Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 118 High Priest Moria. She had deceived even Frozen Breath, the former Tower Master who was notoriously difficult among the pessimistic mages gathered at the Blue Magic Tower, and won his favor. It was a prime example of how excellent her deceptive eloquence was. Nevertheless, the fact that she was able to induce suspicion toward Risir from the Great Noble and the Archmage was not solely because her deceptive eloquence was excellent. From the beginning, she hadn't even displayed anything that could be called eloquence in this incident. There was no need to. Genius mage Moria. That was a false persona and genius created by the High Priest of the White Shadow Cult, who sacrificed the realm of 8th Rank to create it. The genius she displayed in the duel bordered on the incomprehensible, a level that could only be accepted after repeated compromises. Risir. That mage of the same age had casually negated such genius. Risir's talent was at an alien level even compared to Moria. In such circumstances, it was revealed that Moria, who had been the comparison target, was actually committing fraud upon fraud. They naturally arrived at one question. -Moria's genius was fake, fabricated by a High Priest? -Then what about 'that'? -What about 'that' which casually negated the fake genius fabricated by the High Priest? Given the circumstances, the Great Noble and Archmage had no choice but to think that Risir was also a monster hiding his identity like Moria. Even Moria herself was convinced he was a Dark Mage or Demon Follower. Under such extremely exceptional circumstances, their thinking was constrained, and thus their thoughts aligned. With the grand plan she had staked her life on ruined and having drawn suspicion from the Archmage and Great Noble, there was no longer any future. All that remained for Moria was venom. -Since it's come to this, you're coming down with me. She willingly gave up everything she had to expose Risir's true face. She handed over one of the treasures she possessed as a High Priest, the 'Mirror of the Inner Side', to Dray and Palag. After that- Everything went as everyone expected. ...Or so they certainly thought. *** "Impossible!!!" Moria screamed in fury. "Those things are absolutely not ordinary spirits!!!" "..." "..." Dray and Palag inwardly nodded their heads. Risir's demonic Mental Image world was something an ordinary person could never possess. The same was true when considering not the whole, but each individual element. An endlessly spreading pond of blood. Pillars of Black Fire. A vast Sandstorm. Each one was a Mental Image of terrifying caliber. Such vast Mental Images that only Swordmasters or Archmages who had reached the realm of Superhumans could possess. In other words, it was reasonable to view each of those cute(?) spirits as beings with equivalent status. But- "He had those things confined in his Inner World!? Preposterous...! It must be trickery!" The High Priest's claim was logically sound. Therefore, that claim didn't work on a being that defied logic. Everyone in the place now knew. Even Moria, who understood with her head but screamed and denied it, was the same. The fact that 'that thing' should not be judged within the bounds of common sense. Dray asked for Palag's opinion with a glance. Palag shook his head. "Trickery. Summoning. To dismiss it as something else, I felt no Mana reaction whatsoever." "Then..." "Withdrawal and deposit." "Withdrawal and deposit...?" Risir's Mental Image world, which had been full of evil Aura, was now completely empty. Because he had taken out the spirits who were the owners of that evil Aura from his Inner World. It was just that simple a story. "..." Palag examined the Mirror of the Inner Side once more. 'An empty Mental Image...' For someone of Risir's caliber to have nothing contained in his Mental Image. It was absurd. Palag pondered to understand what the empty Mental Image meant. Eventually, Palag reached a certain hypothesis. "Heh, hehehe..." A hollow laugh escaped through his thick beard. The robust spirit that the Archmage had exuded, unsuited to his age and appearance, faded. He gestured toward Moria with a somewhat weary and shabby demeanor befitting his age and appearance. "That can't be, that can't be right! There's no way such a thing could be possible—" The ice prison that had restrained Moria's body completely swallowed her. Her furious screams ceased. Silence descended upon the Underground Chamber. At this very moment. The existence of 'Moria' was erased from within Dray and Palag. That being who had made the eyes of the former Tower Master and Talent Scout shine with her peerless talent. Normally, it would have been a loss that drove both men into great sorrow. However, the two men couldn't even feel the slightest sense of loss. Moria. Because right before their eyes was a being that made that peerless genius feel like 'nothing more than that.' Risir. Through this series of events, the uncomfortable misunderstanding they had felt about his existence was resolved. Of course, they hadn't fully understood what kind of being he was. Nevertheless, this one thing they could know for certain. As someone who builds relationships with talents for his family— As someone who walks the path of Magic— He was a man they absolutely must not let slip away. The Great Noble and Archmage's eyes began to shine. ...At the same time, their expressions gradually became colored with anguish. "..." "..." "..." "..." Risir and his spirits were staring intently at the two men. The misunderstanding had vanished, leaving only a wronged man. Perhaps there might be a way to salvage the situation. It was just as Palag and Dray were about to calmly retrace the situation. "Before listening to the High Priest's words and interrogating me together, it would have been really... nice if you had listened to my opinion separately... Was I so untrustworthy to you both? Even more than a Cultist High Priest?" Risir saved them that trouble. He wearily mocked himself while meticulously reciting their crimes(?) in detail. That's right. They had ended up in the position of interrogating Risir together with Moria. Together with Moria, the Cultist High Priest who had hidden among them, They had interrogated Risir, who had expelled the High Priest and prevented a disaster. From their perspective, there were sufficient reasons and grounds for doing so— But bringing that up now would only sound like excuses. Then what should they say? They didn't know. In other words, they had nothing to say. "No—" "It's just—" The Great Noble and Archmage fidgeted restlessly before the Honorary Mage who couldn't reveal his family name. Since they had mouths but couldn't speak, Risir's spirits helped them out. "To think that the legitimate son of a Great Noble family and a former Tower Master would be blinded and deceived by a Cultist's words." The sharp-eyed girl spirit sneered with a caustic tone. "A Great Noble and Archmage joining hands with a Cultist to oppress a powerless, young, righteous, and talented mage with their authority!!! A rumor more than sufficient to make the entire Continent buzz! And it's even true!" The gray-white fire spirit shouted boisterously. "You guys! You're not our Risir's friend anymore! We thought you were Jjuinni's friend but you bullied Risir! Now you're bad guys!" The baby sand spirit reproached them with both arms on her hips and eyebrows raised high. No. That's. No. That's. Palag and Dray repeated only those two words like broken machines. Risir, who had been quietly watching them, spoke with a composed yet all the more bitter smile. "I understand both of your positions. So please don't trouble yourselves any further over this matter. If there's no more business, I'll take my leave now." Even in this situation, he politely bowed to show respect to the two men before leaving the place. If he had rather shown displeasure, they could have used their mature experience to appease Risir. Nobles and mages were the type of people who valued their dignity and honor as much as their lives. Dealing with those bound by such things was extremely simple for the Archmage and Great Noble. As Nobles and mages of higher status, they just needed to treat them appropriately and save their face. "No..." "That—" But when Risir presented himself not as a mage or Noble, but simply as one wounded young man— They had no idea what to do. A type of person they'd never encountered before. And a type of situation they'd never experienced. How should they handle this situation? How could they turn back his thoroughly alienated heart? The Great Noble and Archmage were in hot water. *** -Master! Surely, you could have demanded an apology and compensation from those guys right there! But Master chose to leave them with a good impression instead!!! How wise and magnanimous!!! As I left the Underground Chamber and walked down the corridor, Dangaleon, who had returned to my Inner World, spoke. It was a sentence that clearly revealed his effort to package my recent choice. -For now, these are beings with positions too high to approach carelessly. Clana added to that. Was it just my imagination that the two seemed to be trying to comfort me? It seemed they were somehow mistaken because of the last appearance I had shown before leaving the Underground Chamber. To correct their misunderstanding, I explained the reason for my actions. The behavioral patterns of the species called Nobles and mages. What would happen if I followed those patterns, and what would happen if I didn't. 'In short, I did it to make those two people jump around in distress. I thought that would be much more awkward for them to deal with.' -As expected of Master!!! A way of acting that isn't bound by conventions, but rather uses them! I, Dangaleon! Am receiving teachings from Master once again! 'If you make such a fuss, it feels like you're just humoring me instead.' -No. That demon has a point too. To act and think like that among Noble-born mages of your age... I don't remember seeing such a mutant either. 'I can't even tell if this is a compliment or an insult.' As I walked along chatting harmoniously with the spirits(?), I found myself in front of my room before I knew it. There, a pure white Young Lady was waiting for me. "Ugh...!" I covered my eyes with my hand and stepped back from that dazzling beauty. "Strange... why is the sun up at this hour...!" "You're full of energy. Running around unable to contain yourself, and spouting nonsense the moment you see me." "First, let's get one thing straight." "What excuse are you going to make now?" "I'm sorry. Did you wait long?" "Oh my?" The events in the Underground Chamber. I explained the reason why I had to inevitably abandon my promise with Fienne, if only briefly. "...I'm on my way back after resolving that." "Well. If that's the case, it can't be helped." "Oh... to think I'd be forgiven so easily... I should remember this, Fienne is weak to compliments about resembling the sun..." "How about you also remember that I'm very weak to being late for appointments?" "Is that right? Well, it's Fienne's advice so I should follow it. Fienne is weak to compliments about resembling the sun... weak to being late for appointments..." As I was engraving the teachings of the Young Lady more precious than gold in my mind, Fienne passed by me without a word. I followed after her and said. "So, Fienne. Where are we going now?" "District 3. There's a shop I've been eyeing there." District 3. Bondaless's representative shopping district and wealthy neighborhood. My wallet began trembling in fear. "Y-yeah...! I'm feeling generous! Today's on me! Fienne, eat whatever you want to your heart's content...!" "Oh no, it's fine. Since I suggested the meal, I'll cover the cost." "Good heavens. Who are you? The Fienne I knew was an enterprising Young Lady who threw tantrums about staying at expensive inns despite having no money—" "Ah. Thank you. Thanks to you, I feel like I've regained my original spirit. Take out your purse or wallet, everything. I'll make you feel really generous." Even while saying that, when I actually handed over my purse, Fienne waved her hands dismissively with disgust. Eventually we arrived at the back gate of the Mansion. There stood a carriage that wasn't flashy but was luxurious. Could it be? It really was. "Young Lady." As the carriage approached, an old coachman bowed to Fienne and opened the door for her. "Good heavens... what a picture of a successful woman... Fienne, if it's not rude, may I respect you?" "If you had maintained your position as Gadum's representative, you would have ridden in something several times more luxurious than this carriage, wouldn't you?" Fienne urged me to get in the carriage first. Then, after I got in the carriage, she extended her hand from below. Did she mean for me to help her up since I went in first? I carefully pulled Fienne's slender hand. We sat side by side on the carriage seats. "Ugh, it's stuffy so go sit over there." We sat facing each other on the carriage seats. Tap tap. When Fienne knocked on the seat, the carriage moved forward. As expected of someone from a Noble Young Lady background, her bearing was proper. "By the way, what did you do with those children?" "Those children?" Fienne tapped her own head. "Ah, you mean the tenants. They're naturally staying here well." When I answered while tapping my head the same way, Fienne let out a deep sigh. "Huh? Why?" "Why indeed. It's obvious that dining just the two of us would be lonely, so I'm just so happy that there are three companions." Was it just my imagination? Fienne, whose atmosphere had become strangely stiff, opened her mouth. "Come to think of it, did I mention that?" "I don't know what it is, but you can tell me again. If it's something Fienne tells me, I could listen to the same story all night." "Do you remember Gaderok?" "Of course." How could I forget? That experience of drawing out Sword Aura for the first time. "Come to think of it, what happened to that guy? After I cut him—" "The wound wasn't that deep. It was severe enough to lead to death if left untreated, but if treated immediately, it was definitely survivable—that kind of wound." "So you saved him?" "Yes. From the City Council's perspective, there was a lot we needed to hear from him." "He seemed like quite a tough character, did he answer questions obediently?" Fienne held up both her palms. "Ah, right. When The Owner asks questions, of course he has to answer. So, did you find out anything?" "Well, we found out various things. We were able to smoothly conclude this incident thanks to that." "No way!? From what I can see, it seems like it was thanks to Fienne working hard day and night!?" "Hmm. Well, that's not a bad perspective either. Anyway. The reason I suddenly brought up that man's story—" You. Fienne continued with a considerably serious tone. "Do you know about the Third Arm?" "Third Arm?" It's said that the god of gambling, who is rumored to toy with gamblers through invisible hands at gambling tables, possesses a third arm. Third Arm. It was the name of the most notorious criminal organization on the Continent. "You mean the criminal organization, right?" "You know about it. Then I'll get straight to the point. Gaderok. That man was connected to the Third Arm. Evidence emerged that he received support from the Third Arm while expanding his business in the Back Alleys." "Support?" "Yes. It's their own way of investing." "Then I inadvertently ruined those guys' investment?" "Yes. That's right. That's why I brought up this story. Third Arm. Before long, they'll learn that their investment failed. Because of one man who uprooted Bondaless's criminal organization." "They might seek revenge against me, so be careful?" "I don't know about being careful, but at least be aware. Don't carelessly accept things from strangers. Don't carelessly follow people you don't know." "What am I, some child left by the waterside?" "Then how are you different? You get involved in incidents and accidents every other day." "But I Normalized everything." "Sigh. You need to get properly beaten up at least once." Our conversation continued uninterrupted until the moment the carriage stopped, we had our meal, and we parted ways. "Next time, definitely leave those children behind." *** After parting with Fienne, I returned straight to my room in the Mansion and tried to refine my 'Enhancement' ability. Despite my overflowing will, my heart felt at a loss. I knew that trying to refine my 'Enhancement' ability at my current level had clear limitations. 'To make progress from here, I feel like I need to thoroughly drain another high-level mage—' "Huh?" My thoughts stopped there. Along with my halted steps. At the far end of the corridor. Someone was standing in front of my room.