Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 6

She was a woman capable of smiling vibrantly like a field filled with flowers.

The woman wearing that smile looked pure, as if not a single speck of dirt had touched her.

With that smile, she appeared so kind, as if she could embrace all the mistakes and flaws of others.

A smile bloomed on her face at all times.

Even now, it was the same.

The hero pulled his head out of the blood-soaked bag.

The citizens cheered.

The witch of the western forest was dead.

It was slowly becoming dark.

The master and disciple parted ways, promising to meet again tomorrow.

Pamon stepped out of Bendel Mansion and into the street.

Her steps, bouncing lightly in tune with a swaying rhythm, were not just light but cheerful.

The ends of her purple robe fluttered in sync with her movement.

<Oh my.>

Durán clicked his tongue at Pamon’s appearance.

Even though he was a book, he still clicked his tongue.

<Have you gotten used to it already?>

“Huh? To what?”

<This city. You were horrified the first time you came in.>

“Me?”

-Oh my, Durán. Don’t you smell something strange?

-I’m a book.

“Did I really?”

-Durán, look over there at that sculpture. How hideous… What’s so pretty for them to have proudly displayed that? Humans’ sense of aesthetics.

-From a universal perspective, its artistic value may be low, but aesthetically, I wouldn’t say it’s bad. Compared to all the junk you’ve hung in your hut, it’s even better.

“I don’t remember~”

-Ugh, the ground feels weird.

-Really? I think this road is pretty well paved.

-It’s my fault. I should have worn higher heels.

-You can just buy new ones since you’re in the city. There seems to be an abundance of shoes around here.

-No way~ They must be hideous things made from the rough skins of brutal hunters. You want me to wear something like that~?

“…Hmph~”

-How frustrating. There are so many humans.

-Because it’s a city.

-Doesn’t it feel cramped, living all bunched up in such a small place? Like long-legged spiders crowding into a narrow burrow?

-You used to call those horrible things cute, and now you’re comparing them to humans with disdain?

-What I mean is~ humans live together like those spiders, without being close to each other. That’s why they’re always backbiting and fighting—

“…”

-Hey, Pamon. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the library?

-Yeah. So I came, right?

-What? If you’re going to the library, shouldn’t you go to that Main Building you visited first?

-Durán, you may not know, but interesting books are usually hidden in places like this.

-Then why did you sigh when you saw people lined up at the Main Building?

-I guess I was out of breath from walking too much?

-Then why did you sigh while looking at the books here?

-…Oh my~ Look at this book, Durán. It’s supposed to be about herbal expertise, yet nothing in it is correct~ How fun~

-Look at this dust. Is this a library? It’s a storage room. You’re really something. You’d rather stay here, avoiding humans.

Acting all innocent in front of the books?

Durán recalled each part of the conversation they’d had with remarkable memory.

Pamon, peeking around nervously—

“Oh~”

The moment Durán mentioned the library Annex, Pamon clapped her hands excitedly.

“Right! That book. The one Ricir was reading. I completely forgot. I should go borrow it when I have time~ A book about cats, huh? Looks like cities really do have everything, huh?”

Durán snorted in disbelief at Pamon’s enthusiasm.

Books don’t have noses, but he certainly sniffed at her.

<So. What are you going to do?>

“Huh?”

<How about tonight? Didn't you say you were going to stay in that storage?>

“A storage? You’re being rude to my friends, Durán.”

<Who’s my friend?>

“And now that I think about it, that doesn’t seem right. Since I came out of the forest for the first time in a while, I should enjoy the city’s wonders, shouldn’t I?”

<Earlier you were nitpicking and horrified, though?>

“That’s just how people from the forest can be sometimes~”

<Looks like you've become a city person already, huh? >

“You know, Dark Elves are adaptable beings. That’s how I survived in that rough forest, right?”

<Well done.>

Tap.

Pamon’s steps, which had been creating a constant rhythm, finally stopped.

“Oh, here.”

The last topic of conversation Pamon had exchanged with Ricir before parting was about Heyern.

Suddenly, and for reasons unknown, Pamon became interested in Heyern and began asking her disciple various things about the city.

-From Ricir’s perspective, what’s the most amazing place in this city?

At first, the conversation mainly progressed that way.

Ricir would always be mentioned.

Ricir thinks—

Ricir believes—

The disciple earnestly replied, wishing for their master to have a good time.

Seeing her devoted disciple stirred something in the master.

-So, is there a place Ricir has never been to, but is interested in?

As a so-called master.

She wanted to experience a place her disciple hadn’t yet seen and then share her thoughts on it.

Isn’t that a splendid way to tour a city?

Sharing experiences and insights with her local disciple.

“Oh~ If I had known, I would have brought a few different outfits. Ricir wouldn’t think that, would she? Ah. Seeing my master stuck in the same outfit for a week shows she isn’t financially abundant~ My master’s social standing isn’t that high~”

<Really? That kid’s perception is incredible.>

This was the ‘place of interest that Ricir hadn’t been to yet.’

“It’s a café. You know, these are all the rage among humans these days?”

When Ricir heard the word café, it first brought to mind a place with a mermaid signboard selling bitter black coffee.

However, the café Pamon was currently facing was an altogether different place.

In this city, cafés were places of socializing.

A venue where the well-educated, formal, and socially established would gather to engage in discourse and build camaraderie.

“I see many kids around Ricir’s age?”

Just as Pamon was about to step inside the café—

Thud!

Her body was pushed aside.

A woman brushed past Pamon, bumping into her shoulder.

“Oh my. Excuse me.”

As a noble, she was referred to as a ‘Miss’ in the vicinity.

Moyla looked back as if to apologize to Pamon but then—

“What’s this? A Dark Elf?”

Moyla gazed into Pamon’s eyes and grinned sadistically.

Moyla’s entourage surrounded Pamon.

-What the hell, who are they? How can they see you?

-I removed the cognitive disruption magic.

-What? Why do that?

-Well? I wanted to experience this place in vivid detail?

-This is a bit too vivid, isn’t it?

The voices once hidden by magic now reached each other’s ears.

Having finished her conversation, Pamon gracefully bowed to Moyla.

“Sorry. I must have been lost in thought for a moment.”

Pfft.

What returned was an uncontrollable snicker.

“A Dark Elf trying to mimic nobility?”

Moyla scrutinized Pamon’s robe as if evaluating it.

“What a surprise. Hey guys, take a look. Ever seen a fabric like this?”

“Is it from the East? I heard Eastern items are trending in the current capital.”

“It’s quite graceful. Whoever it belongs to must be wealthy.”

“Indeed.”

Moyla leaned in close to Pamon, whispering softly.

“I wonder where a Dark Elf like you got such a precious item?”

“Don’t be mean. It might have been bought with hard-earned money, you know? Stealing can be quite a lucrative business.”

“Or maybe you robbed a rural noble? With all sorts of spells and curses to intimidate them?”

Pamon’s expression remained unchanged.

She still wore an exuberantly lively smile.

“If the conversation has concluded, I shall take my leave.”

As Pamon stepped forward, Moyla blocked her path.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m just interested in the shop behind me.”

“Oh, really? But why the rush? This isn’t a place where something lowly like you should wander.”

Moyla gestured to her bodyguard, Garon.

He approached Pamon, speaking in a stern and flat tone, emphasizing the sword at his waist.

“Hey, Dark Elf. Show us your pass.”

An ominous atmosphere drew the attention of those nearby.

Moyla elegantly bowed to the crowd.

“I apologize, everyone. I seem to have caused a ruckus. I’ll resolve it shortly, so please bear with me?”

At Moyla’s signal, Garon nodded.

“I’ll turn her over to the guards.”

Just as he was about to roughly grab Pamon’s arm—

“…”

The light vanished from Garon’s eyes.

He immediately stopped all actions and stood still.

“Excuse me. Everyone. Is there anyone here from the Bendel family?”

Pamon asked.

“What? Bendel?”

“How dare you utter that filthy name from your mouth?”

“Ah, thanks for the polite reply?”

As soon as Pamon finished speaking, Garon moved.

Crack!

A rough but crisp sound echoed.

Again and again.

“AAAAH!! Garon!! What are you doing?!”

“What are you doing—AH!! You hit me!? You actually hit me!?”

Garon’s hand moved with precision.

He left huge handprints on the cheeks of each noble as he struck them one by one.

“It’s Miss Moyla’s command…”

“What!? How dare you—”

“No, no! Garon, are you insane!? What are you even talking about!!!”

The spectacle unfolded.

Noble daughters screamed and slapped each other, pulling their hair as they began to fight.

In an instant, the café area turned into chaos.

“Why is it so loud outside?”

“I heard Moyla and Rodan are fighting it out?”

“…Let’s go!”

Pedestrians and café patrons alike left their spots, engrossed in the rare spectacle.

In their memories, the Dark Elf had been cleanly forgotten.

Once again enfolded in cognitive disruption magic, the Dark Elf pushed through the crowd and entered the café.

The wild tussle outside left the counter unattended, a cup left behind on the counter with staff and patrons distracted by the ongoing brawl.

The Dark Elf placed a gold coin on the counter and picked up the cup.

“Hmm~”

The Dark Elf, sitting by the window and sipping from the cup, let out a satisfied nose sound.

<How do you like it, Pamon? Those city wonders.>

“It’s not bad, huh? No, honestly, I quite like it. What kind of tea is this? It’s black, bitter, yet has a unique flavor.”

Heh.

Durán chuckled at Pamon’s flippant response.

From the perspective of the book, the state of its owner was highly abnormal.

If he had known the original owner, he would have felt immense disappointment and distaste at the recent events.

And those rude, vulgar humans would be made to pay dearly.

The shame of fighting grotesquely in the street, losing their friendships, dignity, and suffering disgrace doesn’t compare to the great price they would have to pay.

But right now, she was enjoying herself and relishing human places and culture with a pleased expression.

<Tomorrow, the sun will rise in the west, I guess.>

“Right? I can’t wait for tomorrow~ My disciple must be waiting for tomorrow just like me?”

<This is driving me crazy.>