Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 123 [Title: Special Forces damn reputation why like this] Content: Why do these bastards hate me so much? Very confusing -: Face Thief caused a lot of trouble -[Author]: Ah damn How do I restore this reputation? -: Don't really need to restore it much -[Author]: Really? No penalty? -: Yeah anyway they all get wiped out getting caught up in Face Thief's troublemaking -[Author]: Oh lol that's awesome -: Is it really awesome... -: That's a mindset optimized for this shit game -: But that's actually correct from the start yeah There's no way to clear the Special Forces' suspicion and help them *** Mangnus, vice captain of the Devilan Knight Order Special Forces. His instincts, which had reached the level of a master, were screaming. 'Move!' 'He's shaken because his attack missed!' 'You need to press in, right now!' Real combat where split-second decisions forced upon you determine life and death. What a swordsman must trust above all else was the instinct forged through experience. With a sharp intake of breath, Mangnus tightened his grip on his sword. His body's center of gravity shifted forward as if he might leap out at any moment. "Damn-" But that was as far as it went. Mangnus's reason, which had experienced and learned about the irrational existence called the Face Thief during the battle, restricted his actions. The Face Thief wielded multiple swordsmen's techniques with a single body. Among that list of techniques, which easily numbered more than five, was the Hero's swordsmanship that Mangnus had previously witnessed. Not only that, but during the course of the battle, even Mangnus's swordsmanship had been added. The sword technique that Mangnus had honed over decades had been stolen in just a few minutes. The rumors were true. He could truly steal a 7th Rank swordsman's technique just by watching it on the spot. He was a monster who could steal sword techniques that talented swordsmen had forged over decades in just a single moment. Such a monster making that kind of mistake? Failing to steal someone's sword technique? It was hard to imagine unless it was a Sword Master's technique. That's why Mangnus hesitated to exploit the Face Thief's opening. Furthermore, he hesitated to confront the Face Thief. No. He was afraid. Mangnus clearly felt it. The uneasiness he felt toward the Face Thief had transformed into fear. Step. Mangnus unconsciously took a step back. 'What the hell was that sword technique just now...!' The trigger was the strike the Face Thief had just unleashed. That strike was more dangerous than any swordsmanship the Face Thief had displayed so far. Perhaps it was more dangerous than all his techniques combined. That is, more than the Face Thief's ability itself. Mangnus unconsciously touched his own throat. Had he ever felt death so vividly before? Had he ever faced such a dangerous sword before? Probably never. If he had, he wouldn't be alive and standing here. Mangnus had no choice but to acknowledge it. The real reason he couldn't get close to the Face Thief. It was because he felt fear toward some nameless sword technique the fiend had displayed. A strike with no 'form' or 'style', focused solely on the purpose of killing. At this very moment. The master's confidence, which had been certain he could counter any sword technique, was broken. That sword was not something the likes of him could dare to handle. "...!" At that moment. Mangnus's expression contorted. "Haa... haa..." The Face Thief's condition was strange. His breathing, which had never lost its 'form' no matter what swordsmanship he displayed, began to become erratic. Not a lack of stamina but an excess of emotion. That was not the appearance of a swordsman controlling his sword. The Face Thief. He was now being dominated by the sword. By an incomplete sword technique he hadn't even fully copied. The Face Thief unconsciously stepped back. 'What is this, what the hell kind of sword technique is this...!' Sword techniques with Mental Images that are too immense sometimes devour the swordsman. They are called Evil Swords. The Face Thief was a former Master of an Assassin Guild. Having lived an ascetic life for long years, he had reached the pinnacle of self-control. The Faceless One's Fluid. It was thanks to this that he could accept that object containing the will of a sword demon, and through it accept the sword techniques of countless swordsmen while still maintaining his ego. That's why the Face Thief couldn't understand. 'I, this me, am being dominated by a Mental Image...!' "Haa... haa..." Regardless of his will, his breathing continued to escalate. His pupils dilated and blood flow accelerated. His heart pounded. Reason grew thin. Instinct took the place of thinning reason. Like a beast excited by the smell of blood. "Heok...! Heok...!" The Face Thief felt a kind of craving he had never experienced in his life. It was a craving for blood. "!!!" The Face Thief pierced his own palm with his sword. He tried to regain composure through that pain and suppress his boiling instincts. He tried to control this Mental Image. "...!" But something unbelievable happened. The tearing skin and flesh. The flowing blood. Those traces of pain, far from bringing composure, instead fueled his craving for violence. Could the sharp, fishy scent of blood feel so sweet? The Face Thief was seized by an impulse to smear that blood on his own face. "Uaaahhh!!!" The Face Thief screamed and shook off that impulse. 'What the hell is this sword technique!!!' What kind of human could harbor such a Mental Image. What kind of swordsman could control such a Mental Image. He was certain. The owner of this sword technique was definitely not human. Surely a demon, or a fiend equivalent to one. How could that mage freely wield such a terrible sword technique? He couldn't understand. In this situation, only one thing was certain. At this very moment. The Face Thief's confidence, which had been certain he could imitate any sword technique, was broken. This sword was not something he could handle. "...!" He must never face that fiend's Evil Sword alone! Mangnus took the opportunity while the Face Thief struggled with the Mental Image to increase the distance. "...!" Right now, shaking off this Mental Image is the top priority! The Face Thief took advantage of Mangnus moving away to increase the distance even more. Eventually, both men left their positions simultaneously as if they had made an agreement. The shadow of a killer who doesn't even exist in this world had defeated the hero slayer and his pursuer. *** "Come to think of it, Clana. May I ask you one question related to swords?" Hero slayer. On top of that, a monster who could watch and copy a 7th Rank swordsman's unique technique on the spot. Tua's warning that such a tremendous being might target me properly motivated me. Immediately returning to my room and beginning sword training, I sought Clana's guidance during my warm-up. -What is it. Clana answered cynically, yet carefully manifested as a spirit to face me. "I'm asking this now, but are there any special precautions when handling your sword technique?" -Precautions? "Yes. After completing my Enhancement ability this time, I realized that secret techniques that draw out abilities beyond one's limits generally come with side effects. I thought your sword technique might have something similar." -... Clana glared at me with all her might. "What is it, all of a sudden." -Do you feel nothing when you wield my sword? "Of course not. I feel it keenly every time I use your swordsmanship." -...Really? You feel something when you wield my sword? "Of course. This is such a powerful and convenient sword technique. Every time I subdue an opponent in one strike, I keenly realize that fact." -... Ah. The little killer spirit looked up and let out a sigh. "Am I doing something wrong by any chance?" -Shut up. Clana left those words and returned to the Mental World. "Ah, Clana! This isn't right! Just telling me there are precautions without telling me what those precautions are! Don't you know the two things that drive people crazy!? One is not finishing what you're saying..." -You inorganic wench!!! How dare you trouble our Lord!!! Remember your place!!! -Please, just shut those mouths. For some reason, Clana became troubled and never revealed the reason. In the end, I had no choice but to undertake sword training alone with my own strength. In the situation where I hadn't yet achieved 7th Rank recognition, the content of training I could do was limited. Specifically, practicing to deploy the Clana Style while maintaining the Enhancement ability. *** "Cough...!" How long had I been practicing? Every opening in my face was enthusiastically spewing blood. Handling that power while maintaining Enhancement had a difficulty that far exceeded my expectations. Setting aside how troublesome it was, the burden on my body was ridiculous. The conclusion was drawn that using this ability like water in real combat would be waste equivalent to 'quitting the game and giving away items'. Around 5 seconds. Or one strike. For now, that was the limit allowed to me. 'Decisive moments. I should only use this when I think it's absolutely necessary.' This was what you'd call a finishing move. Being able to handle this ridiculous technique in actual combat, even if limitedly, was something. The results of training with all my strength were quite satisfying. -You inorganic wench!!! Our Lord is heartbroken because you didn't help!!! -If he's the type to be heartbroken by that, he won't be satisfied no matter what you do. -Of course!!! Our Lord is one who shall reign over all things in this world!!! As if he would know satisfaction!!! "No, Dangaleon. Honestly, I'm quite satisfied right now. This Enhancement ability. It seems to have excellent compatibility with the Clana Style. Honestly, if it had been another sword technique, I probably wouldn't have been able to properly utilize this Enhancement ability." -As expected, I knew it! What humility! What restraint!!! This is one of our Lord's many virtues!!! Hey, inorganic wench! Rejoice and show respect! Our Lord has given an excessive evaluation to your worthless flailing! -Hey. If a situation comes where you must use that ability and my swordsmanship simultaneously in real combat- never let it go beyond one move. "Yes. I was thinking the same thing." -Good heavens, what alienation...! Our Lord!!! Please, grant me too the glory and mercy you bestowed upon this inorganic wench...!!! "Glory and mercy?" -Please contain this Dangaleon's blazing flame within our Lord's grand vessel! "Blazing flame? Ah, you mean that black flame-" -It's not black!!! It was a dark place, so you must have seen it wrong! "Hmm..." Honestly, I was intrigued. The power of Dangaleon's black fire that I saw at the Back Alley Council was truly demonic. But the problem was that it was too demonic, even for something demonic. 'Unextinguishable black fire... isn't this too demon-like?' Right away, even the ruler of the back alleys who used the relic containing Dangaleon's power was suspected of being a Dark Mage, which says it all. "If I carelessly use that power around, wouldn't it be perfect for being suspected as a Dark Mage or Demon Follower?" -Our Lord!!! How can you say such things...! Is being a demon shameful? "Usually, yes?" -That can't be!!! Then I, Dangaleon the sacred flame who shuns evil! I will quit being a demon as of now!!! "...Was that something you could quit just because you wanted to?" It seemed Dangaleon's sense of alienation(?) was real. His earnest persuasion continued afterward. He probably wouldn't stop until I accepted. I had no choice but to learn his black flame. It was certain that depending on its use, it could become immensely powerful and useful. -The negative gazes of those vermin can be silenced with our Lord's brilliance, can't they! Besides, as Dangaleon said, the negative attention that would follow from using that power could be silenced with my brilliance. For reference, 'brilliance' here meant 'discretion to choose the right time and place'. "Then how about- shall I just get a taste?" -That's the perfect mindset for approaching demonic power. -You, inorganic wench!!! Can't you watch your words!!! When Clana sneered, Dangaleon screamed in shock. He was probably worried that Clana's words might change my mind. -A demon!!! How dare you lump me together with such wicked and lowly things!!! Ah. That was what he was concerned about. -If you don't retract those words immediately, I'll curse your existence for eternity- no, bless- no- uurgh...! What, what is this!!! What is a sacred non-demonic being supposed to do in this situation!!! Our Lord, please give me guidance...! "I'm not sure, but they say love is stronger than hatred." -Kraaahhh!!! Inorganic wench!!! I love you!!! Die!!! -Good lord. I was wrong, so please shut your mouth. A demon experiencing growing pains. I was sitting on the bed, appreciating that rare spectacle while soothing my training fatigue. "Hm?" The ki sense that had been activated during training and hadn't completely settled yet caught the presence outside the door. Multiple presences approaching at high speed. -Click! The door suddenly opened without even a knock. Since I had expected it, that itself wasn't surprising. What surprised me was the composition of the uninvited guests. "Sir Tua?" Tua, who had somehow changed from armor to casual clothes. Along with what appeared to be her subordinates from the Devilan Knight Order standing at the door. I jumped up from my seat in surprise. Then Tua calmed me with composed gestures before speaking. "Sorry. I had to commit this discourtesy to end the misunderstanding this man has about you." Afterward, Tua pointed to the middle-aged man standing beside her and said. "Let me introduce him. This is Mangnus, vice captain of our Special Forces. He testifies that this afternoon on the street, he was lured by someone who looked exactly like you and then fought a battle." It didn't seem like a particularly serious situation. Tua was trying to reassure me. I expressed through a joke how relieved I was, wanting to meet her expectations. "Someone who looks exactly like me? People as handsome as me aren't common, uhaha." "As you say, those as handsome as you aren't common." But Tua took my joke seriously and nodded. She then continued speaking to the man called Mangnus beside her. "Mangnus. As I've said repeatedly, Risir has been in this mansion all day. I'll vouch for his identity, so stop your suspicions now." "..." Mangnus looked me up and down, then reluctantly nodded. 'Ah, could it be that?' I roughly guessed how the situation was unfolding. I said to Tua. "Don't tell me that Face Thief fellow stole my face and impersonated me?" "That's right." "Wow... when did he steal it..." I was genuinely shocked. To steal my face without me even realizing it and impersonate Risir. If Tua hadn't completely vouched for my identity, there would have been quite a commotion between me and that vice captain called Mangnus. Having friction with an executive of a grand knight order. Just imagining it was dizzying. "Hm?" Just then. A question suddenly occurred to me. Quite some time had passed since Tua and I parted in Dray's room. And after leaving Dray's room, I had been alone in my room the whole time. It was sufficient situation to harbor the suspicion 'Did I slip out of the mansion during that time and cause an incident?' That's where the question arises. How could Tua have the conviction that- 'Risir is being impersonated by the Face Thief' instead of the suspicion 'Risir might actually be the Face Thief'? How could she trust me without a shred of doubt with that personality of hers? I voiced that question directly to Tua. Then Tua looked meaningfully at Mangnus. Embarrassment appeared on Mangnus's face. "Kuk-" "..." The surrounding knights tried hard to suppress their laughter. "The Face Thief. It's thanks to the foolish mistake he made." "Foolish mistake?" "Yes. He used swordsmanship while impersonating you, a mage from the Gray Magic Tower." It was so ridiculous that even a faint smile appeared on Tua's cold expression. At their stoic captain's smile, the knights began laughing in earnest. Even Mangnus, who had been attacked, was letting out laughter as if it was absurd. "..." I carefully asked Tua. "Sir Tua, didn't you hear anything about me from Sir Dray?" "You know how talkative that guy gets when bragging about his people. He tried to grab me and chatter away while I was busy, so I stepped forward and forcibly stopped him. Is there some problem?" -Our Lord's brilliance has guided them to the right path!!! As expected!!! "Ah, no... you did well..." I carefully avoided Tua's gaze. ***