Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 69

“Miss—”

“Don’t do this. What will happen to them if we pretend not to see them?”

“…”

“Everyone, do you need help?”

Katria reached out to them without hesitation.

The humans gladly accepted the help.

“Well, this shatters one of my biases. Dark Elves are said to be evil beings. What kind of bastards spread such nonsense?”

Katria had the same thoughts.

The races of the outside world generally despised Dark Elves—

Her newly found human friends showed her the truth of the matter.

Katria felt a special connection with them.

They were her first friends from the outside world.

Friends who expanded her horizons.

She thought to herself.

Humans are truly—

“Friend? What the hell! This Dark Elf girl—just because I hung out with her for a bit, she’s spouting nonsense.”

“Hehehe, hey Wilhelm. Have you made friends with a Dark Elf already?”

“Shut your mouth before I rip your tongue out. Hey Dark Elf! Don’t you get it yet? You’ve been kidnapped by us. Hand over everything you have.”

Humans are truly—

“Wait. This Dark Elf girl. Now that I look at her, she’s pretty cute, isn’t she?”

Humans are truly—

“…Should we have some fun before selling her as a slave?”

“Are you really thinking about doing something with a Dark Elf? What if you catch some disease or curse—”

So they called it an ugly and detestable race.

──────────

▶ Fate 17: The Detestable Race

──────────

Faruk.

Katria burned the paper she held in her hand.

“Detail how you treated the Dark Elf Slave.”

That was the command she gave to Leisha using the slave mark.

The paper that Katria had just burned described in detail what her sister had endured while under the humans’ control.

“Ahh!”

Recalling the contents of the paper, Katria first ripped Leisha’s clothes.

Then, she rolled her naked body in filth from the alleyways and dressed her in rags that clung to the stench.

The slave dealer claimed this was the common treatment for Dark Elf slaves.

*

“You want to buy slaves?”

Leisha instinctively looked at the honorable Mage with disdain.

In situations like this, it was typical to think, “Ah! She must have had a special experience with Dark Elves and couldn’t just stand by!” rather than “She seems very interested in whitening the skin of Dark Elves for her own amusement!”

Leisha drastically changed her evaluation.

She felt a sense of familiarity due to her ‘cute?’ appearance and casual demeanor, but of course, there was a reason she was a Mage at the Mage Tower.

He must be a weirdo, not easily intimidated by the Mages he had seen so far.

Even as he wears that friendly expression in public, he must indulge in all kinds of perverse activities when he returns to his laboratory.

His mansion or laboratory was probably filled with all kinds of perverse desires.

Like mutations created by mating two different races, or obediently trained demons and beasts with their teeth pulled out, or monsters that hide their horrible identities beneath beautiful appearances.

“Is there a problem?”

Reading Leisha’s expression, Ricir became more proactive.

“How much fun are you hoping to have with a Dark Elf slave?”

Leisha forced down her disgust, putting on a merchant’s smile.

“Well, um…”

And she glanced at the Dark Elf, Katria.

Leisha was merely a slave and real decision-making power rested with her.

Soon, the owner’s voice was transmitted through the slave mark.

-Yes!?

An unexpected order was given to the slave.

*

The first emotion Katria felt was extreme discomfort and disgust.

Imagining a human treating her like an object and pouring out all their twisted desires made her blood boil with rage.

And then, she felt humiliation.

No matter how much she was acting as a slave, becoming an “object of purchase” to a man is something that one could never have imagined, even in dreams.

Upon reaching the summit of endless sandy dunes with the sea spread out, the city of red cliffs unfolds.

The noble lady of the Sahila family, Katria, reigned over Kehelin like a blooming flower atop a cliff.

From commoner women to noble men,

Willingly putting everything on the line just to catch a glance from the lady of Sahila or see her veiled, unveiled face.

There were nobles who had gone through countless parties in hopes of winning her favor, only to end up losing their fortunes.

And now, someone dares to say they want to buy the noble lady Katria.

If anyone spoke such words in Kehelin, they would learn how many stones lay scattered in the streets through their own bodies.

They would also discover how sharp the blades of Kehelin are.

Katria wouldn’t have listened to such nonsense if she had heard it in Kehelin.

Who dares to put a price on her worth?

The Dark Elf lady’s pride was not so fragile that it could be scratched with a single word.

‘You wish to buy me? A disgusting human?!’

…Katria was deeply wounded.

The Dark Elf lady was currently in a state of mental weakness.

The countless scorn and discrimination she experienced after coming to the land of humans.

Katria tried to dismiss all of it as humans being human, but it wasn’t going as smoothly as she wished.

Unbeknownst to her, a subtle inferiority complex took root deep within her heart.

That was why Katria could not take Ricir’s words lightly.

She could not just let this slide.

Only by returning this humiliation to him could she feel at peace.

“Tell them to sell me.”

Katria commanded Leisha.

-At a price that that man can’t afford.

If the Dark Elves of Kehelin learned about this, it would be a tragedy.

-For the lady of Sahila, her pride is being restored by pricing herself!!!

Katria herself knew her actions were wrong.

But what drove her now was not reason, but emotion.

Negative feelings toward humans.

“Well, there’s nothing I can’t sell if I do.”

Leisha immediately adopted the merchant’s face and carried out Katria’s command.

To execute her master’s unreasonable demands, the merchant’s bargaining skills were put to the test.

“Do you see this? Smooth skin without a scratch. Just like a black pearl. And this silky hair, lightly tinted pink, is rare silk, and the eyes are like pink diamonds—I assure you, you won’t find a more beautiful slave than her in your lifetime.”

What was needed was merely to set a price much higher than the market rate for Katria?

A simple recitation of factual matters was sufficient.

In reality, a slave with the stature of Katria should demand any price.

Leisha often thought as she watched Katria pretending to be a slave.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was a Dark Elf, her value would rival that of a castle.

“So, if you decide to purchase, the price will be—”

And that was how the price was set.

“…”

Ricir’s expression twisted.

That expression brought back a series of memories for Katria.

The face of a human who had hidden their ugly true self behind a flimsy mask.

“You should know your place, you detestable human.”

“Are you that desperate? Were you that eager to have my body?”

“Disgusting beings. You treat us like cursed monstrosities in public, yet you reveal your purity before your lust, which is no different from a beast.”

The Dark Elf, who had once displayed pure curiosity toward humans, was no more.

She actively employed the hatred she learned from humans.

Moreover, she planned to use the deceit she learned from humans.

“This guy is the key to finding my brother…Drian.”

Katria recalled the images of the guild leaders who had met with Ricir faster than they could.

Requests from other humans.

To find a Dark Elf.

What would humans prioritize between the two?

There was no need to think.

“Probably, they would delay Drian’s matter until the very end. To them, a cursed Dark Elf is of no concern.”

That’s why Katria decided to use the man before her.

His desire for her.

The Dark Elf master gave another command to the human slave.

“Excuse me? You want to lend me Dark Elves?”

“She’s a versatile girl. She’ll be a great help to you, Sir Ricir, who will be busy with this work.”

“…”

Ricir’s expression twisted.

Is it okay to treat them like mere objects to be borrowed?

He examined Katria’s appearance.

She bowed obediently toward Ricir.

Ricir suddenly became concerned about her attire.

Rags that looked nothing like clothing.

What kind of treatment did she usually endure?

How did she even become a slave?

Most slaves in this world wore chains as punishment for their crimes.

But lady Katria looked nothing like a criminal.

If we categorize her, should we say noble?

Was it more likely that she had become a slave after committing a crime, or was it due to an unfair situation entangled with a slave trader who frequents the underworld?

“Aaah, I can’t take it anymore.”

Ricir recalled Pamon’s cheerful smile.

Surely, that Dark Elf, whose emotions and identity were suppressed just like a doll, could also smile like his master, right?

“Then, I will accept your favor.”

Ricir made his decision.

He had to somehow free those Dark Elves.

*

“…”

Katria internally scoffed.

The human’s reaction was exactly as she had predicted.

The narrow-minded mage was asking a Dark Elf for help.

Quite unpleasant just imagining it, right?

Oh? But seeing my body, he seems to accept it?

Could it be this simple?

Could it be this ugly?

“With all my heart, I will serve you.”

At this point, Katria even felt a certain gratitude.

As the last remnants of her reluctance and guilt faded away.

*

“…”

And so, Katria temporarily became Ricir’s possession.

As the meeting between the Mage Tower Mage and the guild leaders ended, the sunset settled on the streets.

Katria walked out onto the sunset-soaked streets following Ricir.

“I have some business to attend to, so would you mind going ahead?”

After dismissing the company first, Ricir led Katria somewhere.

“Is there any clothing you’d like around here?”

A clothing shop.

And a rather high-end one at that.

“…No, thank you.”

“Oh, is that so? Then I’ll, um… pick something for you.”

Katria only understood Ricir’s intentions after arriving at his Mage Tower lodging.

A house of residence.

The first thing he did after casually bringing a Dark Elf slave into his place was to subtly point to the bathroom and offer her a bath.

While suggesting the clothing she just chose.

Katria laughed without a word.

Could his actions be any more transparent?

To acquire a slave and then suggest bathing before dressing her in expensive clothes.

What could be the next move?

It was all too evident.

Meanwhile, Ricir was still staring at Katria’s body (rags).

“When was the last time she washed? Tsk.”

Katria barely swallowed her nausea and said.

“Please withdraw your command. If Leisha finds out I used Lord Ricir’s space, she will scold me greatly.”

“Oh… is that so?”

Is it because he is, after all, the honor Mage of the Mage Tower?

It was quite amusing to see him torn between facade and reality.

What could possibly be shameful at this point?

Had she laid down her last shreds of dignity, she could have obtained what she wanted.

Katria smiled derisively at the puny human pride while also feeling grateful.

Thanks to him, the horrendous experience that would make her feel that death was a better option was deferred.

“…”

Ricir, casting a glance at Katria, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Oh, right! We haven’t introduced ourselves yet. My name is Ricir.”

“I’m Tia.”

Katria had created a fake name, as even revealing her real name to a human had become tiresome.

“Very well, Ms. Tia. If I may ask, do you need anything else?”

“…”

“Oh, by the way, you don’t need to hold back. I’ll make sure to take fair compensation from you. This way, that person, Leisha, won’t be able to scold you, right?”

“What do you mean by compensation?”

Ricir chuckled awkwardly and said.

“I’m just curious about you, Ms. Tia.”

Based on the humans she met till now.

The acts they displayed toward her.

Drawing from that experience, Katria realized Ricir’s words were a metaphorical expression of physical desire.

It seemed he desperately wanted to possess her body.

Katria kept her head down and firmly sealed her lips.

She had to get through this crisis somehow, even if it meant enduring beatings or other abuses from him.

Unexpectedly, he turned away from her without any lingering attachment.

“…Well, the opportunity isn’t just now.”

Leaving behind a chillingly horrific line.

*

Katria sat on the bed of her assigned room, lost in thought.

Moments later.

She pulled out a small vial from her bosom, no bigger than her index finger.

Inside the vial was a translucent liquid of lavender hue.

The poison called ‘Turbid Truth’ that Dark Elves use to interrogate criminals strips away the victim’s self and turns them into puppets that can only respond to specific commands.

Katria wondered.

How could she make Ricir prioritize a Dark Elf slave over all else?

One idea surfaced: to make him consume the Turbid Truth.

If Ricir drank the Turbid Truth, he would exhaust every resource to retrieve Katria’s brother.

And he would end up a vacant shell.

The Turbid Truth had no antidote.

With that, the life of one human named Ricir would come to an end.

A sudden feeling of discomfort surged through Katria.

Is this really the right path?

– Wilhelm! Get a grip! You need to run away even now!

– Hey, you idiots! Do you know what curse that Dark Elf girl might have placed on us? We need to kill her!

“…”

With a determined expression, Katria gripped the vial tightly.

*

Surprisingly, the opportunity came quickly.

As Katria silently handled chores at the lodging, Ricir naturally accepted it.

The night after Katria became Ricir’s possession.

Upon his return from an errand, she offered him a cup of tea.

“Ah, thank you.”

He immediately drank it enthusiastically.

The tea mixed with Turbid Truth.

“…”

─────


[I resisted]


─────

Katria clenched and unclenched her sweaty palm.

It worked.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the effects to kick in.

Interpret how Ricir interpreted her behavior—

He smiled at her, holding up the teacup.

He thought.

Finally, this Dark Elf seemed to have opened her heart to him.

What a fortunate development.

He had matters to discuss regarding the profits he gained today.

What he first engaged in after the meeting concluded yesterday was none other than searching for the Dark Elf slave mentioned by Leisha.

Ricir uttered the name of the Dark Elf slave he had learned in the process.

“Ms. Tia, do you know someone by the name of Drian?”

“Excuse me?”

It was the first time Katria, who had been showing no emotions or identity since following Ricir, revealed her astonishment.

Because her lost brother’s name had suddenly come up from his lips.

Then, an incredible statement came from him.

“Ms. Tia. If, very hypothetically, there was a chance for you to escape with your kin, what would you do?”

“…”

Katria opened her mouth to respond.

By now, her gaze was fixed on the teacup Ricir held.