Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 128 [Suspicious Fluid] You should be proud! By defeating the Face Thief, you've protected the uniqueness of countless people! Thanks to that, the Hero and Special Forces members among others met their complete deaths, but there's no reason to feel guilty. After all, the Face Thief didn't steal their faces to become kind neighbors and loving family members. Therefore, it's proof of glory! This is a mass of suspicious fluid that flowed out from the dead Face Thief's body. Its peculiar viscosity that maintains its form against any external stimulus creates the illusion that it's alive. Perhaps it really is alive. If so, what could be the driving force that makes it move and live? ────────── 1. Destroy it 2. Pick it up 3. Ignore it. ────────── ────────── ▶2. Pick it up ────────── When you bring your hand close, it actively entangles itself. As if it had fallen off from your body. Or perhaps, as if you had fallen off from it. Now that the Face Thief is dead, is it looking for a new friend? Remembering his final moments, you recoil in horror and distance yourself from it. ────────── ▶1. Destroy it ────────── Did you defeat it!? Oh no, you didn't. It brazenly maintains its original form even against your most powerful attack. Don't be discouraged—the attempt was good. Thanks to that, you've discovered that ordinary attacks don't work on it, haven't you? You suddenly feel admiration for the Face Thief. How did he manage to swallow something like that? Ah! Perhaps when he swallowed it, its state was a bit different. Whatever that state was, it must have been better than now, with its color that looks like it was just born from inside a corpse, right? One thought crosses your mind. Along with great unease. Perhaps it's not a kind little friend that brings mysterious abilities to its master, but rather a greedy thing that endlessly covets power and existence. ────────── [Ominous Fluid] The Face Thief is dead. Yet it still seems like his aura can be felt. It writhes. Wait, didn't it just move? -Saaaaa. It seems like someone is speaking to you. It must be an illusion. An ominous aura envelops the place. Ah. This is definitely not an illusion. ────────── 1. Ignore it 2. Ignore it 3. Ignore it ────────── ▶3. Ignore it ────────── You leave your uneasiness behind and move away from it. ────────── ... ... ... ────────── The sky is red and the earth is parched. A single blade of grass enters your field of vision. You know what that grass is. It's the tenacious weed famous for its toughness, honored by farmers with glorious epithets like demonic, damn, and cursed. When you place your hand on the weed, it crumbles like dust. All the blessings and vitality that made up this place seem to have been voraciously devoured by something. You know this place. Was it originally such a desolate place? Not according to your memory. Everything in the world is bound to change, but this place has changed far too much. Of course, you have no intention of blaming the innocent passage of time. You know who the culprit behind this cruel change is. [Faceless One's Fluid] You remember it. It seems to remember you too. Despite how much both of you have changed, you and it recognize each other at a glance. This could be called fate, but you don't feel the slightest bit of joy. Now you know exactly what it is. -Thump! Its form, which had been pulsating like a fetus, begins to change. You witness the revival of great evil. ▶Fate 80 : One Who Covets Faces ────────── *** "Oh my, Ver!!! What are you doing eating that!!!" Everyone in the place fell into silence. Because there was nothing to say. "...Ah!" In the midst of this. The tall woman beside Palag and Dray finally came to her senses. Her name was Belota. One of the First Hero's six Sacred Swords. She was a scholar belonging to Hero 'Jane's party, which possessed the 6th sword. (E/N: I'm confused. Who is she then?) Having visited Bondaless with her party for some reason, she was caught in Talent Scout Dray's information network, and in that process joined the Investigation Team to identify the nature of the 'fluid.' Thus, she proved her worth as a scholar belonging to a Hero Party. Among the many scholars who came drawn by the names of Frozen Breath and Talent Scout. Among them, it was none other than Belota who most accurately estimated the identity of the 'fluid.' Therefore, Belota understood better than anyone else here. The seriousness of the situation unfolding before their eyes. 'She accepted the Faceless One's Fluid...!' The Faceless One's Fluid. It was a fragment of a high-ranking demon who held noble titles even among demons, the 'One Who Covets Faces.' It could become a relic that brought the power of a high-ranking demon, or it could become an egg containing the existence of a high-ranking demon. The fluid Belota had last seen was closer to the latter state than the former. It had accumulated vast power within its host, and when the host died, it absorbed that power and life. It was on the verge of 'awakening.' For now it was merely a mass of vast power, but if just a few conditions were met, that power would be imbued with ego and 'impurity.' A demon's revival. In other words. That young spirit had essentially accepted a demon's embryo into her body. It was a reckless act that could easily corrupt even a Superior Spirit's dense aura and drive it to corruption. There was no way such a young spirit could handle it. The young spirit's aura would be corrupted in an instant. What would happen next? The spirit's corruption? Or the demon's revival? Whatever it was, considering the vastness and nature of the power contained in the fluid, it would surely bring about terrible consequences. "You!!!" Having completed all those thoughts in an instant, Belota urgently shouted toward the young spirit's master, Risir. "You must get the fluid out of that child's body right now!" "Ah, yes!" Risir was startled and grabbed the young spirit under her arms, lifting her up. The young spirit scowled with her delicate eyebrows, showing anger at the bad taste, but still entrusted her body to his touch. The young spirit's arms and legs dangled limply. Her eyes met Risir's. "Ver, why did you do that!" "I thought it would be tasty! But it tastes bad!" "You can't do that!" "I can't!? I understand! Then it doesn't taste bad!!!" "Oh how precious- no, that's not it. That thing just now! You can't eat it! You have to spit it out again!" "Spit it out!? I understand!!!" The young spirit's small hands clenched with all her might. "!!!" Her eyebrows curved even more fiercely with anger. How long had the young spirit been exerting herself like this? A small puff escaped. The young spirit's chest moved slightly and air leaked from her mouth. The meaning of this action was clear. The Faceless One's Fluid. Digested within the young spirit. "..." Belota covered her gaping mouth with her hand. What am I seeing right now!? She was an outstanding scholar and intellectual. Naturally, she didn't accept the situation unfolding before her eyes at face value. A young spirit absorbed a demon's embryo? 'There's no way such a thing is possible!' Surely what's visible isn't everything. Rather than being at ease, additional measures were needed. This would require the spirit master's full cooperation, and in the worst case, they would have to accept the spirit's destruction. Belota concluded this way. There was no room for doubt. It was the best judgment that couldn't be more rational. In fact, Dray and Palag must be thinking the same thing. 'If Frozen Breath and Talent Scout speak up, that spirit master will have no choice but to cooperate!' Having finished her judgment, Belota turned her gaze to Palag and Dray. Surely, to confirm their reactions having reached the same conclusion as herself. "Lord Palag. Did that… get absorbed? The fluid by Risir’s 'spirit'?" "It seems that way. Judging by how incredibly stable the 'spirit's' aura is." "Then..." That's right! Say it! Dray looked at Risir and his spirit. Belota urged his action inwardly. "Everything's been resolved!" "?" Her head tilted at an angle. Her eyes opened as wide as possible. This was Belota's expression right now. -What are you saying? Such a voice seemed to echo. Belota remembered. Dray's appearance throughout the investigation, repeatedly asking questions with persistence bordering on interrogation alongside Palag. He absorbed information at an amazing speed, perfectly following the flow of conversation that even other scholars struggled to keep up with, and sometimes even showed himself getting ahead. Belota had been overwhelmed by Dray through repeated such experiences. It was only because she could take the initiative in conversation by presenting her knowledge related to the fluid, but if they had met in another setting, she would have been helplessly swayed by him. That's why Belota couldn't help but be bewildered. That Talent Scout was showing such a dull-witted reaction? She felt a mild headache and looked at Palag. Unlike herself, an Archmage would be able to correct a Great Noble's foolish behavior. The Archmage nodded after deep consideration and said. "Yes. As you say, it seems everything has been resolved with this." "W-wait a moment!" Unable to bear it any longer, Belota approached the two as if rushing at them. "E-everyone...!? Perhaps my explanation was insufficient!?" "Hmm? No. Belota. You've excellently fulfilled your role. You estimated the identity of the fluid that no one else could figure out and presented valid evidence. Furthermore, you tried to present proper countermeasures and solutions. It was an impressive performance. I'll remember it." Belota's confusion was compounded by their reactions. She had thought their condition wasn't good until just a moment ago, but what was this? As soon as she spoke to them, didn't they immediately return to their usual selves? The crisp tone spoken in the Great Noble's characteristic manner seemed to assert positional superiority in itself. The Archmage's meticulous gaze seemed to put the other party to the test in itself. There was no mistake. These were the two people Belota had been dealing with for the past few days. Difficult big shots who constantly thought and doubted until they reached understanding. It was then. "Everyone. What should we do about this? It seems that thing called the Faceless One's Fluid- our child has digested it." The spirit master. Risir spoke to them with a troubled expression. The young spirit stood beside him with her arms crossed. "!!!" That appearance with strength concentrated around her eyes was dignified, as if saying "scold me if you're going to scold me." "Hey, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Anyway, that thing was something you obtained by catching the Face Thief, right? Besides, it was something that was having a bad influence on the surroundings just by existing. Dealing with it is something worthy of praise. Who could blame you for this?" "Dray is right. You only did what you had to do. In fact, it was something only you could do." "Yes? Something only I could do?" "Countless scholars put their heads together to deal with that thing. But no real answer came out. No one could find a way to completely deal with it. Until your spirit swallowed it." "...Ah! Is that so? Phew. That's really fortunate. I was startled for a moment. I thought our Verdande...siu! had caused big trouble." Belota, who had been listening to the conversation in a daze from the side. Her expression rapidly drew shock. "W-wait a moment!" She urgently interrupted the conversation and asked Risir. "Wh-what did you just say!?" "Ah! Is that so!?" "Not that! The spirit, what did you call that spirit?" "Verdande...siu!?" "Verdandes..." Belota's pupils began to shake violently as she mulled over that name. Then came rapid breathing. Gasp. Gasp. She was at a loss for a moment, then eventually grabbed Dray and Palag's hands forcefully and pulled them away from Risir. It was a breach of etiquette that would absolutely not be permitted toward a Great Noble and Archmage, but right now Belota had no time to worry about that. "Both of you. Don't be surprised, and please listen calmly." Belota said this despite being in a state less calm than anyone else right now. Because she believed without doubt that after hearing her story, the two would be even more flustered than herself. "That young spirit that person called Risir has with him. That might be- Verdandes." "Verdandes?" "Sand Mountain That Blocks the Sun. Desert's Eternal Night. That is a demon with a rank that far surpasses the Faceless One." "Are you certain?" Palag asked with a serious face. "If not, what else could accept such a tremendous thing and still be fine?" Belota answered as if being chased. A demon of the highest rank was pretending to be a spirit and infiltrating human society. It was a serious matter that couldn't be compared to anything else. She waited for the two's answer in an extremely tense state. "I see." That was Palag's answer. "As expected, I thought it wouldn't be an ordinary spirit." That was Dray's answer. And- "...?" That was the end. "Everyone...?" Belota, whose common sense had been thoroughly denied, now asked the two with even fear. I've said this much and they don't recognize the seriousness of the situation? "Ah!" Then, Dray said to Belota as if something had occurred to him. "Belota, you just said that, right? Sand Mountain That Blocks the Sun. Desert's Eternal Night. By any chance, could it also be related to sandstorms?" Finally! Belota nodded vigorously. "That's right!" Snap! Dray flicked his fingers cheerfully. "Sir Palag, do you remember? That mental image of Risir we saw before-" "Ah, yes. The mystery has finally been resolved. I wondered how that young spirit could create such a terrifying mental image, so that's what it was." "...?" It wasn't "finally"? What are they suddenly talking about? Belota's gaze frantically went back and forth between the two. "Belota." Then. Dray asked Belota once more. "Yes...?" She answered with a bad premonition. "By any chance, among what you know, is there a spirit- no, demon that's also related to this?" A pillar of black fire so huge it could reach the sky. An endlessly spread pond of blood. These were the two things mentioned from Dray's mouth. "..." Understanding the intention of that question, Belota's legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground. 'No...' It was still too early to jump to conclusions. She asked them, believing it must be her mistake. "Where did you see those things...?" "Risir's mental image world?" "?"