Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 45

**Title: Wait, What the Hell? The Quest of Fate Is Suddenly Changing the Game**

**Content:** Why the hell are these bastards suddenly adding a zero to their levels? LMAO

I thought it was a boss since I saw level 27, but it turned out to be just a mob, damn it!

Hey, you idiot, what are you doing acting like a mob over there? LOL

If you go down to the lower town, you’ll actually be the boss, you know? Haha.

– A dragon’s tail is better than a chicken’s head, right?

– Is that really a dragon’s tail?

– The fact is, that could be a chicken’s tail down there.

– The fact is, that could indeed be a fact.

– Ugh, these newbie idiots smell like trouble again, just running wild from level 1 to 99. LOL

– Dude, looking at the levels of the regional named characters makes me wanna die.

—

**Title: But Seriously, Why Are These Adventurers So Weak?**

**Content:** What’s up with this level 10 dude claiming to be from a first-rate guild?

– But in the context of the world, isn’t that strong enough?

– Yeah, nobles who only hit level 10 by age 20 are treated like human weapons among regular folks.

– Wasn’t level 10 like third tier? You could only reach that by training swordsmanship and combat techniques with mana until you’re 20.

– A special commoner = a somewhat ordinary noble, something like that.

– [Original poster]: Nobles really do strut around like they own the place.

– But at the top tier, adventurers don’t really get outmatched.

– Yeah, average named characters with high-level adventurers are usually around level 5.

– But they all seem to be in bad shape…

– Really, all the ones above level 5 are in their 30s or older.

– Even 30s are considered young talents.

– But aren’t there some young folks above level 5?

– Those ones are all getting shafted by the quest of fate.

– Ugh, LOL.

—

Kella was a veteran adventurer recognized for her skills and experience, despite her young age. She’d been at it for over 10 years since childhood and stood on the brink of reaching level 3.

Thanks to this, even lower-ranking nobles in Bondales dared not treat her lightly. Especially if they found out she belonged to the renowned Adventurer Guild, Draphon.

With that, Kella took great pride in her judgment and experience as an adventurer.

Based on those two, Ricir seemed like an ordinary person. He had an aristocratic appearance, but his gentle and unpretentious aura felt far from noble.

For example, if Kella had found out Ricir was actually a noble and a skilled level 3 like other nobles her age, she would’ve been greatly surprised.

…But what if an even bigger revelation unfolded?

“Wha-what…!? Ricir, was that you!?”

Kella displayed an uncharacteristically clueless demeanor, unable to keep up with the situation, like a rookie adventurer.

Their assessment of Ricir underwent a massive shift.

Perhaps his gentle and unpretentious aura was merely a mask hiding an astonishing identity.

“Kella-san.”

At that moment, Ricir spoke up.

“Yes? Ah, yes! Ricir… Sir! Please, go ahead!”

Suddenly, she was addressing him honorifically.

His attitude had dramatically shifted.

‘Sudden change?’

Ricir thought it odd but continued speaking.

“Do you know anything about those guys?”

“No! I have no idea! What kind of idiots are casually gallivanting in Bondales in broad daylight—”

“…We have no business with you!”

The thug leading the group yelled out.

“If you don’t plan on interfering with us, we won’t lay a hand on you either! Leave now, and we’ll pretend this never happened!”

“Normally, you offer a handshake, then if that fails, you draw your sword, right? You’re saying you’d rather go for the sword first and then offer a handshake after? Isn’t that taking it a bit too easy on life?”

“….”

Ricir said this while he felt momentarily tempted.

He’d expected some annoyance would come from the ‘alien’ energy he felt when he entered the alley, but he had never imagined he’d get this straightforwardly mixed up in trouble.

If he had it his way, he would like to sweep it all under the rug as they suggested.

However, unfortunately, Ricir knew too well that

the affairs of the world didn’t flow smoothly and amicably.

They were the kinds who wouldn’t hesitate to resort to murder the moment their eyes met in a deserted place.

Believing thugs like that at their word was the greatest foolishness.

‘More than that—’

Ricir’s gaze pierced through the thugs’ formation.

‘Is that it?’

One thug was offering something to a cornered little wolf.

A ring embedded with obsidian.

The source of the strange energy Ricir was sensing.

Ricir instinctively knew.

If he let those guys go, they’d definitely spread chaos wherever they went.

‘So, let’s make it right.’

That was the most critical reason.

By normalizing the alien energy, an increase in magic power would undoubtedly follow.

With both meaning and situation in place, there was no reason to turn it down.

“Kella-san, how do adventurers usually handle situations like this?”

“An attack on guild members is quickly seen as a challenge to the guild! If it were us, the Draphon Guild, we’d have captured those guys and investigated their purposes and identities!”

“Then you plan to capture those guys and drag them back to the guild?”

“Yes?”

“You just said those guys attacked you, right?”

“Uh… well… yes?”

“Alright then, I’ll assist you too.”

“…Thank you?”

Huh?

Thinking back, she had also been the one to enter the alley first, and she was the one who got attacked first?

Kella, feeling a bit confused, quickly corrected her posture.

The adventurer’s intuition told her to absolutely not let this connection with such an oddball as Ricir slip away!

Most importantly, the thugs had clearly lost their fighting spirit.

“…”

The thugs exchanged glances.

They were also cautious not to overlook their fallen comrades.

He was the strongest and the leader of the group.

Having suddenly lost the core strength and leader, the thugs were at a loss.

One of the resolved thugs moved into action.

He sprinted with everything he had—

In the opposite direction of the alley.

Without looking back.

“Pfft.”

Kella nodded as she saw that.

Right. That’s how it should go.

A retreat.

Kella considered it a very reasonable judgement.

‘What the heck!’

However, Ricir thought differently.

He couldn’t think of ‘running away’ as a possibility.

The enemies he had faced until now were vile antagonists who charged headlong into destruction if their plans went awry.

‘Is he going to call for reinforcements!’

At least one level higher, possibly up to three levels.

The overall level of the thugs appeared so pitiful, it was clear they had some backup waiting nearby.

The remaining thugs seemed to be planning to stall for time until help arrived.

‘What if someone above level 6 shows up…! That would really make things hopeless!’

If Kella had caught a glimpse of Ricir’s thoughts, she would have said something.

Do you even know whose dog’s name is above level 6?

‘Please, a necromancer! Then it would be worth a shot!’

If Kella had caught a glimpse of Ricir’s thoughts, she would have questioned his sanity.

To think he believed there would be a chance against a necromancer.

Ricir, anticipating the worst-case scenario with his skewed sense, nodded with a distorted expression.

‘Maybe I’ve been a bit too cocky.’

No matter how confident he was in dealing with that alien energy, he certainly shouldn’t have barged in without thinking.

Ricir ultimately admitted his arrogance.

Just then, as he was corralling his resolve to admit any mistakes he might make.

“Damn it!!!”

The thugs began running away from the scene without exception.

They saw Ricir’s increasingly serious expression as a dangerous signal.

“…?”

Ricir only then realized something was wrong and shifted his perspective.

From another viewpoint, they were far too pitiful to be a group of scheming necromancers.

“What a bunch of fools…!”

The thug who had offered the obsidian ring to the little wolf stood frozen, watching the backs of his companions fleeing.

At that moment, he couldn’t hold on any longer and tried to follow his companions—

“Ugh!”

Ricir, having finally grasped the situation, intervened.

He used the power of the whirlwind to knock the ring thug unconscious and then chased after the fleeing thugs.

“Ahhh!!!”

“A mage from the Mage Tower!?”

“Please, spare me!!!”

The method and speed of pursuit completely outside normal categories made the thugs helplessly caught and subdued.

“Ha…”

Thus, having apprehended even the first one to flee and defeated them all, Ricir let out a chuckle.

‘Is this even allowed?’

His skewed sense screamed at him.

“To use attribute magic so skillfully… Is he possibly level 5…? At that age?”

Kella, watching Ricir from below, chuckled.

‘Is this even allowed?’

Her sense was beginning to skew as well.

*

At the same time, Meltas was attending to an unexpected visitor in his laboratory.

“…So, you need Ricir’s help to capture that little spirit—is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s correct.”

“Haha. Gadena, it’s rare to see you needing human assistance for something related to spirits. This is indeed a sight for sore eyes.”

“…”

“So, what are you asking me to do? To capture the spirit with that spirit-friendly energy of yours?”

Gadena shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“Impossible, you say?”

“It’s an exceptionally hostile spirit toward life. Even we elves can’t approach it. If you attempt to approach carelessly, its hostility towards life would only grow.”

“Then?”

“I told you, I need the human’s energy. I need him to create mana stones filled with energy. I’ll provide ample compensation.”

“Hm… I understand for now. I’ll bring it up. Conveniently, I also had business with Ricir.”

As the conversation between the old man and the elf was ongoing.

“Knock, knock.”

“?”

“?”

The sound of knocking(?) was heard.

Didoa pretended to knock at the open door of the laboratory.

“Master Didoa… it’s you. Is it that time again?”

Nod.

Master Didoa nodded her head.

“I was just checking if Ricir came by.”

Thus, for several days, Didoa had been visiting Meltas’ laboratory regularly, inquiring about Ricir’s whereabouts.

Meltas, feeling exasperated, said, “If you have business with Ricir, why don’t you just go find him directly? I’m sure you’ve been told his address.”

“I don’t have any business.”

“What?”

“If I directly visit him without a reason, wouldn’t that feel unpleasant?”

“…”

“Which brings me to my request. If Ricir happens to come by, could you casually bring it up for me, Master Meltas?”

“You’re looking for him, then?”

“That’s too blunt, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it feel uncomfortable if I said I was looking for him?”

“…Then what exactly am I to say?”

“I’ve been thinking, how about, ‘I heard Master Didoa’s laboratory has delicious snacks and plenty of tea?’ How does that sound?”

“…Do you think Ricir is a child?”

“Oh. Should we stock some liquor as well?”

“…How about we try to steer clear of luring him with food?”

“Elixir?”

“This is madness.”

Meltas shook his head, gazing at the half-elf who was utterly hopeless at human relationships.

“Oh.”

At that moment, Meltas seemed to have thought of something and looked at Gadena.

“Perfect timing, Didoa.”

“?”

“It seems like I have business to take care of, so…”

“Business?”

“I need you to visit Ricir on my behalf and resolve that business.”

“!!!”

Noddin’ it is!

The half-elf nodded vigorously.

Her disheveled hair bobbed up and down.

“Now that’s settled, Gadena. You can head with that person to find Ricir. Since Ricir can create mana stones on the spot, that’s the way to go.”

“…”

“Are you seriously asking me to accompany a half-elf?”

Gadena looked at Didoa with a look of distaste.

Didoa, with her characteristic dry expression, said to Gadena, “Thank you.”

“…?”

Not “I appreciate it” or anything?

Gadena already felt extreme fatigue washing over her.

*

“Let’s see.”

Ricir, after subduing the thugs, first retrieved the obsidian ring that was the source of the strange energy.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special. Just a ring imbued with the energy of black magic.”

“…!”

Kella gasped and quickly distanced herself from Ricir.

Suddenly, Ricir recalled how the thugs had been using the ring on the little wolf and shifted his gaze.

-…

The little wolf remained on the ground, staring at the obsidian ring.

-Crrrrrrr

The wolf bared its teeth at the ring.

It looked more like it was coveting the ring than being cautious or scared.

Ricir vaguely sensed what kind of power lay within the ring.

The obsidian was drawing the little wolf in.

Provoking the instincts within the wolf.

‘Is it like an aphrodisiac?’

Though it was a magical object, it was rather crude.

More like a mass-produced product, if anything.

Ricir instinctively almost purified the energy from the obsidian but managed to hold himself back.

After all, this was still a piece of evidence.

Until the incident was fully resolved, it was crucial to keep it in its original state.

So Ricir instead used the power of normalization on the wolf that had been tainted by the obsidian’s energy.

And then, the wolf’s form changed dramatically.

Its outline crumbled.

And its volume expanded.

The wolf transformed into a woman with ears and a tail.

She looked around in surprise, then shouted, “Damn! Finally!”

“?”

Despite her appearance, she had quite the crude tongue.