Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 116 "Verdandes..." Fienne and Rona furrowed their elegant brows as they fell into contemplation. Setting aside the observation that our princess and prince look stunning even when frowning- "Wait. There's something I need to clarify first." I spoke to the two with a serious expression. Then Fienne and Rona, who had grown serious as well, responded. "As expected... you've gone and done something terrible again without us knowing." "Hah... fine. Speak. I'm mentally prepared." "You just mispronounced it." "?" "?" The two had no idea how serious this matter was and relaxed their expressions. Only I maintained my tension and carefully continued speaking. "Listen carefully. This little one's name is Verdande... t!" Right? When I looked at her for agreement, the baby spirit with fierce diagonal eyebrows spoke. "No!!!" "!!!" "My name is Verdande..." Her small body trembled. "S..." A breathy sound escaping from her tiny mouth. "Could it be!? This time for sure!?" Finally, Verdande... whatever-her-name-is stretched her body with all her might and shouted vigorously. "Siu!!!" "Ver, Verdande... Siu!!!" Oh, what a shame. This time she really almost got it. Of course, this name is also quite nice. Somehow it feels like a name that requires dynamic body movements. "You heard that? This little one's name is Verdande... Siu! Please be careful with the pronunciation. Even though she's this tiny, her personality is no joke. See? Those fierce eyebrows standing up." "!!!" "Ugh, look at that expression. She's just overflowing with spirit. What does she plan to become when she grows up, already acting like this." "..." "..." The two tilted their heads while looking at Verdande... Siu! "Hmm..." "No way...? Right, it couldn't be..." Then they nodded as if understanding something, approached Verdande... Siu!, crouched down to eye level, and spoke warmly. "Nice to meet you, Verdande Siu. I'm called Fienne." "I'm called Rona. Please take care of us from now on?" Each greeting was elegant like a princess and wonderful like a prince. The kind of first impression that would make children's eyes sparkle with delight. "I hate you!!!" "!!!" "!!! "What!?" However, Verdande... Siu! pointed at the two with fierce eyebrows raised. Two people, so two index fingers. Double pointing. It was rebellious and challenging like a rockstar's gesture on stage, which was incredibly cool, but separately I could feel large holes being punched through Rona and Fienne's hearts. "Hey!" I immediately scolded Verdandes. "What kind of way is that to talk to your big sisters!" "But!!! They're disturbing Master's sleep!!! You're all bad!!!" "Oh my, it's actually based on quite reasonable grounds? This makes it hard to blindly defend her... What should we do, you bad ones." "Why are you talking like that...?" "When talking to a child, you need to match their eye level." "Ha, haha... Risir seems like he'd take good care of children. He'd make a good father." Unlike the flustered Fienne, Rona skillfully maintained her princely smile while addressing the angry baby spirit. "Sorry, Ver. For disturbing his sleep. Could you forgive us just this once? We're his friends, and we're happy to see him after a long time. He would be more excited playing with us than sleeping, right?" "!!!" Ver looked at me with a dignified pose, hands on her hips. As if asking whether the defendant's statement was true. I gave a thumbs up and said. "Yogin." Then her small head nodded rhythmically. "Risir is yogin!? Got it! Then I'll let you off!" "Verdande... Siu!? If you use the term 'big sisters' instead of 'you guys,' it would be a bit more yogin!" "Got it! Big sisters! I'll let you off!" "Ah, how yogin." Clap clap clap clap clap. Seal-like applause naturally erupted at that touching scene. I looked at Fienne and Rona to share the emotion. Fienne was clapping with a somewhat tired expression, while Rona was clapping excitedly with a bright smile. -What does 'yogin' mean? Rona came close and whispered in my ear. -It means extremely excited. -...'Yogin' means that? -That's how it turned out. Then she looked at Ver with a princely smile and said. "Being together like this is so yogin, right?" "!!!" A new yogin comrade. Ver's small head nodded rhythmically. "I like the handsome big sister!" "I like Ver too~ Yogin yogin~" "Yogin yogin!!!" To win over that picky baby spirit's favor. What impressive social skills. Truly befitting the prince of high society. "Yo... yo..." Beside them, Fienne was trying to keep up with the times but seemed to be struggling. Seeing their contrasting appearances, I unconsciously blurted out. "If we have kids later, Rona would be better at playing with them." "!?" "!?" Then both of them stared at me with wide eyes. What an intense reaction. Did I make a slip of the tongue? I couldn't tell what part of what I just said was problematic, but that didn't matter. In times like this, the wise way to live was to just bow your head first and see what happens. Just as I was about to swing my head as if there was an invisible board in front of me. "Really? Do you really think so?" Rona asked back with a bright smile. Those sky-blue eyes sparkled as if they contained constellations, and her healthy bronze skin was strangely flushed, adding to her vitality. She was smiling so brightly that it was almost blinding, and I nearly turned my head away unconsciously. What? Wasn't she angry? "Really? Do you really think so?" Then Fienne said the same thing beside her. Same content, different tone. Fienne was also smiling slightly, but those red eyes staring directly at me were somehow frightening. This Fienne. Could it be that, contrary to appearances, she actually likes children? So she got really upset by what I said? 'Should I, should I break through the invisible board...?' As I tried to bow my head while watching Fienne's reaction, Rona spoke with a strangely smug expression. "Well, in a way Risir's reaction is natural. Fienne, you're not really the type who would seem to enjoy taking care of children, are you?" "...Oh my, Rona. What could that mean?" Fienne responded with an elegant smile, but veins were faintly visible at her temples. "Ah, I absolutely didn't mean it in a bad way- Look. Anyone can see that Fienne is elegant and full of refinement, right? I meant that trivial things like playing with children don't suit you. Actually, most noble families use nannies anyway, don't they?" Rona spoke with her characteristic friendly and cheerful princely smile. But was it just my imagination? That friendly and cheerful princely smile somehow looked smug. "That makes sense." Hmm. Fienne nodded proudly with a snort. "...?" The princely smile hardened with wariness. "Then as Rona said, if we have children later, I'll leave the childcare to Rona and spend time with whoever becomes the child's father. Right?" "..." "..." The prince and princess gazed at each other while maintaining elegant smiles. It felt like sparks were flying at the midpoint between them, and the atmospheric pressure around us was rising. 'What's with this sudden suffocating war of nerves.' As I stood there unable to grasp the situation and just reading the mood, Fienne spoke to me. "What do you think?" "...Ah! Maybe I'm tired...! My brain isn't working well~?" "Tsk. Pathetic person." Rona, who had been watching our conversation, approached Ver again and spoke while crouching down. "Ver~ Can big sister ask you something~? If Ver were to have a mom, who would you want that mom to be~?" "Mom!?" Hmm! Verdande... Siu fell into contemplation with arms crossed, looking particularly dignified due to those fierce diagonal eyebrows! Eventually, those spirited eyes turned toward me. "Risir!" (E/N: This is a true genius. Take notes folk) "..." "..." Fienne and Rona were left speechless by that genius unconventional escape from pressure. I was the same. "A mom... that's not an easy expectation to meet... Should I ask Rona about methods to change gender to female...?" "Why are you asking me that..." Rona was flustered for a moment. She immediately regained her momentum and spoke to Verdande... Siu! "Really? Our Ver wants Risir to be mom? Then what about dad?" Prince mode was fully activated. Rona asked with a completely princely attitude compared to before. "Risir!" But such efforts were in vain- this time too, we could only despair before that divine dribble that mocked the world's logic. I despaired as well. "Both mom and dad at the same time... the expectations keep getting higher... So what I need to learn are gender transformation magic and clone techniques...?" "Stop saying disgusting things." In any case, thanks to our Ver's performance, the subtle tension that had been flowing through the place naturally fizzled out. Riding that momentum, I introduced the remaining two residents to Fienne and Rona. "So you are the companions of Master that we've only heard about!!! I am Dangaleon, the bright illumination that reflects peerless beauty! It is the ultimate honor to meet you both like this!!! Even my white flames pale before your beauty!!!" "White flames? Aren't they gray flames?" "Master!!! It only looks that way because this place is too bright!!! My white flames show their true value before genuine darkness!!!" The grayish-white fireball that had manifested as a spirit at my call introduced itself before Rona and Fienne. Next, the killer in petite mode. "Clana." Clana spoke as if sighing, finding this entire situation merely bothersome. "..." "..." Thus, while I was introducing our spirit(?) friends, Rona and Fienne just stared at us blankly. Then the two looked at each other. Eventually, Fienne opened her mouth. "Risir, I'm asking just in case-" "Yeah?" "Where did those three come from?" "Where did they come from?" After a moment of consideration, I pointed at myself with my finger. "Did you acquire some magical item that provides space for spirits to live in?" "No?" "...Then?" "...?" Not understanding the intent of the question, I pointed at myself with my finger once again. Fienne and Rona's brows furrowed. "It's hard to understand, so could you explain with words rather than actions if possible?" "Well, it's not grand enough to require explanation. These guys are just living inside my Inner World." "..." "..." Fienne and Rona's mouths gradually opened. "What's with that reaction that makes your necks tense up? Could it be that handling three spirits at once is uncommon? Do I have talent in Spirit Magic?" As I spoke smugly, I felt blatant stares. Everyone except Verdande... Siu! was staring at me intently. They all had very similar expressions, as if thinking the same thoughts and feeling the same emotions. Soon, Fienne spoke on behalf of the group. Rubbing her forehead as if feeling very dizzy. "What spirit mage in the world handles spirits that way..." "What? Am I making some huge mistake?" "Of course you are... Making spirits live in your Inner World? I guarantee even the World Tree's greatest spirit mage wouldn't do something so reckless? Unless you're deliberately trying to get your mind eroded-" Cold sweat ran down my spine at Fienne's words. "Th, then what should I do? Should I evict the residents even now?" "... How many hours have those spirits? been living there?" "A few hours?" "Or a few days?" "A few days?" "...Never mind, just leave it be." "???" Not only Fienne and Rona, but even Clana and Dangaleon were looking at me with expressions of being fed up. I felt a sudden sense of alienation. *** With the introductions finished, only the three of us remained in the room again. I continued the topic from before the sleep police arrived. "So, Fienne. Didn't you say you had something you wanted from me?" "..." Fienne looked at me with a strange gaze. Perhaps that gaze was directed not at me, but at the residents inside me. "Are those three watching the outside situation from inside even at this very moment?" "It seems like that's possible." Haah. Fienne sighed. "Aren't you uncomfortable?" "It's actually helpful most of the time. They teach me swordsmanship and magic too. Ah, remember? That time at the Back Alley Council with all the commotion about 'this isn't my Black Fire.' Dangaleon actually helped with that." "Of course you would..." A hollow laugh. Fienne spoke with a detached expression. "I'll continue that conversation separately later. When those 'spirits' are away." "You don't need to worry about it." "Ah, then I'll take it that way!" Fienne let out a sharp cry, then moved toward the door. "I'm leaving, so rest!" Just as it seemed she would leave like that- "..." Fienne turned around sharply and approached again. "What, did you forget something?" Fienne passed by me, approached the window and drew the curtains she had opened earlier. Then she tidied the disheveled bed covers, and this time truly tried to leave the room without a word. I spoke to her retreating figure without regret. "Got it, Fienne! I'll dream of you!" "Don't bother!" Now only Rona remained. Rona looked at me with a cheerful smile. "You got rejected~" "My world loses its light and is dyed in darkness." "Kuk kuk, how about it. If you're disappointed-" In the darkness, Rona's sky-blue eyes met mine directly. "Want to at least dream of me?" "..." Before I could answer anything, Rona hastily turned around and headed toward the door. "Anyway! I'll be going now too, rest well!" Hastily as if fleeing. Should I say finally? The room had finally become quiet. Feeling my mind grow calm while also becoming bored, I lay down on the bed that Fienne had tidied up. Come on now. I close my eyes. -This evening! Fienne's voice could be heard from beyond the door. Geez. I let out a chuckle and answered. "Should I dream about Fienne at that time?" -We're having dinner together then, so keep your schedule free! If you're still half-asleep and drowsy at that time, I'll handle it myself! Something more important than completing my Enhancement ability had come up. *** At that time. The Underground Chamber of the mansion where High Priest Moria was imprisoned. Dray, summoned by Palag, appeared there together with a woman wearing glasses. "Lord Palag, what's the matter? To ask to meet in such a place." Moria was confined in an ice prison that Palag had created. Dray looked at her once, then spoke to Palag. Palag's attention was not directed toward Moria. "Dray, would you take a look at this." His attention was directed toward the Crystal Orb resting on his hand. "That is...?" Dray approached Palag and observed the Crystal Orb closely. "...!" At that moment. Dray's pupils dilated. He unconsciously stepped back. The Mental Image unfolding within the Crystal Orb had overwhelmed him. "Wh, what is that...?" Dray calmly approached once more and examined the Crystal Orb. The world within that Crystal Orb was- Blood formed ponds. Pillars of Black Fire reached the sky, and swirling Sandstorms formed mountains that devoured the heavens and sun. A demonic realm. It was a scene that perfectly fit such words. "Risir." Then, a name suddenly mentioned from Palag's mouth. "This is said to be his Mental Image." "...!" Dray couldn't help but be shocked. He knew that Risir was no ordinary person, but to think he possessed such a terrifying Mental Image. "..." The High Priest confined in the ice prison looked at the two with a meaningful smile. Soon, her mouth slowly opened. "A Mental Image is the true form of its subject... the essence that will never change..." To scatter Seeds of confusion among them. Thereby, to take revenge on the one who ruined her grand plan. "Huh? Lord Palag? The Sandstorm suddenly stopped." "?" "?" Their gazes focused on the Crystal Orb. *** "Hm?" Just as I was closing my eyes to sleep. I felt a strange weight on my chest. When I opened my eyes, Ver had somehow emerged from the Mental Image world and was lying there fast asleep, snoring softly.