Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 134 In terms of appearance alone, he was utterly ordinary. However, his frivolous smile contained a light yet absolute confidence, as if he looked down upon the world with ease. He was the kind of man who made observers wonder, 'What gives him such confidence?' The master of the Fourth Sacred Sword. Hero candidate Felix. He observed the man before him, Risir, with keen interest. The new Master of Sacred Sword. "..." Felix's expression as he looked at Risir became quite subtle. It could be said that his current feelings were completely revealed on the surface. -Felix. What do you think of him? His Sacred Sword, Pochena, posed the question in his mind. 'He doesn't seem like a bad guy, at least...' If Felix had met Risir in an ordinary setting, he would have received a purely favorable impression of him. His gentle atmosphere was more than sufficient to inspire goodwill in others. However, the problem was that he was the new Hero of Advancement. Felix remembered the previous Hero of Advancement. Overflowing ambition and the momentum to back it up. He was truly a man who perfectly fit the name of Advancement. But what about the man before him now? He couldn't even properly accept the Sacred Sword's aura, living with the Sacred Sword fixed to his hand with bandages in an immature display. A figure from whom not even a fragment of dignity befitting the name of Hero could be felt. Could such a person handle the fate of Advancement that even the previous Hero of Advancement couldn't bear? Well. A skeptical smile appeared on Felix's face. 'Why did the Sword of Advancement choose such a guy? Pochena, do you have any guesses?' -The Sword of Advancement... Jallak pays most attention to potential when choosing a master. Perhaps there's something about him that we don't know? 'Potential... it seems too well hidden.' Eventually. Felix reached one conclusion. 'Indeed, wouldn't it be right for Jane to become the master of Advancement?' -I think the same. The Power of Advancement isn't something just anyone can handle. The Sword of Advancement was counted among the most difficult Sacred Swords to handle. They found it hard to imagine him, who couldn't even properly adapt to the aura of Advancement, magnificently wielding the Power of Advancement. At this point, he became curious about Jane's intentions when he had said about him, 'He's an incredible guy who can't even be compared to me.' He even began to think that perhaps that good-natured Hero had yielded the Sword of Advancement to Risir. "Have you two introduced yourselves?" While Felix was deeply lost in thought with Risir before him, Jane approached. Only then did Felix speak to Risir. "I'm Felix. I heard about it from Jane. Seems like you showed something incredible during the Sacred Sword Trial?" "I'm grateful that you think so highly of it. I'm Risir." Felix's gaze remained fixed on the Sacred Sword gripped in Risir's hand. Felix barely managed to withdraw that gaze and turn it toward Jane. "So, Jane. What will you do? Have you thought about my proposal?" "Well... then, is that why you visited Bondaless?" "I set Bondaless as my destination because of that 'oracle' like you, but well, that's my highest priority goal for now. Originally I was thinking of bringing it up with the Talent Scout or Frozen Breath staying in Bondaless, or maybe the Gray Magic Tower- but if you're here, there's no need to go out of my way." "..." Jane mulled over Felix's words, then turned his gaze to Risir. "Then, while we're at it, how about asking Risir too?" "What?" Felix looked at Risir and let out a deflated laugh. "Jane. I told you. This isn't something to share with just anyone. It's because it's you that I trusted and shared it." "I'm grateful for that too. That's why I'm telling you. Risir is someone you can trust. Both in terms of credibility and capability." "Someone you can trust? Didn't you say you just met yesterday?" "That's right." "Then what makes you trust him?" "..." Hah. Jane, who had been retracing his memories, burst into a chuckle. "If I tell you, will you honestly believe me?" "What grand story are you planning to tell." Jane excitedly recounted the events he had experienced the previous day. "...He handled the Power of Advancement without the Sacred Sword's help, and nearly caused an explosion during the Trial of Nobility?" "Ah." And then he belatedly realized his mistake. When laid out in words alone, it wasn't a believable story at all. Jane shook his head as he saw Felix's expression full of disbelief. If he had been in Felix's position, he would have shown the same reaction. He should have anticipated this reaction and gone through the process of understatement, but it was clearly a miscalculation. 'What to do...' The Enhancement ability that Risir had used looked like it would come with tremendous side effects just from seeing it. He couldn't very well say, 'Show him that once so he'll believe my words.' In the end, Felix had no choice but to settle for a compromise. "Anyway, I'll vouch for Risir's ability and credibility." "..." If the Hero of Ideals spoke to this extent, there was definitely something there. 'Risir...' Once this matter was over, he would look into that name first. Felix decided to firmly remember that name and nodded. Only then did Risir ask Jane for the full story. "Jane. What story is this?" "To put it simply, Felix's party recently obtained some ancient relic from a dungeon, and they're looking for someone to use that ancient relic together." "Someone to... use an ancient relic together?" "It's an ancient relic called the Asking Left Hand." Felix interjected. "It's an ancient relic that fulfills the user's wishes through the power contained within it." "...So you're saying you're looking for someone to make wishes together right now?" Risir glanced sideways at Felix. It was the expression you'd see if someone said to another person, 'Wouldn't you like to easily make a fortune?' "Of course that's not all there is to it. To demand something from this Asking Left Hand, we first have to solve the problems it poses." "Ah, you're looking for someone to share both the risks and rewards." Now you seem a bit less like a scammer. Risir nodded in understanding. "Actually, there's not much in terms of risk." "Excuse me?" "According to the information we found through investigation, the level of problems posed by the Asking Left Hand is generally manageable. There's a high chance you'll just come, watch what we do while twiddling your thumbs, and go back." "Then why specifically request help?" "Just to be absolutely sure, you know. And incidentally, to share the rare experience of witnessing an ancient relic." "Ah." What will you do? Felix looked at Jane. In response, Jane gathered with his party members for discussion. Their discussion ended quickly. "Our party will participate. Belota and Camilla are saying that being able to see such an ancient relic is a rare opportunity? They really want to see it once." Now the two of them looked at Risir together. 'An ancient relic that piques the curiosity of a Hero party's scholar and elf.' Those words stirred Risir's curiosity as well. Perhaps he might gain unexpected benefits from the process. "Jallak. How is it, are you feeling better now? Would it be alright for me to participate in that?" -...Yes! I think it'll be fine! I think we can even remove these bandages now! "Oh, that's good. Then let's go." Risir fumbled to unwrap the bandages and then sheathed his Sacred Sword. Felix smiled bitterly as he watched this. 'Does he get the Sacred Sword's permission for every single action...' What exactly had Jane seen in that man called Risir? Felix put aside his ever-deepening doubts and left the mansion where Risir's group was staying. A short while later. Felix returned to the mansion with his party members. In his hands was something like a long staff wrapped in purple cloth. Risir's group guided them to a place prepared in advance within the mansion. A spacious room. A table was placed at its center. Felix set the object on the table and unwrapped the cloth. The Asking Left Hand. The object, which looked like a dried and twisted monkey's hand, revealed itself. The two Hero parties and Risir gathered around the object. "Ready?" Everyone expressed agreement to Felix's question. At that, Felix signaled to his fellow mage. A small-statured woman pushed back her hood and approached the Asking Left Hand. Mysterious silver hair and eyes that seemed to contain stars themselves were revealed. "..." She began pronouncing an unidentifiable language with her small lips. The entire ritual proceeded in an ordinary atmosphere. Based on investigation results, they were confident that the problems posed by the Asking Left Hand were mostly straightforward. Eventually, the woman's incantation stopped. A creaking sound. Simultaneously, the Asking Left Hand began to move. Creaking. Cracking. Sounds like dry twigs breaking continuously leaked from its joints. On and on. On and on. Endlessly. "W-wait-" The woman who had maintained composure throughout the suspicious ritual showed bewilderment. "What is it, Tila. Is there some problem?" "S-something's strange...!" "What?" "This reaction... this power... it's different from what was written in the literature!!!" The air in the room grew heavier by the moment. The Asking Left Hand. What had been empty like a dry branch just moments before began to fill with power. -Your wish has been fulfilled. Eventually, the hand began to speak. The language the woman had pronounced while conducting the ritual. It was a language Risir's group didn't know. Nevertheless, they could understand that language. -As you wished, the city is cursed and doomed. They could understand the seriousness of the content contained within that language. "W-wait...! What do you mean!" Regardless of the woman's outcry, the left hand continued its story. -Now it is your turn. The tremendous demand of the previous user. It began speaking of the price that followed. -Bring before me one who wields a sword in the morning, handles the mysteries of magic at noon, governs nature in the evening, and illuminates the surroundings with divinity at dawn. *** [Title: What? Why is Felix's Hero party all dead?] Content: Don't tell me it's because of the Asking Left Hand? -: Yeah -: Damn, so "asking" wasn't the "ask" as in questioning but "bury" as in burying someone -[OP]: But according to the investigation results, it was supposed to be nothing special -: There was literature they referenced during their investigation But that literature wasn't updated because the country was destroyed -[OP]: ??? -: The last wish made to that Asking Left Hand was the destruction of a nation yeah -[OP]: Ah -[OP]: But what does that have to do with the Hero party being wiped out? -: The difficulty of problems posed by the Asking Left Hand isn't actually random It's proportional to the scale of the previously made wish, so they got caught in extreme hot potato -[OP]: Ah shit lololol -: A problem given as the price for destroying a nation < How do you even solve this yeah -: If you actually try using that Asking Left Hand It's literally nonsensical, practically for suicide *** Unknown power flowing from the Asking Left Hand was swimming between them. It was an urgent situation, but their bodies and thoughts were all frozen in unison. "A sword in the morning, at noon... So you're saying bring someone who can handle all four powers!?" Moving frantically would have no meaning. It was the price for destroying a city. That absurd demand clearly belonged to the realm of impossibility. "Gaaah...!" At that moment, the woman who had conducted the ritual collapsed, clutching her throat. Black marks were spreading from her neck throughout her entire body. "Ugh...!" Eventually, Felix frowned as he checked his left hand. The black marks that had stained the woman's body were spreading to him. That mysterious power was slowly spreading to everyone in the location. "Damn it...!" They instinctively sensed it. If they failed to fulfill its demand, they would face unbearable consequences. But what could they do? How could they possibly fulfill that ridiculous demand? 'Damn it, think! Think! Maybe that's some kind of riddle. No, it must be a riddle! No matter what, it wouldn't make an absolutely impossible demand! Felix! Remember! Remember it!!!' It was when Felix was struggling to find an answer within the impossible. "Wait, Risir!?" Risir hesitantly raised his hand. 'Could it be, did he figure something out!? The answer to the riddle!?' Felix's trembling eyes were fixed on Risir. Just as he was waiting for the riddle's answer to come from his lips. -... Hmm. The Asking Left Hand let out an uncomfortable grunt. "Huh...?" Felix checked his left hand. The black spots were disappearing. 'What?' He hadn't even said the answer yet? Felix struggled to understand the situation.