciple.”

“Yes, Master.”

“It might be somewhat disappointing to hear, but I hope you listen.”

“I’m ready, Master.”

“Sadly, my knowledge of swordsmanship isn’t that deep.”

<Not just shallow, it’s a serious issue. Show me one swing, and I might witness the birth of a sentient sword wielding its master.>

The book spoke of my master’s sword legend.

Truly intriguing.

So, does that mean our master is a swordsmanship novice?

“Duran. How could you say something like that in front of my disciple? You can’t even hold a sword properly!”

<I’m a book!>

Of course, the talking book would be as logically sound as ever.

“Master, you’re a mage, right? So isn’t it a problem that you’re not knowledgeable in swordsmanship?”

“It is a problem. I’m now a teacher as well.”

My master tapped the sword at my waist.

As if flaunting the fact that I was walking around with a Bendel sword.

“As a master, I should be giving guidance to my disciple who is walking the path of the sword. It’s quite a dilemma. So I’m pondering how to integrate what I know with swordsmanship.”

“Master, I’m not really planning to stick strictly to the way of the sword. If you teach me, I’ll gladly follow your guidance.”

“…”

I’ve never seen this before.

My normally lively master looking so troubled.

“Master? Is something wrong?”

“Well, it’s just…”

“Could it be?”

“Um…”

“Please tell me you’re not completely clueless about how to learn magic after living your whole life without knowing the first thing about it!”

“Oh, not exactly.”

My master, unable to look me in the eye, let go of my arm and collapsed to the ground in despair.

“Ricir~”

“Cognitive inhibition magic… it’s so powerful. I can’t hear her voice anymore.”

“My disciple~”

The cognitive inhibition magic was applied to both the book and the Dark Elf.

Crowds began gathering around us.

The lament of a disgraced bastard turned into a one-man show for a while.

*

The troubled bastard trudged back to Bendel Mansion.

This time, it was the annex.

Again with the library, mansion, and now the annex.

Is this truly the life of a star?

“So, about this. How about during the remaining time, I focus more on practical experience rather than theory?”

<That makes sense. Isn’t it just about a week left? Spending that time solidifying theory won’t do much anyway. But why tell me that?>

“My disciple doesn’t listen to me.”

<Would you want to converse with someone like you?>

The talking book and Dark Elf were right behind me.

Enough already.

Haven’t you ruined everything already?

Before heading back to the room, I stopped by the small training ground in the backyard.

It was a regular part of my routine.

After coming home from the library, I would train while getting some exercise.

Since Bendel wouldn’t teach me swordsmanship or lend me a sword, it was all I could do.

As I unsheathed the sword hanging at my waist and swung it carelessly…

“Wait a moment.”

Pamon suddenly shouted.

“Please, Ricir. Let me help you.”

“…Ha. Well. What do you plan on doing, Pamon?”

“Calling me Pamon? Just a moment ago, you were calling me Master.”

<That was before I realized you were a hopeless case. Though you still showed respect. Lucky to have a good disciple.>

“Past tense, huh~”

Pamon said she would serve as my sparring partner.

She would help me gain practical experience.

“You just said that if you swing a sword, it turns into a puppy swaying in the wind.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. It’s not me fighting, it’s this kid.”

Pamon clapped her hands lightly like she was summoning a servant.

Then, the ground of the training area cracked, and vines began to sprout.

They formed into a human shape.

“…Is this really okay, Pamon? It looks pretty gruesome.”

It’s a plant zombie.

Letting it slide makes it seem environmentally friendly and great, but its appearance is no joke.

It looks like a person who died caught by vines, possessed by mushrooms.

“Oh, isn’t it cute?”

“…”

Cute, you say?

You just called me cute too.

Does that mean I belong in the same category as that?

I managed to grip the sword and assume a stance.

But I felt utterly lost.

I’d swung the sword countless times before.

But I had never swung it against something that moved. Quite literally.

None of Bendel’s people ever crossed blades with a bastard like me.

Moreover, no one ever allowed me to cross swords.

I wasn’t permitted to learn swordsmanship.

If I said I was enlisting in the army, they’d probably give me some basics just to show off.

“This is my first sparring match, so you should look at me kindly.”

“Do your best, Ricir.”

<Sparring, you say? Bendel? At that age.>

“If Duran were born in Bendel, you’d understand.”

<I’m a book.>

“Wow.”

Though it looked gruesome, I felt there was some momentum, or maybe a spirit.

I felt like I could win against it.

Relying on that unfounded confidence, I stepped forward.

<Oh, your stance is->

A lackluster strike was met with an unimpressive thud against the plant zombie.

A dull sound echoed.

The plant zombie burst apart.