Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 70

The alleyway north of Bondales is a massive slave market.

One could argue that every element making up the alley is a part of this gigantic slave market.

In such an alley, pinpointing a specific slave and rescuing them without any trouble was an exceedingly challenging task.

The market would do everything to conceal the existence of slaves to protect the buyer’s rights, and in the process, the slaves would be swept away in the tide of this vast operation, stained afresh.

Katria was deeply concerned about this aspect and prayed fervently.

Her brother Drian, who had been sold into the black market as a slave.

She desperately wished that nothing would happen to him until she could save him.

Of course, mere wishing and hoping wouldn’t bring about any results.

It had to be swift, precise, and at the same time, discreet.

This was what it meant for a Dark Elf to sneak into an uninvited human city and operate.

Thus, Katria’s worries ran deep.

Even if she leveraged her family’s authority to actively overturn the entire alley, it would still be impossible to guarantee her brother’s safety.

And in such circumstances, having to rely on a slave trader while pretending to be a slave herself…

Of course, her fears became reality.

The place she arrived at, following the first clue she had gotten.

Drian was not there.

What the slave trader clutched in his hand was not a slave ownership certificate, but the payment for its sale.

*

“…”

A painfully achieved dramatic reunion.

Yet there was not a trace of joy in it.

It was a day over a month since Katria had stayed in Bondales.

She had finally regained her lost brother.

“Drian…”

His pupils had lost their light, and even when she desperately called out, all she received in return was a groan devoid of self.

The body of the Dark Elf was marked all over with signs of abuse and ridicule.

Moreover, the skin all over had become so grotesquely damaged that it was unrecognizable.

It was a side effect of a drug designed to temporarily bleach Dark Elf skin to make them appear as regular Elves.

They had discarded him without hesitation once he could no longer ‘mimic an Elf’.

Wasn’t that just the ending for an expendable item with limited usage?

Katria could easily imagine the treatment Drian had received from humans.

Drian had never been treated as anything resembling a dignified individual by them.

Such was her painful realization upon coming to the human world.

“…”

Katria carefully placed her brother’s body down on the ground.

Then, she turned to look at Leisha, who was both a slave trader and her own slave.

“Oh. Ah…”

Despair reflected in Leisha’s expression when she met Katria’s gaze.

This was somewhat of an expected outcome.

The discrimination and injustices surrounding them were not something a mere individual could change.

─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─

Ricir was deeply troubled.

According to what he heard, the northern alley of Bondales was, itself, a colossal slave market.

Could it really be possible to accurately pinpoint and find just one slave in such a place?

Especially before any significant issues arose?

“Lord Ricir! It seems we’ve discovered the Dark Elf slave you mentioned!”

It seems it is possible.

“Already? Kal, how are your abilities so impressive?”

“It’s not me! It’s thanks to you lending me your name, Lord Ricir!”

“My name has such a function?”

“Here, I brought Alstein and Keaara, who wished to pay their respects to you, Lord Ricir! So I brought them along!”

“Lord Ricir! It’s an honor to finally meet you in person!”

“I am Keaara! I’m really happy I can help you, Lord Ricir!”

“Oh, sweet alleyways, filled with such nice folks.”

Their friends in the alleyway were multiplying even with just breathing.

Thanks to that, Ricir had no difficulty meeting the Dark Elf slave ‘Drian’.

His condition was perfectly intact.

If standing in his shoes as a slave, you could say he was ‘as good as new’.

This was all possible because, for some ‘reason’, the slave market in the alley had been rendered inactive.

*

[The target is under the influence of a command spell.]

[The target is under the influence of a command spell.]

[The target is under the influence of a command spell.]

*

“…Miss. Tia?”

“Yeah? Ah.”

Tia—

No, Katria barely managed to gather her wits.

Her mind was in chaos from the series of unexpected developments like never before.

‘Drian? How does that human know Drian?’

‘What kind of question is that? If I get a chance to escape with my kin, what would I do?’

Katria ran through countless possibilities but couldn’t land on a solid answer.

First and foremost, it was exhausting just to fathom his intention.

And of course, he was human.

A detestable race that didn’t see Dark Elves as beings of the same personhood.

‘Don’t let your guard down…’

That premise, forged through countless experiences, was thoroughly hindering Katria’s thoughts.

She answered Ricir while maintaining her wariness.

“Why are you asking me something like that?”

At Katria’s response, Ricir showed his characteristic gentle smile.

“I thought if I brought up something as provocative as this, you might take an interest in talking to me.”

“What do you mean…”

“Don’t you remember? When I asked about you yesterday, you looked completely disgusted?”

“…”

‘So that was what he meant by wanting to talk?’

In the context alone, it was understandable.

But the speaker of those words—

He was human.

A human showing pure curiosity towards a Dark Elf?

Katria couldn’t imagine that.

“What are you curious about?”

Still, Katria found herself intrigued by his offer.

His mention of the topic was too tantalizing to ignore.

A submissive slave was no longer present.

Katria displayed all her caution towards the human before her.

“There’s plenty. I have many questions. But I’ll stick to the essentials since that seems to be what you want. Miss Tia. I will help you gain your freedom.”

“Why?”

“Excuse me?”

“What will you gain by doing that?”

Until now, all the kindness she had encountered from humans had been veiled malice.

Katria figured he would be no different.

“What will I gain? Hmm, well… self-satisfaction?”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ricir smiled awkwardly and began to speak.

“Seeing you reminds me of my master. My master is also a Dark Elf, just like you.”

A human serving a Dark Elf as a master.

That was an absurd story.

Even the humans who had wished to deceive her with malice had never spun such far-fetched tales.

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

“I know, right? It sounds strange. Just because my master is a Dark Elf, that doesn’t mean I unconditionally extend goodwill toward every Dark Elf. However… what can I say? Oh, I’m at a loss for words. I just can’t leave you alone because you remind me of that person.”

“…”

“My master is the benefactor who changed my life. The current me is living a life I couldn’t have imagined before. It’s all thanks to my master. They came to me first when I was nobody, and they offered me opportunities I didn’t deserve. If I ask you if that resembles our current situation too much, is that too far-fetched?”

“Of course…”

It was far-fetched.

The many experiences she had gone through made it hard to believe such absurd words.

Yet, why couldn’t she doubt his words?

He bore such an extraordinarily lively smile while recalling some nameless Dark Elf.

“…”

Her head was in a whirl; she couldn’t grasp the situation at all.

“Why did you bring up Drian…”

Amidst all that confusion, the feelings for her blood relative were crystal clear.

“Drian is the Dark Elf slave that Leisha asked me to help retrieve. Same owner, same Dark Elf. I figured you might know each other.”

“…Could it be, you found that child?”

That day.

Leisha held a lower status among the trading companies Ricir had met with.

For instance, why would Ricir prioritize ‘finding the Dark Elf slave’ over requests from other humans?

But what could possibly lead to such a decision?

Ricir nodded slowly.

He was prioritizing finding the Dark Elf slave above all else.

As if he were uneasy.

As if he were really worried about a Dark Elf.

Huff.

Huff.

At some point, Katria found herself panting heavily.

She fought against the urge to look at what Ricir held in his hand.

As if to deny what had already happened.

“That child… where is that child now?”

Katria squeezed out her trembling voice.

Without a word, Ricir guided her.

*

In another room within the mage tower compound, a young man lay in bed, resting.

“Drian!!!”

Katria rushed over to Drian and embraced him.

She soon let go and checked on his condition.

“They said he only briefly lost consciousness, so there’s no need to worry.”

Ricir explained the sequence of events to Katria.

That way, she learned the truth.

Ricir had immediately set out to search for the Dark Elf slave right after their meeting yesterday.

That when Drian had been found, he had been in a state of mind control magic, having lost his self.

That Ricir had healed him from the mental control magic.

That Drian had been cared for by a priest residing in the mage tower and was resting in accommodations within the tower.

“…”

Once the story reached that point, Katria could no longer focus on his voice.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

The sound of her heart pounding violently resonated deep within her.

It felt as if she were drifting in gooey oil.

“…Miss?”

A human voice broke through the heavy silence.

Her heart raced even more.

“Tia?”

Thump!

Her heart raced even louder.

For a human in such a moment, calling out a meaningless false name with so much worry.

In that moment, Katria couldn’t help but laugh at how foolish he was.

Her laughter didn’t end there.

She covered her face with both hands.

“Hahaha!!!”

Through the spaces between her fingers, her laughter poured out.

“Tia?”

Such a foolish human.

He was completely unaware of his situation and worrying over a fake name.

Katria dropped her hands to confirm his ridiculous expression.

“…Are you perhaps crying?”

With a face twisted in laughter, it certainly seemed that way.

“Me? Why? Would there even be a reason for that? In such… such a joyous situation? Lord Ricir, thank you so very much. Actually, that child is my brother. So, Lord Ricir, you are the benefactor who saved my brother.”

Benefactor.

Katria mulled over the word, laughing once more.

“Lord Ricir? What should I do now?”

“… Is that another male person who was with Leisha – the one you know?”

“You mean Keren? Of course! I know him well! He’s my bodyguard, you know! Isn’t it funny? The bodyguard of a slave.”

“Then it’s you, your brother, and Keren. The three of you make a party now, do you?”

“Yes. That’s right. We are together.”

“I understand. I’ll see what I can do to ensure that all three of you can become free. Until then, would you trust me and wait?”

“…”

The vibrant atmosphere Katria had enjoyed grew quiet.

With unfocused eyes, she softly asked.

“How long? How long do I need to wait?”

“As quickly as possible. I will try to wrap things up within a week.”

“A week… a week… a week…”

At last, Katria beamed at Ricir.

“Yes, I will wait. Willingly.”

*

In the dead of night while everyone slept.

Katria got out of bed and headed somewhere.

To the place where the foolish human slept.

Ricir.

His sleeping figure looked peaceful.

But Katria knew.

She was the only one who knew.

That ‘Turbid Truth’ was flowing through his body.

By tomorrow, he would lose his self and become a mere shell that responded only to commands.

Katria tried her best to reject the thought.

But—

“…”

She took out the vial from her bosom and held it up to the moonlight.

Exactly half.

The violet liquid that had filled the vial had unduly decreased.

It was precisely the right amount.

Thus, no matter what occurs, the Turbid Truth flowing in his body wouldn’t be cleansed.

He would meet his doom because of a Dark Elf he looked upon with respect and goodwill.

A human who wished to return the kindness he received from a Dark Elf back to another Dark Elf.

A Dark Elf wishing to return the hatred she received from humans back towards other humans.

Thanks to that, she was able to realize.

How wrong her own methods were.

How inexperienced she was in confronting their hatred.

Now she understood clearly.

But it was already too late.

Thud.

Katria’s body helplessly crumpled.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

With her head bowed, she created a series of unstable noise, like a broken music box.

Eventually, she rose from her spot and looked down at Ricir.

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room.

The light pink eyes of the Dark Elf were filled with moonlight.

Yet, those eyes remained dark and lifeless.

The fingers of the Dark Elf gently traced the man’s face.

“Don’t worry…”

A hollow voice, devoid of inflection.

“I will take responsibility for you.”

The Dark Elf wore a bright smile.

Bright yet perilously strange.

*

──────────

[Title: What the heck is this Dark Elf?!]

Content:


[Picture]

Talking with a suffocated corpse?

Is it that necromancy thing or what?

-: Katria’s friend

-: No, it’s pure craziness apparently~

-[Original poster]: What?

-: The kid’s a vegetable, has her mentality shattered ㅇㅇ

-: It starts a fight when you talk to her

-[Original poster]: What did I do;;

-: You’re a bastard ㅇㅇ

──────────

*

─────

[I resisted]

─────

*

The Dark Elf carefully put away the vial she had laid out to leave the room.

Then it happened.

The moonlight illuminated the liquid inside the vial.

“…”

That which had lost its unique properties and energy, becoming a harmless fluid.

“How is this…”

Something unknown had purified the properties of the poison.

Crack!

Her hand gripped the vial tightly.

“Perhaps…”

Perhaps, it was still too early to give up.

Something in the human world was cleansing the poison of the Dark Elf.

Something that existed within the Mage Tower.

She would definitely find it and stop it.

“Absolutely…”

Tears streamed down her face without end.

The Dark Elf’s once-dead eyes regained their light.