Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 48

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[Title: Why Can’t I Enter the Inn?]

Content: Every time I try to enter the inn, it keeps saying [Denied Access].

-: I’m used to rejection, so I just roll with it.

-: Looks like the innkeeper is a woman, huh?

-: Let’s find a male innkeeper. T_T

-[Original Poster]: Ugh, shut up already!

-: Is there a Dark Elf in the party?

-: This game gives penalties in cities when you carry around hateful races.

-: Dark Elves, Demons, Barbarians, Undead… there are probably a few more, but these come to mind. Yeah, you get penalties for having them in your party.

-[Original Poster]: Damn it, this is our party list!

-: Excuse me, how did you pass through the gate?

-[Original Poster]: They suddenly attacked, so I had to kill them.

-: Then let’s just burn the inn down. O_o

-: For real, it’s a party of horrors.

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[Title: How to Increase Party Reputation?]

Content: Ugh… It’s possible to have only Demons in the party, isn’t that a bit harsh?

I’m not planning to let them sleep on the streets; I’ll get them a room in the inn.

How can I bypass the inn?

-: Be grateful that you didn’t call the guards just because you’re a Necromancer.

-: If you include higher races like Elves, Beastmen, Celestials, or Dwarves, your party’s reputation will go up a bit.

-[Original Poster]: Oh, throwing in a High Elf worked and I got in.

-: But what’s the standard for higher races?

-: Races recognized by Elves.

-: ?

-: That higher race concept was created by the Elves, you know.

-: Is that a joke?

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Gondola was startled and dashed toward Rapita.

There were distinct bite marks on her hand.

“Miss!!!”

Gondola gasped and cried out as he checked the wound on her hand.

To anyone watching, it sounded like someone had just died.

“How dare you!!!”

He glared at Ricir with wide eyes.

Uh oh. Why me?

I didn’t bite her.

She asked me.

Ricir adjusted his position, emphasizing the wolf cradled in his arms.

-Mi-woong…

In the midst of this, the wolf seemed to wiggle, enjoying Ricir’s embrace.

“Gondola.”

I’m already uneasy.

Rapita, feeling embarrassed, scolded the overly vigilant knight.

But Gondola couldn’t calm down at all.

“Isn’t there a scar on the lady’s beautiful skin!!!”

If that wolf weren’t the spirit favored by the lady, he would’ve cut it down in one swift move.

“There’s no way there’s a scar. Perrin just playfully nipped at her.”

“…”

Yet, with Rapita’s stern demeanor, Gondola had no choice but to settle down.

Though it seemed quite obvious it wasn’t just playful biting.

His point was clear, but Rapita’s mood felt off, making him hesitant to voice it.

In fact, it wasn’t the first time Perrin had been a bit sulky with Rapita.

Perrin had always shown a fair amount of disdain towards every being that approached her.

What’s essential is the part that says ‘every being’.

Rapita accepted Perrin’s behavior of showing disdain toward others as her unique trait.

Our girl is just a bit prickly.

Thanks to that, Rapita typically didn’t mind too much when Perrin acted harshly toward her.

Even if she growled at her, bared her teeth at her, or treated her gifts like trash.

Why? Because that’s just how Perrin is.

…But right now, the confusing part was because of that.

Perrin was cuddled in someone else’s arms? And looking that content?

‘How could this be?’

Rapita thoroughly ruled out the possibility that it was just out of liking.

As a descendant of the World Tree, she garners affection from all spirits.

Yet, does a unique and beautiful spirit like Perrin really like some human over her?

That’s absurd.

That human must be using some special means to win Perrin over.

Rapita decided that was the case.

“Sir Gondola.”

At that moment, Draphon spoke to the hulking knight.

Years have passed since he had been running around the field.

Even when a blade is pointed at him or injured, the eyes of this elite adventurer remained remarkably composed.

As the ruler of the Great Forest and the greatest lineage of Elves, Royetta.

It was a request brought by the rightful heir and a knight of the Royetta family.

For those proud Elves to ask a human for help.

They had even lent one of their treasures.

Draphon was rarely nervous about a request, burdened with worry about how challenging the mission would be.

How difficult would this task turn out to be?

But then this happened.

“Could it be that the spirit in question is the wolf in that person’s arms?”

“…”

“…”

Finally, the complex emotions showed on the faces of the two Elves.

Should this be interpreted as something to be happy about?

Or should they feel flustered?

“Yes, that’s right.”

Rapita decided to feel happy for now.

According to the information acquired, the social group known as the ‘White Shadows’ had recognized Perrin’s uniqueness and vulnerability and were targeting her.

This was the reason Rapita, strongly aware of her status as a higher race, set aside her pride to request the humans’ assistance.

To avoid the worst-case scenario of Perrin being captured by them.

But, right now.

Not only had they avoided the worst situation, but the best of scenarios unfolded right before their eyes.

Perrin had returned to them without a single scratch.

How could she not feel joyous?

Surely, it should be a feeling of uncontainable joy—

“…”

Rapita found herself glaring at Ricir with an expression filled with dissatisfaction without even realizing it.

Meanwhile, Draphon was sharing the incident’s details with Dupona.

That Ricir person was a Mage brought by Kella—

These two were the clients who came to make a request—

When the discussions ended, both the first and second members of the Draphon Guild burst into awkward chuckles for their own reasons.

Did a Black Mage break the Mental Interference on the spot?

That wolf was that remarkable a spirit?

Eventually, when every story had been told, all eyes in the room were on just one person, Ricir.

And Didoa.

From the outset, she had been focusing on Ricir for entirely different reasons, and upon meeting his gaze, she stood lost as to what to do.

“Master Didoa?”

When Ricir greeted her first, she waved her hand, as if she had been waiting.

“Hey, Ricir. Thanks for recognizing me. Nice to see you.”

Her flat expression and mindlessly waving hand made it seem like she was genuinely pleased to see him—it was misleading.

“Oh, nice to meet you. By the way, Master Didoa—what brings you here?”

“You used to call me Didoa back then. Are you mad at me? Did I come here without asking you or…?”

“Di, Didoa! Nice to see you!”

“Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m glad to see you too. I might sound rude saying this, but I missed you. Just so you know, I’m not here for that reason, but I’m here to take Gadena to Ricir. Gadena has something to discuss with Ricir. So please, don’t take it unpleasantly.”

Her tone was devoid of highs and lows, but the content was embarrassingly shy.

Ricir still struggled to classify the personality of this half-breed lady.

“So, you came to take Gadena here, to the Draphon Guild, for me?”

“It ended up being like that. Is this what they call fate? Just kidding, of course. Sorry if that upset you.”

It was Gondola and Rapita who genuinely looked displeased.

The knight was uncomfortable with a half-breed lady being this close to the lady.

And Rapita didn’t like the half-breed being in the same vicinity as Perrin.

I’m fine. I can hold back.

But Perrin?

What if that beautiful spirit gets tainted by the half-breed’s energy?

Rapita was genuinely worried.

Watching Perrin squirm, she could no longer hold her tongue.

“Master Didoa? If you don’t mind, could you wait outside until we’re done talking?”

“Alright. See you later, Ricir.”

“No, let’s go out together.”

“Wait a minute. Why are you leaving with me?”

“Pardon?”

Ricir questioned Rapita as he naturally tried to leave with Didoa, only to be halted by her.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be important discussions that outsiders shouldn’t hear?”

“Was that what it was? I just thought you didn’t like me being in the room.”

“Hey, Didoa. Why would you think that?”

“Is that so?”

“Right?”

Both of their gazes turned to Rapita.

‘What, what is this…?’

Rapita momentarily froze at Ricir’s unexpected defense of the half-breed.

Doesn’t it make me seem strange?

Dupona and Draphon were equally taken aback.

They must have figured out Rapita was the princess of the Great Forest from listening to the conversation, yet here they were questioning her for standing up for a half-breed.

No matter how much that half-breed was the Master of the Mage Tower, it still shouldn’t be this way.

The two had lived as adventurers for many years, generally possessing open-minded perspectives based on common standards.

Yet even from their viewpoint, Ricir’s behavior toward the half-breed stood out as remarkably unique.

“Hey, human. Do you know who this lady is—”

“Please, Gondola! Just! This is the one who saved our Perrin. Okay?”

The overzealous knight.

With Perrin curled up in Ricir’s embrace amidst the commotion, Rapita couldn’t help but lose her temper.

Her elegant smile twitched slightly.

“…”

Having been scolded by the lady, Gondola looked defeated, his sturdy stature seemingly shrinking.

With an elegant smile still placed on her face, Rapita turned to Ricir.

“Did you say Ricir? I apologize. I haven’t properly thanked you yet. I’m Rapita from the Royetta family. I sincerely thank you for rescuing our Perrin and taking care of her until now. Regarding what happened just now, I can explain. The thing is, our Perrin has a very sensitive constitution.”

“A constitution?”

“Yes. So, when a non-Elf touches Perrin, it can have negative effects on her. That’s why I asked for the half-breed lady to step aside.”

“…”

‘Is that so?’

Ricir couldn’t agree with Rapita’s assertion that Didoa’s energy would negatively affect the spirit.

But what could he do? She was the spirit’s master; she knows the spirit better.

As Ricir started to reluctantly agree with Rapita’s perspective, it happened.

-…

Perrin, who had jumped down from Ricir’s arms, growled towards Rapita.

Simultaneously, her form began to change.

The little blue wolf transformed into a woman in the blink of an eye.

Rapita’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the remarkable sight.

“She’s beautiful…”

It wasn’t about her appearance.

Having become human, Perrin radiated a pure energy that any Elf would feel reverence towards.

Such pure energy, matched with a pure ambiance, belonged to a woman—

Perrin opened her mouth.

“Shut up.”

“…Huh?”

Perrin’s pure face distorted as if it had been smeared with dirt.

“It’s like you’re saying I like you Elves; cut the crap.”

“P-Perrin…?”

“Damn! I feel so relieved! I’ve always wanted to say this to you guys. No matter how much I bark or bite, you don’t get it! I hate you Elves!”

Perrin screamed as if she’d been freed from a long confinement.

With that, she pointed at the people surrounding her.

“You! All of you suck! Humans and Elves, all of you are just annoying!”

Perrin.

Every time she felt the pure energy of humans and Elves, this was her thought.

If only I were pure like them, how would my kin treat me?

Could I even call them my kin in the first place?

They spoke to her saying.

You are different from us.

That’s why Perrin couldn’t stand their pure energy.

She didn’t like that her body found comfort in that pure energy.

That was why Perrin disliked everything.

The reason she allowed humans with ominous energies surrounding rings to approach her was because of that.

She thought that accepting the energy within that ring would change everything.

“So just, please. Get lost. Just leave, you annoying pointy-eared jerks!”

Perrin shouted at Rapita.

“Hey. Just calm down—”

Next, she tried to swat away the hand reaching toward her.

That was Ricir’s hand.

“Ugh…!”

As Perrin yelled in fury, she let out a delightful sound and trembled.

The moment Ricir’s hand brushed against her, the energy she felt was far too exquisite to feign rejection.

Perrin couldn’t resist this ecstasy again.

“Did you say Perrin? Are you okay?”

Perrin froze suddenly.

Worrying, Ricir placed his hand on her shoulder.

In his mind, Perrin was still the little wolf, and that was why this was happening.

Unconsciously, Perrin rubbed her face against his hand.

“…”

Perrin’s face was one he had never seen before.

Rapita’s world crumbled.

*

The end