Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 115 "A High Priest concealing their power..." If this were the title of a book, it would be impossible not to open it and devour it. That one sentence was enough to clarify the situation completely. Separately, we were confused. If Moria's sudden surge of power at the end of our duel was simply the restoration of hidden strength, then what did that make the enhancement ability we had recreated? I was so bewildered that I asked Clana. 'Clana, what on earth is going on here?' -I'm the one who wants to ask. You were the first to bring up this topic, weren't you? 'I'm just a lower-ranked person who doesn't know much, aren't I? Clana, who is a superior with more knowledge, please explain.' -What kind of bastard... It seemed Clana was equally bewildered, as she couldn't provide a proper answer. -There's nothing to be surprised about, Master! Then came the demon's voice. 'Oh. Calm. Reliable. What is it, Dangaleon? Why is there nothing to be surprised about?' -It's the result of Master and I combining our powers! It wouldn't be strange for any miracle to occur! 'No... don't speak nonsense with such a confident tone. And why are you leaving out Clana?' -That inorganic wench and such, the result wouldn't have been much different even without her! After all, isn't this a miracle that Master and I achieved purely through the power of magic! It seemed Clana also had attachment to the enhancement ability we had created by combining our powers, as she appeared quite provoked by Dangaleon's words. The composed killer rarely showed emotional turmoil as she spoke. -That's interesting. Then why don't you try deploying that ability using pure magic alone? -Kahahaha!!! What a pathetic provocation! How dare you doubt Master's ability! That foolishness will bring you pain!!! Master! Deploy that ability right now and remind that foolish barbarian, whose only skill is swinging iron, of her foolishness!!! The enhancement ability created by the three of us combining our powers had the nature of swordsmanship and magic complementing each other. It involved using magic on oneself to induce a temporary abnormal state, then enduring and maintaining it by strengthening the body through swordsmanship. For instance, if deployed using only magic as Dangaleon suggested, the body wouldn't be able to withstand it and would burst. 'Are you telling me to perform active, high-level self-harm right now?' -Oh no! For a moment, I forgot that Master is trapped in the prison called flesh! 'Prison? I'll die if I escape this prison.' Despite such in-depth discussion, our doubts ultimately remained unresolved. "I fully understand your bewildered feelings." I flinched. My body trembled at the voice that suddenly reached me. I had been so bewildered that I had completely forgotten I was facing Dray's representative. "...Certainly, it is bewildering." I belatedly came to my senses and responded to her words. "Don't tell me that power wasn't enhancement-" "Encountering a High Priest is a terrible exper-" "?" "?" Having spoken almost simultaneously and stopped almost simultaneously, we looked at each other with expressions asking what the other was talking about. "Please." I politely gestured for her to speak first. "...Encountering a cultist High Priest is a terrible experience. You must be deeply worried about what the High Priest might have done without your knowledge." "Ah! That's right! High Priest! Terrible! Absolutely terrible! Worry! Oh, deep indeed! Oh, this harsh world, to think the opponent I fought was a High Priest. My body trembles with fear." "..." The cold-feeling eyes behind her glasses narrowed. She seemed to be paying attention to what I had originally intended to say. However, she, with her businesslike attitude, didn't catch onto my words or show personal curiosity. She immediately continued with the main point. "I've come to see you this early morning for that very reason. Lord Dray has promised full support and compensation to ease your worries." "Full support and compensation?" Full support and compensation from a great noble family's young master. It was a sweet sound that gently touched my eardrums, but separately, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was sudden. 'Why would the young master provide compensation and support for that?' Dray, like me that day, was in the position of meeting Moria for the first time in the VIP room. As a perfect third party, Dray had no obligation to take responsibility for matters related to Moria. "He highly values your merit in expelling the High Priest who tried to hide their identity and infiltrate society to cause chaos." The words were quite proper, conveying the great noble family's broad magnanimity and sense of responsibility, but- 'Dray... Dray Ye Mastien...' Having met and even conversed with him, I felt there must be other intentions beyond pure responsibility or goodwill. That distance that seemed close yet was thorough. That man wouldn't be the kind of good-natured person who enjoys showing unreasonable kindness to others. It would be reasonable to assume he definitely had other intentions. "For that reason, Lord Dray has invited you to dinner later, so please continue the more detailed discussion there." "I understand." Whatever the case, I decided to accept Dray's invitation for now. Earning the interest of a great noble wasn't a common opportunity after all. Afterward, Dray's representative left the place, saying she would send someone once the schedule was set. *** "Now, then-" After Dray's representative left. Once again alone in the room, I tried to have my secret and precious happy time. Sleep. Having been obsessed with recreating(?) Moria's enhancement(?) ability all night, my fatigue was no joke. The most important thing for me right now was to continue perfecting the ability together with Clana and Dangaleon. Rest for that purpose was not optional but essential. 'I wonder what happened to the banquet.' It was regrettable to miss the opportunity to build relationships with Bondaless's city nobles, but right now, perfecting this enhancement ability was the priority. I walked to the window, drew the curtains, and lay down on the bed. Just as I was about to fall asleep. -Knock knock "This is a message from Lord Palag." "..." The same situation as before unfolded. "...For that reason, Lord Palag has invited you to a private meeting. There, please continue discussing the 'reward for victory' that was promised earlier." "Just to be sure, is Lord Dray also joining this meeting?" "Lord Palag would probably wish for such an abundant gathering, but as you know, Lord Dray is unrelated to this matter, isn't he? Unfortunately, there's no justification for inviting him." The words were quite polite, but the meaning contained within was blatant. -He's not coming here. No, he can't come. Palag's representative spoke with a polite smile. "Since you walk the path of magic, you surely know how significant an opportunity it is to meet with the Frozen Breath. Therefore, I have no doubt that you will prioritize your appointment with Lord Palag, no matter what happens." After Palag's representative left, Clana spoke. -Those two seem desperate to get their hooks into you first. *** This time for real, I lay down on the bed and tried to sleep. The drowsiness that attacked as soon as I closed my eyes. Everyone who was going to come had already come, so now it was truly time to enjoy sweet, honey-like sleep. -Knock knock "This is driving me crazy." But then came another knocking sound. I staggered like an angry zombie and opened the door. In this mood, wouldn't it be difficult to welcome anyone warmly? "Huh?" However, making such thoughts meaningless, the moment I opened the door, a smile appeared on my lips. "What's this, this well-matched pair?" Truly a handsome man and beautiful woman. A prince and a pure white princess were standing there. It was Rona and Fienne. "A well-matched pair... huh?" The prince looked at my face exhausted from fatigue and the dark room inside, then spoke with a surprised expression. "What, don't tell me you haven't rested at all?" "I've had too many things happen. It's really hard." "What did you do all night... don't tell me you secretly brought in a woman?" The prince grinned mischievously and nudged me with his elbow. Then he came into the room and sniffed around. "Doesn't seem like that's the case." "...You're not a dog, how can you tell such things by smell?" Rona, who had briefly looked around the room with a serious face, returned to his caring prince expression and said. "Well, when a young lady visits, various traces are bound to remain. Anyway, sorry. It seems like I've disturbed your rest." "Isn't it wrong to not sleep when everyone else is sleeping and prepare to sleep at a time like this?" Then came a haughty voice cutting in. Fienne walked heavily to the window and drew back the curtains. "Kyaaaaaaak kieaaayang aaaaak!!!" Exposed to the bright light, I writhed in pain. Fienne looked at me with her characteristic crooked smile. "Are you some kind of lower vampire or something?" "I guarantee... right now I'm in a state even more vulnerable to light than that... A human who stayed up all night and was just about to fall asleep when forced to wake up, that's what I am..." Rona looked at me with a bitter smile and said to Fienne. "By the way, why did you open the curtains? To torment him?" "Yes. I did it to torment a pathetic man who dumps a pile of troublesome work on others and can't even take proper care of himself. Is that okay?" Grumbling, Fienne approached and looked up at my face from right in front. "..." Silently examining my complexion carefully, she clicked her tongue. "I can see you stayed up all night practicing magic again. Am I wrong?" "To notice at a glance... even in this bright space... I feel like I've been stripped naked... "Seeing you talk nonsense, it doesn't seem like you overdid it too much this time. You don't seem to have bled either." Fienne looked around the room and said. "Do you remember?" "Huh?" "When you first came to Bondaless. Back then too, you stayed up all night practicing magic just like now." Fienne's red eyes looked distantly as if nostalgic, then she let out a small laugh and shook her head. "How can a person be so consistent?" Fienne quietly looked at my eyes exhausted from fatigue and said. "Are you very tired? Should I close the curtains?" "No. I'm fine. Anyway, closing the curtains now would be meaningless. There's something more dazzling than the sun right in front of me." "Ugh. Every time you open your mouth." She expressed distaste with her mouth, but her eyes were smiling. Fienne looked at me and said. "You. Don't you have something to say to me?" "It's been a while." "Not that." "You've gotten even prettier since I last saw you? Take it easy, will you? Are you planning to make everyone in the world fall for you?" "...Ugh, never mind. It's my fault for asking you to say just anything." Here. Fienne casually held out a bundle of documents. "What's this?" "At this City Council meeting, the series of work you conducted with City Councilor Ran has been concluded. I'd like to say read it right now, but you're not in a state to read documents." "No. I'm fine. Looking at Fienne for a moment seems to have relieved my eye fatigue." "Be quiet. I'll give you a brief summary, so just listen." "Time to relieve ear fatigue..." "The City Council's treatment of you has been decided." "Is it something big?" "Yes. You can look forward to it." "Don't tell me, City Councilor!?" "How did you know?" "Huh? Really!?" "Do you think it’s real?" "Huh!?" "You were talking nonsense, so I just returned nonsense. Listen seriously. This is the result that Ran and I fought for by staying up nights for several days." "Ah, yes." "You're a hopeless man who's very interested in privileges but absolutely hates the duties and responsibilities that come with them. Right?" "Hopeless, indeed." "You'd find weighty positions like Guard Captain or Acting City Councilor only troublesome. Right?" "Ah, that's right." "What's most important is minimal duty. Maximum freedom. Maximum rights for the effort invested. Right?" "Why do you know me so well? Is it because you've come to live inside my heart?" "So, the City Council has decided to grant you a position that's perfect for you." Fienne said that much and smiled meaningfully. "What, why are you stopping?" "What it is, you'll find out at the upcoming ceremony." "..." I was dumbfounded by the unexpected development. Who would have thought Fienne would cast "will be revealed in 60 seconds." And that triumphant expression. My anticipation was heightened to the maximum. That must be what Fienne intended. "Got it. I'll look forward to it." As Fienne intended, I decided to anticipate it fully. Fienne snorted with satisfaction at my reaction and said. "Now then- this time, don't you really have something to say?" "Thank you." "And?" "Uh... thank thank... thank..." "Fienne. The kid's going to break." The prince, who couldn't bear to listen anymore, extended a helping hand. "Here's a hint: when expressing gratitude, it would be proper to show sincerity befitting it, wouldn't it?" "...Ah! Is there something you want in return by any chance?" "Do you think I went through this trouble to receive compensation? Well, since you're offering, I'll accept it considering your sincerity." Fienne recited formal lines as if she had been waiting for this. And just as she was about to speak with a strangely mischievous smile. "Master!" A threatening voice interrupted. Verdandes! The little one spoke to me in a threatening pose with both arms raised with all her might. "It's time for Master to go sleepy-sleep!!! Why aren't you sleeping!!!" I wondered what was happening, but it was the sleep police appearance. "Huh?" "...What's this child? A spirit?" Rona and Fienne expressed bewilderment at Verdandes' sudden appearance. Ah, come to think of it, they hadn't met each other yet. This worked out well. I introduced Verdandes to the two of them. Look at our little one. Cute, right? That sort of feeling as I finished the introduction. "...Verdandes?" Upon hearing that name, both of them turned pale with shock.