Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 67

Do you think I can really do this?

Could you reconsider?

That thought rose to the tip of my throat.

But in the end, I couldn’t let it out.

There’s probably a reason my master entrusted me with such a task.

So, the doll decided to act as the master wished.

*

Since coming to the Mage Tower, Dhamia felt like she was barely living.

No matter how much she learned, the administration was difficult.

No matter how much she worked, the overwhelming workload never decreased.

The process also severely limited her freedom and will.

Sometimes, she found herself resenting her master who had entrusted her with all this.

Yet, each time that happened, Dhamia made an effort to right her mind.

– My master wouldn’t have assigned me this without a reason.

– If there is a problem, it’s probably due to my lack of effort.

Dhamia simply endured and wished fervently.

Hoping that someday this would all come to an end.

That the Mage Tower would become stable, as per her master’s will, and she could enjoy peaceful rest.

And finally, everything was shimmering so close she could almost reach out and grab it.

Of course, she knew.

That she was far from perfect, let alone sufficient.

But what could she do?

This was her limit.

There was no way she could work harder, nor could she do better.

Sometimes when she managed to get some sleep, she was plagued by an unknown guilt, and when she got too tired and zoned out, the walls all around seemed to close in on her.

There were times when, without any sign, she was overwhelmed and burst into tears.

What she had built up clumsily, stitch by stitch, had brought her to this moment, and Dhamia found the result quite satisfying.

‘Ricir…’

But that man ruined everything.

Dhamia was determined to resent him with all her might.

But why was it that—

“I heard you called for me—”

As he stood before her, all that negativity melted away like snow.

It felt as if something warm was caressing her.

Was it because he was currently the center of attention among the lords of Bondales?

She couldn’t tell.

What was certain was that with his help, she might be able to end this tiresome nightmare.

‘I am here on behalf of my master… I must never show weakness…’

Once her usual resolve finished up, Dhamia calmly opened her mouth.

“Yes. I called you. You know who I am, right?”

Her appearance, unaffected by the passage of time, still held upon it the freshness of youth.

However, her expression, drenched in fatigue and resignation, and her dark circles forcibly added an air of gravity to her demeanor.

The Deputy of the Mage Tower looked down at him with her upper body held upright.

“Of course. You are the deputy of the tower.”

“Do you perhaps also know the reason I called you here today?”

“…Could it be about the matter I resolved last time?”

“Indeed. Polda. It seems he was greatly impressed by your efforts.”

Dhamia handed over the prepared documents to Ricir.

“He has expressed a long-term desire to support. Moreover, it’s for an amount comparable to the existing vessels.”

Ricir’s eyes grew wide as he checked the sum written on the document.

If it’s not too much trouble, just one ice cream—

“Surely, being the owner of a sizable merchant guild, the expenditure is substantial.”

“Not all of them are like that.”

“Excuse me?”

“A trader knows precisely when to open and close their wallets. The fact that they are showing this level of goodwill means you’ve demonstrated ample value.”

“…”

Ricir nodded slowly.

In Dhamia’s eyes, he appeared as if he was moved by her flattery.

It was a shining moment where the teachings she learned from the book [How to Handle Subordinates] came to light.

‘He must have taken a good impression of me, right?’

Deciding that enough groundwork had been laid, Dhamia got to the point.

“That was a long preamble. The reason I called you here today is to discuss the continuation of our previous matter. It seems Polda’s case has been shared among the merchants, and many guild lords seem to have taken a liking to you. They have promised support for the Mage Tower and requested to meet with you. You understand their intentions, don’t you?”

“Are they perhaps having issues with that guy named Kal as well?”

“Not just that, they seem to believe your influence covers the entire north back alley.”

“…”

“Do you have any insight?”

After deep deliberation, he let out a chuckle.

He then carefully nodded.

“Really? Then—”

Dhamia fell into thought.

How could she make him willingly offer his help?

– Why is the tower lord relying on someone like him…

– It’s tricky. If he weren’t the deputy of the tower…

She always thought this, but dealing with subordinates as her master’s representative was tough.

No matter how much she tried and pondered, discontent would rise.

Reminding her that if she weren’t the master’s agent, she wouldn’t be worth anything.

“Then…”

Suddenly, she felt sick.

‘Now that I think about it, he is an honorary mage, right—’

He was not formally affiliated with the Mage Tower. In other words, he didn’t have to bow to her, even in appearance.

‘What if I make a verbal blunder, and he decides not to help?’

Disappointed merchants. Reversed support. A goal that slips even further away.

The worst-case scenario formed effortlessly in her mind.

And with that, her nausea intensified and her lips became heavy.

‘He must also be aware that I opposed his honorary mage appointment…? He must be looking down on me inwardly…?’

How strange. This felt unusual compared to her norm.

Dhamia felt the mask she crafted hang thin that day.

She focused all her nerves on her expression, fearing her foolish true self might reveal itself.

Her voice was no different.

“W-Well, I would like to offer you an opportunity to help the Mage Tower…”

But despite her efforts, the pitiful voice that emerged gave her no credit.

The content was even more laughable.

Oh no!

Just as Dhamia was about to panic and immediately try to recover,

Ricir flashed a mischievous smile.

“Oh my, that’s precious. Then I shall gladly accept it.”

As if merely playing along with a joke, his response felt entirely devoid of the preconceived notions of what a deputy of the Mage Tower should be.

Dhamia was at a loss for how to respond in a situation like this.

Her hard-to-read books hadn’t covered related matters either.

“Well, yes… I shall consider it an honor…”

So, she spoke her mind freely.

And then watched Ricir for a reaction.

How did her current state appear in his eyes?

He smiled again as if he found it amusing.

Dhamia burst into laughter just the same.

The simple smile he wore conveyed none of the dignity expected of a deputy of the Mage Tower.

*

──────────────────────────────

[Today’s Diary] [Weather: Cloudy]

I hate rainy days.

I love the sound of rain tapping on the window, but everything else is awful.

This Mage Tower is unnecessarily vast, and when it rains, it gets incredibly eerie.

I can’t help but think, “Aren’t ghosts going to show up!?” (Actually, there’s supposedly a spot in the tower where ghosts appear [a painting of one screaming])

Especially at night!

When the master and staff head home, and the students have left, it’s the dead of night with nobody around!!!

At this time, all the lights in the tower go out, and I must endure this vast office alone by lighting just a candle!

Is that rational!?

This is seriously terrifying!

When the wind blows and shakes the window, I was so startled that I almost became a ghost myself.

On days like today, I miss my master desperately.

I wonder if they’re doing well?

I hope they aren’t caught in the rain.

I wish they would return soon.

If only I were with my master, I could visit that place where they say ghosts appear.

──────────────────────────────


──────────────────────────────

[Today’s Diary] [Weather: Clear]

Today, while passing through the corridor, I thought I misheard something.

They say there’s something called a rainbow cake!

It’s a dessert sold at a newly opened café,

Why is it called a rainbow cake?

Is it huge like a rainbow? Or is it arched like a rainbow?

Or could it be because it’s the colors of a rainbow?

Oh wow, I’m completely curious.

If it is the colors of a rainbow, how did they achieve the colors?

Red must be strawberry.

Orange is grapefruit.

Yellow is… What’s yellow… orange? (Not to be confused with tangerine!)

Anyway, I’m skipping ahead; here’s where the real issue kicks in.

Green.

What could they have used for the green color?

Apple?

No way it’s leaves, right?

Oh! Wait! There’s matcha!

…Then what about blue?

Navy?

Purple?

In my personal opinion, those three could be left out, right?

I don’t think they are appetizing colors…

But, can you even call it a rainbow if those three are missing?

It’s complicated.

After all, it might not be rainbow-colored but be just rainbow-shaped cake?

Maybe I’d understand after trying it? < No! I have to save everything right now! I should set an example as the head of the Mage Tower!



That makes sense, right?



Ugh. I hate this place.



Once again, this position feels overwhelmingly burdensome to me.



Even thinking back, I still don’t get it.



Why did my master assign me this task < Because they believe in me! ★★★



That’s right.



My master believed I could do it, thus entrusted me with this responsibility.



So I mustn't give up and keep pushing myself today!



──────────────────────────────

──────────────────────────────



[Future To-Do List]



1. Lie in bed all day and sleep



2. Read a romance novel



3. Visit a place called a café



4. Try a rainbow cake ★★★



5. Go ghost hunting with my master (My master is stronger than the ghost, so there’s no need to be afraid!)



6. Learn makeup



7. Love??? < Still not sure about this



...

...

...



...

37. I really don’t need any of this, so please just end it.



──────────────────────────────

──────────────────────────────



[Title: Who Was Dhamia???]



Content: I found Dhamia’s diary in the Mage Tower and read it.



For real; the content is so girly.



Watching it, I smiled like a dad.



- : Is it okay for a dad to smile while peeking at a girl’s diary? wtf



- : He must never become a dad, damn it.



- [Poster]: Damn it, isn’t it obvious it was dropped on purpose?



- : We’ve agreed to call that item “lost property,” not “lost articles."



- [Poster]: The production team dropped it, damn it.



- : It’s Dhamia, the deputy of the tower.



- [Poster]:?



- [Poster]: No, not that dark circle girl.



- : There’s no other Dhamia.



- [Poster]:?



- [Poster]: No, you mean she actually wrote that diary?



- [Poster]: wtf is she two-faced or what?



- : It’s probably a dual personality.



- [Poster]: ?????



- [Poster]: Is this real?



- : Dual personality (forced).



- : A puppet mimicking her tower lord days < Originally, the Gray Mage was supposed to create it.



- : A puppet mimicking her 14-year-old self < It was accidentally created wrongly by the Gray Mage.



- : Dhamia was probably 14 years old when she wrote that diary.



- [Poster]: So, you entrusted the administration of the Mage Tower to a 14-year-old kid?



- : It’s probably true that time has passed, and she’s grown up now.



But it started off like that, yeah.



- [Poster]: That tower lord is insane.



- [Poster]: So, nobody noticed that a 14-year-old was handling administrative work?



- : (During the tower lord’s 14-year-old days<<<)



- : The software was the tower lord, so she must’ve been able to hold her ground through sheer will.



- : It genuinely seemed absurd at first, but over time, it became bearable enough < Assessments from the masters.



- [Poster]: So, it’s hard being the tower lord, huh? for real.



──────────────────────────────



*

After the conversation ended, Ricir stepped out of the office.

At the door, Master Meltas, Didoa, and Marina waited for him, all with worried expressions.

“Ricir, are you alright!?”

“Were you feeling bad waiting without saying a word? If so, I’m sorry. Ricir, have you been doing well? Oh, by the way, the reason I was waiting here—”

“You’re being too lengthy, Didoa!”

It was as if they were meeting someone who had just returned from the jaws of a monster.

That couldn’t be helped, as the peculiar character of the Deputy of the Tower was notorious even within the Mage Tower.

She was someone who pathologically insisted on presenting and emphasizing the authority of the tower lord even in front of masters.

Just how much more would that be towards Ricir, an honorary mage?

It wouldn’t be surprising if Ricir, called to her side, faced some unjust treatment.

“Oh? Well, she was quite the entertaining person. While going to meet with the guild lords, it seems we agreed to take a tour of the city together.”

“?”

“?”

“Could it be the execution grounds?”

The three reacted as if they’d seen a ghost.