Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 51

Ricir explained in detail to the shocked Pamon what had happened so far.

That day, the high-ranking adventurer Salana, whom I had met when I was caught in the wind, was actually the master of the Assassin Guild.

There was a shaman accompanying Salana, but it turned out he was actually a necromancer.

“So I purified everything.”

Just then, the master of the Mage Tower, who happened to be there, showed interest in me and took me on a tour of the tower.

During that, I noticed that a black magician was using mental interference on the people in the tower.

“So I purified everything.”

Afterward, I accidentally had a duel with the genius mage of the tower and, as a reward for my victory, I took an ancient spellbook, which turned out to contain wicked powers.

“So I purified it again. After all that, I returned to my lodging yesterday, and I just had a feeling. So I focused all night and gathered my strength, and this is what happened.”

“A necromancer…? The master of the Assassin Guild…?”

Pamon’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

What in the world should she be surprised about first?

The fact that in such a short period, she experienced all those events?

Or the fact that she spoke about it so nonchalantly, as if it weren’t something that would take a normal person a lifetime to encounter?

Or perhaps it was the realization that she had achieved something that would take an ordinary person at least ten years, in such a brief span?

Or was it the immediate acceptance of such an utterly unrealistic story?

Pamon began to feel a creeping fear.

“Oh, this? I woke up and suddenly I was at Rank 6.”

“Good sleep helps with growth, you know.”

In the not-too-distant future, would she find herself having such silly conversations with that man?

At that moment, Pamon’s gaze shifted to Rona, who was sitting beside her.

“…”

With an unexpected sparkle in her eyes, she was listening intently to Ricir’s story.

“Rona? What are you thinking?”

“Uh? Oh. It’s nothing.”

“That doesn’t look like a nothing face to me. Come on, spill it.”

“…”

It seemed Rona was hesitant, but then, shyly led by Ricir’s attentive gaze, she opened up.

“Actually, I suddenly felt proud.”

“?”

“Because my master is an amazing person.”

“…?”

What is up with this person—no, with this demoness?

Is she finally done with her non-feminine allure?

What is this celestial female?

No, more importantly, my master?

My master?

“Ricir, what did you do to Rona?”

“I didn’t do anything, really.”

“You didn’t do anything? But just a little while ago, she was like an unfeeling demon, and now she’s wearing a face like a girl in love?”

“Wh-what are you talking about?!”

Rona shot up from her seat.

She hastily reverted to her rough demeanor and spoke with an awkwardly masculine voice.

“Hold on! I think you misunderstood what I just said! Hey! I’m a slave, okay? And since I’m a slave, it’s good if my master is a powerful one, right? It’s like saying the stable of a mansion is better than that of a hut—”

“Yep. Exactly. As Rona said, if Rona’s master is a cool guy, then that’s great for Rona.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Gah! No! That’s not what I meant!”

Pamon was toying with Rona while pretending to not listen.

Eventually, Rona’s face flushed bright red as she slammed something on the table.

“I’ll show you that I’m not just some lowly girl, but a slave!”

“?”

“?”

What in the world does that even mean?

Overwhelmed by the combination of vocabulary they had never encountered before, Rona handed the money pouch she had just angrily dropped on the table to Ricir.

“Here! Take it!”

“Suddenly? You said it was okay back then?”

“Hehe! Wait till you see how much is in there; you might change your mind!”

“Uh? Oh wow. Wait. The pouch seems much heavier all of a sudden. What happened?”

“Hehe. Long story short, some noble asked me to ride in his carriage, and he tipped me generously saying it was delicious. Then, after chatting with me, he tipped me again because he was so impressed with my words!”

“…Rona? Didn’t you say you work at a café?”

“Yep!”

“Was that generous customer a man, by any chance?”

“Uh, yeah. Why?”

Seriously, did she rob everyone, regardless of gender?

Pamon heaved a sigh in frustration.

“Rona. Let me be clear: you shouldn’t accept that kind of money.”

“Whoo. Look who’s getting jealous? Jealous much?”

“Rona, that comment seems a bit reckless. Pamon is so good that she could raise a fief just from tips if she wanted to.”

“…”

At Ricir’s words, Rona looked at Pamon with newfound seriousness.

There was a time when that pure white girl had captivated an entire noble house, drawing in wandering adventurers with her charm.

“What’s with this sudden attitude? Are you mocking me now?”

“Not at all! I’m praising Pamon’s charm!”

Ricir looked at Pamon with unwavering clear eyes.

“Ugh. If you’re going to tease me, at least do it properly.”

The pure white girl frowned in annoyance, but her expression didn’t appear entirely displeased.

“Anyway, back to the point. Rona, why shouldn’t you accept that money? Let’s say, at some point when your shift ends, that man comes back to the café and asks you out to dinner.”

“Not interested.”

This delinquent girl sure knows how to express her disdain with just her expression.

“Right? You wouldn’t want to, right? But here’s the thing: you’ve already taken money from that man.”

“What? It’s just a tip.”

“Who gives that much as a tip? That’s a personal gift disguised as a tip. Of course, just because you received it doesn’t mean you’re obligated to go along with it. But… those who try to win a woman’s favor with money are usually idiots. If you turn him down, he’ll bother you with all sort of excuses. Can you handle that?”

“…”

Rona glared at her pouch with a sulky face.

“Fine, I’ll return it.”

“Do you think that man will just accept it?”

“What do you expect me to do?”

“Just say it was accepted as a tip for the café.”

“What?”

“If you act like it was accepted as a tip, he won’t be able to say anything. They always want to appear dignified, you know.”

“…Oh.”

Unconsciously, Rona nodded along.

Ricir looked at Pamon with respect.

“Of course…”

“Of course? What do you mean by that?”

Ricir subtly turned his head to look at Rona.

“…”

The delinquent girl seemed more troubled than she realized, as she couldn’t tear her gaze away from her pouch.

In that moment, Ricir seemed to have thought of something and pulled out his own pouch.

It was an SSS-grade pouch given to him by the princess of the Great Forest.

He took out a few gold coins from the pouch and handed them to Rona.

Rona’s eyes widened.

“Why are you giving this to me—”

“You just said it’s nice if your master is powerful, right?”

Ricir laughed playfully as he flicked the coins.

“Isn’t it good to have a powerful master? Right?”

“No, even so— I shouldn’t be accepting money from you—a slave like me—”

“Think of it as an investment. You wanted to regain your strength, either through swords or magic, right? Just like having a strong master makes things better, having a strong slave does too. Use it for something. If you need anything else, just say it.”

“…”

Ricir forced the gold coins into Rona’s hands, which were bewildered and uncertain.

Rona glanced at the coins for a moment and then clenched them tightly as if they were precious.

“Okay… I won’t disappoint you…”

What is this?

Pamon, who had been watching the whole situation unfold, felt a surge of emotion in her eyes.

Why did this demon slave suddenly turn into a lovesick girl?

What kind of master treats a slave like that?

Even a young master with a crush on a maid wouldn’t go that far.

It was even more malicious because he seemed entirely unaware of how he came off.

“Ricir, you—”

Just as Pamon was about to say something.

“Alright. Here. Pamon, you take some too.”

Ricir handed Pamon some gold coins as well.

Pamon immediately tried to refuse.

…Yet, the fact that the coin he offered was one more than what he had given Rona caught her attention.

Cough.

Pamon cleared her throat, then turned her head away from Ricir as if to feign disinterest.

“Why me? Just so you know, I’m in a much better situation than Rona, okay? I might even be better off than you.”

“Come on, what do you mean by that between you and me?”

“…What are we even to each other?”

Pamon unconsciously looked at Ricir with hopeful eyes.

“What are we to each other? We’re engaged.”

His playful smile brought memories of their first encounter flooding back, and Pamon’s expression crumpled.

“You brat.”

“Isn’t it more teasing than the girl who tried to control me with mental interference?”

“Ugh… Ugh!!!”

What do I do? I’m so mad but can’t do anything.

Pamon fidgeted and couldn’t keep her arms still, her feet tapping anxiously.

To Ricir, it looked like a little white bird flapping its wings.

“Anyway, that’s enough! I refuse to be indebted to you materially!”

“Is that how it feels? Then I guess I need to get you a gift.”

“Flowers? What do I do with something so unnecessary?”

“?”

Did I ever mention flowers?

“Anyway, I’ll buy you a bouquet mixed with lilies and baby’s breath, so just accept it. They’ll be sad if you throw them away.”

“?”

Did I say I’d get you a bouquet mixed with lilies and baby’s breath?

“What’s with that expression? You said it yourself.”

“Y-yeah?”

Squeak. Ricir awkwardly nodded.

That was the moment when the power of mental interference suddenly pierced through to him, beyond the restoration of sanity.

Soon, the dishes they ordered began to fill the table.

Dinner began amid a noisy atmosphere.