Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 68

[Title: Sudden Encounter with a Vision]

Content: How is it that most bosses in this game are just “poor victims whose lives went terribly wrong while trying to live a normal life?”

Can’t we just have some “scumbags who deserve to die,” “those damned brats,” or “annoying little pests” instead?

Or at least give us a chance to save them, for crying out loud!

– For real, showing backstories just makes it worse.

– Backstories? Oh…

– [Author]: If they were like that, I’d feel totally fine killing them, but you should take it easy on the boss.

– Yeah, what’s the point of completing a destiny quest if it’s already happened?

– But how do you even get a happy ending in this game? Complete all the destiny quests?

– But if you keep completing the destiny quests, it locks you into a route, making it impossible to complete them all.

– Exactly, so let’s say we assume that.

– Roughly speaking, if we imagine making a DLC set in the past and funnel all the fate quests into one route, maybe we could clear it?

– Nah, I think it should be more about preventing it from becoming a destiny quest in the first place.

– [Author]: Oh, like grabbing the leash before Death Knight and Jinzo turn dark?

– Yep.

– Sounds not bad?

– But if you funnel all those numerous destiny quests into one, damn, that’s wild.

– Ugh, right?!

– Destiny quests are bound to pop up like crazy, seriously.

– So, if we want a happy ending in this game, we have to persuade the Dark Elves, grab Jinzo’s leash, convince that Kahn girl to send them back to the World Tree, and persuade the anti-spirit hater…

– After defeating the necromancer, curing the Assassin Master of his illness, sending him back to the Guild, and stopping the dark nobles of the Dark Elves north of Bondales while heading to the World Tree…

– Why am I suddenly out of breath, is my keyboard choking?

– Why does the rice bowl smell like my mouth…

– [Author]: For real, even if they create a true route for a happy ending, I probably won’t be able to clear it because the difficulty is just insane.

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In a mansion in Bondales,

A black girl and a white woman faced each other in different postures.

It was a Dark Elf and a human.

At the same time, they were master and slave.

“Master… I have something to tell you…”

The slave’s voice trembled.

Just like her naked body.

Kneeling on the floor, her back laid bare like a canvas.

Across her lower back, a red scar was drawn.

It was the mark of the slave.

As long as that scar existed, the slave couldn’t defy her master.

Splash!

Cold water was doused over her pathetic body.

The slave’s body, pressed against the stone floor of the dungeon, was about to bounce up but she barely held it down.

If her posture faltered now, she would face a punishment that was nothing compared to being doused with cold water in the frigid dungeon.

The only action available to the slave was to let her body and breath tremble uncontrollably.

Resisting those two actions would only provoke her master’s anger.

“Cold?”

No surprise there; her master spoke cheerfully. The slave’s pitiful appearance was quite satisfying.

“Yes, it’s cold…”

“Is that so? Then what should I do?”

The master lifted a silver cup.

Soon, the empty cup filled with water, and steam began to rise.

Boiling.

Watching it from the corner of her eye, the slave swallowed in fear.

“P-please allow me to finish my story… It’s a tale you might find interesting, Master…”

“Hmm… Is that so? Go on, tell me.”

The master turned the silver cup like a wine glass and listened attentively.

“The meeting with that person has been successful…”

“With that man named Ricir?”

“Yes…”

“Are you sure? If we get his help, can we retrieve the ‘cursed, disgusting slave?’”

“…”

The cursed, disgusting slave.

It referred to a Dark Elf slave.

Trembling, the slave answered.

“I’m n-not certain, but… according to the rumors, there’s a good chance we can receive help…”

“What kind of help?”

“…Huh?”

“Say it with your own mouth. What kind of help can we receive?”

“…”

The slave hesitated to open her mouth.

Splash.

The master splattered the hot water from the silver cup beside the slave.

Just a little water splashed, and the slave bit her lip in pain.

She knew.

That was not mercy but a final warning.

If she crossed her master’s will one more time…

Next, the master would throw hot water on her without hesitation.

In the end, the slave had no choice but to act as her master desired.

“W-well… We might receive help in retrieving those cursed, disgusting slaves…”

Closing her eyes tightly in terror, the slave spat out the words as if chewing them, and the master gave a strange smile.

A blend of amusement, contempt, and anger danced on her face.

“If even a slight flaw appears on the ‘product,’ you’ll bear the full cost. You understand that, right?”

If the slave’s arm were broken, hers would break as well. If the slave’s toe rotted away, hers would do the same.

And if the slave died—

“Yes, yes… I understand…”

The slave replied, trembling in fear.

“Keren?”

Creak.

At that moment, the dungeon door creaked open.

An approaching figure with discreet footfalls that were hardly noticeable unless one focused.

The owner of the footsteps was a young Dark Elf with one eye covered by a patch.

After handing garments to her master, the Dark Elf turned away.

Swoosh.

Without hesitation, the master undressed right there.

Her smooth, unblemished black skin was revealed.

Then she donned new clothes for going out.

Clothes that were hardly worthy of being called that, tattered and smelly rags.

“Here. You need to dress too.”

The master randomly tossed some clothes at the naked slave.

The slave hurriedly dropped her submissive posture and put on the clothes.

Next, she adorned herself with splendid jewelry all over.

Thus, the Dark Elf who claimed to be the master wore the rags, while the human woman treated like a slave completed her glamorous adornment.

It was a strange structure that arose from their bizarre relationship.

“Ready? Leisha.”

The Dark Elf asked the human.

*

Leisha was originally a merchant based in Bondales.

The main items she dealt with were slaves.

Recently, Leisha had been lucky.

By some stroke of fortune, she managed to acquire a Dark Elf slave.

Dark Elves are subjects of fear and disdain, but once they become slaves, the story changes.

There was a superstition that a Dark Elf slave would bring misfortune in place of their master.

Moreover, they boasted an appearance similar to the highborn race of Elves.

The ugly skin color wasn’t an issue.

In the underworld, various drugs existed for those who indulged in fleeting pleasures, and among them was one that could temporarily make a Dark Elf’s skin tone resemble that of an Elf.

If one bought and sold Elf slaves, pursuers from the Great Forest would soon come.

But a Dark Elf?

Dark Elf slaves were excellent substitutes to release the twisted desires that some criminally-minded individuals had for Elves.

For instance, they were a rare luxury item.

Leisha had stored the Dark Elf in a warehouse in the back alleys.

Awaiting the slave auction that would occur soon in the black market.

Up until the moment she successfully finished preparations for the slave auction, Leisha undoubtedly considered it her fortune.

That was until another Elf came looking for her.

– You. You have a Dark Elf slave, right?

– Hehe, why? Are you interested? Just wait. The auction will start soon.

– Care to tell me more about that?

– … D-Dark Elf…!

They made Leisha a slave.

At the same time, they posed as slaves to control her, all in pursuit of finding their lost sister in a city full of humans who despise Dark Elves.

*

The Dark Elf Katria couldn’t understand.

One day, her little sister suddenly disappeared, how did she end up in this distant human city?

And who was the informant providing information about her sister?

At first, she was endlessly curious.

But now, she found herself indifferent.

In fact, Katria held considerable expectations for this journey.

It was her first trip.

Leaving her homeland, the land of Dark Elves, she was stepping into the outside world for the first time.

What new experiences awaited her?

What was her sister doing?

It didn’t take long for those expectations to turn into concerns and eventually revulsion.

– Wearing expensive-looking clothes despite being a Dark Elf? Haha, where did she pick those up?

– D-Dark Elf!? Get out!!! Get out of my shop now!!! Don’t spread your curse!!!

What she encountered in the outside world was discrimination and hatred stemming from prejudice.

She realized late why the adults had been so worried when she said she’d venture into human lands.

Why they assigned the best knights to protect her.

The innocent girl gradually stained her journey with hate.

And at the end of this journey, she would discover one crucial piece of information.

A single Dark Elf named Leisha was sold in the black market by a slave trader.

Thus, Katria made a vow.

She would definitely rescue her sister from this horrific human land.

And on that day, when everything will come to an end, she vowed to return the hatred she and her sister received back to them.

“Lead the way.”

Two Dark Elf slaves followed the merchant.

They were heading towards the place where a meeting with a mage from the Mage Tower was scheduled.

*

The higher-ups had rented out an entire tavern near the Mage Tower for this meeting.

It was the moment when Katria’s party entered that tavern.

“Who’s that…?”

“A Dark Elf—”

Was it because the mage from the Mage Tower hadn’t arrived yet?

The whole room collectively turned their attention to Katria’s party, which was haphazardly dispersed.

The merchants reacted with various emotions.

Curiosity.

Contempt.

Uncomfortableness.

Someone pressed Leisha.

“Leisha, what were you thinking bringing a Dark Elf to a place like this?”

“…”

Katria, who was listening from the side, clenched her teeth.

‘Treating people like garbage…’

How can humans be such a vile race?

The longer she faced them, the heavier her unpleasant experiences and injuries, and the hatred toward them only grew.

“There’s always a reason behind it. Please understand.”

Leisha said with a bitter smile, glancing at Katria.

Still, the merchants didn’t hide their discontent.

At least, that might be a relief.

“Ah.”

“Is that the one?”

“That one must be the Deputy of the Mage Tower, so the one next to him is—”

Just then, the mages from the Mage Tower arrived, shifting their attention.

“We’ll proceed in order.”

They were all busy people.

The Deputy of the Mage Tower, alongside a notable mage named Ricir, entered the special room right away.

The merchants entered in their turn and soon emerged with satisfied expressions.

Finally, it was the turn of Katria’s party.

“Please, have a seat.”

The notable mage Ricir gestured to them.

Leisha took her seat, flanked by the two Dark Elves.

“…”

In that moment, the notable mage Ricir’s expression twisted.

His eyes quickly scanned over the two Dark Elves.

‘Why. Is being in the same place as a Dark Elf so repulsive?’

Katria snickered inwardly.

She had held a slight hope for the mage’s reputed reputation, but it was just as she suspected.

After all, he was merely another human.

Katria signaled to Leisha.

Following that, she spoke with the prepared expression and line she had set up.

“First, I apologize for the presence of dirty Dark Elves. There are reasons for this, so I hope you understand—”

Though Leisha spoke from a subservient position, Ricir’s expression remained unfazed.

“Dirty Dark Elves…”

He mulled that statement over seriously, then once again appraised the two Dark Elves.

A brief tension filled the air—

“…Let’s get to the point quickly.”

The notable mage Ricir suddenly brought up the topic, as if dismissing it.

Katria’s resentment for Ricir only grew with each passing moment.

She felt that as long as he was discontent, it was directed solely at her.

“…But suddenly, contact with them was lost. They absconded with my slave. I want that slave back. Please help me?”

“…Is it an important slave?”

Ricir asked with a significant expression.

How should that be interpreted?

Interpreted as, ‘Why are you so attached to just one Dark Elf?’ wouldn’t be an inappropriate interpretation.

Leisha explained from the standpoint of a merchant to persuade him, showcasing the value of a horrible Dark Elf as a slave.

In quite a graphic manner.

Though it wasn’t appropriate given they stood in front of the Dark Elves holding her life in their hands, there was little choice.

If she made even the slightest mistake here, who knew what awaited her afterward?

“Alright. I think that should be enough.”

So as Leisha described the typical uses of Dark Elves at that moment,

Ricir openly revealed his discomfort and interrupted her.

Then, after a brief conversation with the Deputy, he turned to Leisha and said,

“I will help you retrieve your slave. However, may I propose one condition?”

“Oh, if it’s regarding sponsorship, then don’t worry—”

“That’s not it.”

“Excuse me?”

“If possible—”

The notable mage Ricir’s gaze turned to Katria.

“I wish to purchase your Dark Elf slaves. The two present here.”

“…!”

Katria instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

‘What a scumbag…!’

Just a moment ago, he treated them like garbage, and now suddenly, he wants to buy them?

She felt nauseous at his overtly nasty intentions.

This Ricir was undoubtedly the most disgusting human she had ever encountered.

*

I looked at the two Dark Elves in front of me and thought.

‘What would my Master have done in this situation…?’

For now, I decided to save them.

I simply couldn’t leave them be, thinking of our Master.

*

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■Katria

Level: 41

Race: Dark Elf

─────

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■Keren

Level: 61

Race: Dark Elf