Dark Fantasy Normalized – Chapter 82

“Tomorrow, they’re going to have a secret meeting in Bondales—”

That’s the only meaningful content Ricir could deduce from the letter.

There were those who were spurred by his actions—

“Wait—”

“Let me see that.”

It was none other than Balrod and Maldad.

Balrod was one of the top adversaries of black magic, even among the Red Mage Tower.

And Maldad was a demon hunter who specialized in dealing with demons and their followers, recognized for his authority.

Normally, they were in positions to lead people with overwhelming knowledge.

But Ricir—

Considering age, he was practically a junior to them, yet managed to get crucial information from the White Shadow Church’s letter.

While they were left empty-handed.

If it were in front of junior mages, it would have been an embarrassing situation, and they would have had to face it head-on.

Of course, just because there weren’t any juniors present didn’t mean their pride was safe.

Their thick, bushy red eyebrows twisted into a fierce curve as expressions darkened across their faces, with eyes glinting dangerously through black bangs.

“Maldad, wait! Let me take a look first!!! Don’t act so impulsively—”

“Oh, you—”

The two burly men grabbed each end of the letter with their rough, calloused hands while leaning in toward each other.

“Oof.”

Shakan, who had taken a step back to watch the scene, couldn’t help but perk up his ears.

It was quite a spectacle in every sense of the word.

How long did this go on?

“…”

With a bewildered expression, Balrod set the letter down.

Now the letter fully belonged to Maldad, but instead of showing joy, he frowned and placed it down.

“Did you find out anything?”

Shakan asked with a sly grin.

He wasn’t really curious; it was just an excuse to tease them.

When else would he get to see those two looking like they were holding in a fart?

As expected, Balrod and Maldad grimaced at the sight and merely clicked their tongues.

Heh heh heh.

The beastwoman warrior displayed her sharp fangs with a cheerful laugh.

“…”

The expression on Ran’s face, observing all this, was quite complicated.

Who would have thought that the youngest honorary mage among those four would steal the show?

She still felt quite dazed by the entire situation.

“Ricir.”

Balrod’s gaze turned toward Ricir.

His angular face quivered, enhancing his already fierce expression.

Mages from the Red Mage Tower were famously hot-headed.

It was due to their obsession with flame magic and the temper it influenced.

Among such fire mages, Balrod was a special case.

As the disciple of the Tower Master, he was recognized as one of the closest to the essence of fire.

In a word, his temperament was beyond fiery; it could be deemed fire itself.

This had just been clearly demonstrated during the earlier binding of the cultists.

– Aaaack!!!

– Don’t rush me, you bug-like fools!

When some cultists finally attempted to take their lives, he had suddenly lost it, turning their fingers to ash in his rage.

A young mage earning achievements over Balrod?

– You better explain how you came to that conclusion! If you jumped in without sufficient evidence, you’ll have to take responsibility for your actions!

Typically, he would be subjected to an interrogation-like self-justification process.

“I’ll say this beforehand, it’s not that I wish to oppose your opinion…”

But right now,

Balrod seemed almost to be fawning over Ricir.

He was trembling like a teapot bubbling over, yet in the end, showed a measure of respect.

He couldn’t dismiss him as merely a young mage, nor prioritize his own face when there was so much that Ricir had shown thus far.

Balrod thought.

If it weren’t for him, would they have been able to detect the White Shadow Church’s secret ritual in time and save the victims?

Probably—

– Of course! You puny human! If that had happened, I would—

“Hey, shut it.”

…No, it would have been impossible.

And thus, an astonishing scene unfolded.

“Will you teach me how you interpreted the letter?”

The red glare of the Red Mage Tower asked the young mage for guidance.

“…I too dare to ask.”

Continuing, Maldad nodded and spoke.

That wasn’t all.

Shakan and Ran gazed at Ricir with eyes filled with curiosity as well.

Any suspicion toward Ricir had vanished without a trace.

“Well, it’s nothing much.”

Soon, Ricir said.

What a simple tone it was.

They actually thought there might be nothing much like Ricir said.

“There was content relating to the writing system used in this letter in a book I read before. It just came to mind, that’s all.”

Back during his time in Bendel, Ricir had rummaged through all sorts of miscellaneous works in the Annex of the Hyaren Library to make a living.

The book being mentioned now was also from that period.

This was why Ricir felt dazed now.

Even as a bastard, he had easily come across those books and knowledge.

Yet, here were experts behaving as though they knew nothing.

“Is there such a book?”

“Can you tell us the name if it’s not too much trouble?”

Balrod and Maldad’s eyes sparkled with expectation and curiosity.

“Let’s see… I think it was a curious book named [Succession Book: Daronan].”

“…”

“…”

The eyes of Balrod and Maldad, which had been gleaming with enthusiasm, froze all at once.

“…How did you read that book?”

“What? Ah. At the annex of the library in the city I lived in—”

“No, I don’t mean that— No, why was that book— no…”

The demon hunter became a parrot repeating “no.”

Eventually,

Balrod and Maldad stared blankly at each other.

What’s wrong with him?

It was as if their expressions asked that question.

*

Succession Book, huh?

Now, that’s a rather heavy subject to unpack.

Tell me, you haven’t read that Succession Book, have you?

The Succession Book comprises seven volumes written by the ancient mage, ‘Yel Kanur’— it refers to phenomena.

Yes, phenomena.

Some people call it a forbidden or magical book, but I think very differently.

What kind of forbidden or magical book wanders the world with a will and overlays itself on other books?

These phenomena exist anywhere the book does. Even a naughty book you’ve hidden under your bed could become a Succession Book.

In terms of value, the knowledge contained in such Succession Books is beyond just immeasurable.

Ancient knowledge long gone! Isn’t it thrilling just to imagine?

For example, [Succession Book: Daronan] deals with the Daronan language, the foundation of all magical systems.

If you learn that Daronan language, you’ll gain remarkable comprehension of specific magic.

To give a prime example— black magic. In fact, Daronan is the language most specialized for black magic.

For that reason, some black mages take Daronan as their foundation.

But did you know? Most black mages only know half of Daronan.

Want to know why?

Because the book that deals with the Daronan language in the most detail is none other than [Succession Book: Daronan].

Yes, that’s right.

Even black mages, who are the epitome of madness, go crazy upon reading the Succession Book.

Because the Succession Book wipes everything out of the reader’s mind except the knowledge contained in the book.

How to speak, how to communicate, even the very act of breathing.

It happens occasionally; the dead have been found with notebooks in hand, eyes wide open.

Just as the book overlays itself onto the Succession Book, a human becomes overwritten by the Succession Book.

A book overwritten by a Succession Book can at least be read; but what use is a human overwritten by a Succession Book?

So, if you ever find a Succession Book, it’s best not to get too curious about it.

What to do then?

Hmm.

Aha! How about gifting it to someone you don’t like?

—The Crawling Library Eloran Conversation Keyword: Succession Book

*

“Is there a problem?”

Balrod and Maldad were lost in thought.

How on earth were they supposed to react to this matter?

– Of course! You are truly remarkable!!! To be alright after reading the Succession Book!

Just then, the demon provided a clear answer.

“No! No problem at all!”

“You read the Succession Book? Truly amazing!”

They spoke brightly, with emotions out of focus.

“…”

Ricir felt a sense of incomprehensible discomfort.

– Of course! You’re different from those worthless humans!

“I am the worthless human.”

– Don’t belittle yourself!

“…”

Ricir ignored Dangalion and spoke to his companions.

“Should I just relay the contents of the letter verbatim?”

“Oh, no!!!”

“Please don’t do that! Just summarize it!”

Balrod and Maldad recoiled in shock away from Ricir.

Ran and Shakan also stepped back from him.

Even the cultists rolling on the floor managed to roll away from him.

“Ugh.”

Ricir felt the unfair sting of being ostracized.

Meanwhile, Ran spoke up.

“Shall we return for now? I’ll send someone to take care of the transfer of victims and cultists.”

*

Once Ricir returned to Ran’s mansion, he immediately summarized the contents of the letter to them.

The letter contained the location and time of the meeting, but not much more detail beyond that.

For instance—

“I can’t just act rashly.”

At Shakan’s words, others nodded in agreement.

They recalled the priest of the White Shadow Church, Goldina, whom they had encountered at the secret place.

She had chosen death before truly fighting.

However, the desperate display she had shown right before the battle, that power.

What if their group had been split up to search?

And if a single individual had to face Goldina alone?

Surely, someone among them would have suffered significant harm.

That letter from Goldina had originated from above her.

There was a high chance that a force even greater than Goldina was waiting at the meeting location.

It was a matter that couldn’t guarantee the safety of the entire group.

A heavy silence fell over the space.

Shakan cautiously opened his mouth.

“I’d like to slowly slip away around here.”

“I too find it difficult to be involved any deeper.”

“Same here.”

Their request to Ran involved ‘demon interrogation’ and ‘tracking a suspected unholy force presumed as demon followers.’

A full-frontal clash with the White Shadow Church was an entirely different matter, one that could put their lives on the line.

…

Thus, if Ran expected further cooperation from them, she had to promise greater rewards and request proper support.

But—

Even Councilor Ran had her limits.

No matter how good she was, she couldn’t freely bring that level of force into the city.

Hence, the only choice Ran had at that moment was to leave the subsequent actions to the security forces.

It would be akin to handing off a lovingly prepared meal to another councilor.

…

“Damn.”

Ran muttered softly, biting her lip.

At that moment,

“Hey, Dangalion.”

Ricir nudged the black crystal.

“Got anything useful to share?”

-…

“?”

The crystal remained silent.

It was now empty.

*

Done it.

It’s done!

The blazing black fire, Dangalion, in his mind shouted with glee.

While the fools let their guard down for a moment, he had successfully transferred his essence to another seal stone.

Though he had to surrender most of his power in the process, it was an unavoidable choice.

If he remained beside that ‘silly child,’ he might have become like ‘that.’

“Damn! Damn! Damn!!!”

Dangalion thrashed about in humiliation.

How could someone of his caliber be caught playing around on a human’s palm?

It was a humiliation that he could never accept.

So, giving payback was only natural.

It was all for revenge.

Dangalion focused his mind.

As such, the surrounding information around the seal stone was conveyed directly to him.

Due to his waning strength, his sight was limited, yet the voices and presence were clearly delivered.

‘One high priest superior to Goldina, and three priests of Goldina’s caliber.’

Goldina had mentioned it.

The remaining seal stones had sections held by a flock of the White Shadow Church, scheduled to join soon.

These must be the very targets Goldina was to meet.

“Dangalion.”

Then, a voice echoed.

“Why are you here? What happened to the ritual?”

The owner of the voice was a being of higher rank than Goldina—

A high priest of the White Shadow Church.

Dangalion felt displeasure at the irreverent tone void of any awe but soon understood.

The residual presence from the voice suggested he served a higher authority than himself.

– The ritual…

Dangalion attempted to relay the facts.

Councilor Ran.

The Thunder Stomp Clan’s Shakan.

Balrod of the Red Mage Tower.

The demon hunter, Maldad.

And the honorary mage, Ricir of the Gray Mage Tower.

By them, the ritual had been intercepted, and Goldina had been killed (by her own hand).

-…

Yet, the voice never came.

Why?

Dangalion swiftly realized the reason.

– Silly child!

The voice of an innocent girl echoed in his thoughts.

– Bow your heads, insects! Embrace the night! I, the mountain of sand blocking the sun, hereby revoke all your rights!

Then came the thunderous roar of a mighty being.

– Nothing much, I just read the Succession Book.

Finally, the silly child’s meek voice resounded once more.

‘Maltail…’

Dangalion recalled the being he served, who was beside him.

‘Kallas… Goliath…’

On top of Maltail were two demons.

And above those two demons—

‘…Berbandes.’

In that moment, another priest’s voice reached him.

“High Priest, we have found a fragment of his presence.”

Dangalion realized, he was merely bait.

Their true objective was to manifest Maltail here in Bondales.

His own resurrection was merely a means to buy time.

‘…’

The first emotion Dangalion felt at this utterly humiliating realization was not humiliation or rage.

It was doubt and concern.

With Berbandes already in place, could Maltail successfully manifest and endure ‘that’?

*

– Oh, silly child!

“What? You’re back again?”

The blazing black, Dangalion.

With the power of an omnipotent demon, he calculated faster than light.

– Of course I had to come back! Where else would I belong but at the feet of my silly child!

“Where the hell did you go?”

– I just went to scout out the enemy camp!

“Whoa, you can do that? Impressive!”

The gaze from above was condescending.

Dangalion trembled with disdain at the insolence of humans.

‘Why… why am I acting like this…?’

Yet, oddly enough, he found himself feeling a guilty sense of honor.

– Silly child!!!

The dark mist swirling inside the crystal seemed to pale slightly, taking on a grayish hue.