Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 258 Burning Black Fire. No. Somehow, anyway, white flame Dangaleon. That spirit(?) was once a ruler who commanded numerous followers. Those foolish followers blinded by power willingly offered themselves to become part of the Burning Black Fire. Thus, that spirit was experienced when it came to the concept of 'followers'. An experienced one with deep knowledge in that unfamiliar and strange field. (E/N: Those few sentences were written very weirdly in the raw so I rewrote a lot of it, so it's no longer an accurate translation, but I'm too dumb to make an accurate translation of that) "This is!?" Such a Dangaleon recognized it immediately. The strange phenomenon that occurred in Risir's Inner World. Its true nature. "Master's aura is connected to somewhere...!? This is, a pathway!?" A pathway. It was a phenomenon that Dangaleon had experienced whenever he took in new followers- What this phenomenon meant was predetermined. A connection of aura. Through the medium of perfectly identical aura, different beings were connected. That is. By possessing perfectly identical aura to Risir, a being that would be influenced by him was born. A follower. "Could it be!? That wretch who received Master's aura has been reborn as Master's follower!?!" Dangaleon was shocked. Master and follower. It was not a relationship that could be established simply by giving and receiving aura. To make a target into a 'follower' who would be unilaterally subordinated required fulfilling quite many conditions. Nonsense like 'Huh? You got my aura on you? Then you're my follower now~' wouldn't work. If such a thing were possible, all the powerless weak ones in this world would have become someone's followers. That's why Dangaleon couldn't help but be flustered. "Surely, all that Master did was give his aura to that vermin called a saint!?" Risir imposed no restrictions or conditions when sharing his aura with the saint. There was no reason for the saint to become a follower in return. The saint herself probably couldn't even imagine that she would become a follower as payment for it. But what was this? The saint had somehow become Risir's follower. Nonsense like 'Huh? You got my aura on you? Then you're my follower now~' had actually worked. "Ma, Master...!!!" Though the spirit had become completely accustomed to that unreasonable being- No matter what, this couldn't help but be bewildering. Should we say it was fortunate in that regard. "Ah...!!! As expected!" The spirit persistently analyzed the 'pathway' and finally realized that the pathway was not intact. It was true that Risir could influence the saint through this pathway. However- that influence was not absolute. The total amount of aura bestowed upon the target! Risir's influence would probably be proportional to that. The spirit having resolved all doubts this way. His next action- "Ah, Master!!! As expected, you had a plan for everything!!! But this foolish and pure being, without knowing your profound intentions...!!!" It was reflection. Reflection on his own misunderstanding(?) from the past!!! It was when Risir shared his aura with the saint. At that time, Dangaleon had to forcefully suppress the emotions boiling within him. He was displeased. Some vermin taking that person's aura without any compensation. And doing so as if it were natural, so brazenly! Even taking such vast aura that it would have a meaningful impact on that person! There was a limit to how insolent one could be. The spirit wanted to burn that vermin called a saint right away if only his heart could have its way. -Even if the Master doesn't demand a price, isn't it natural to offer one on your own!? However. What could be done. When everything was the will of that benevolent person. -Kraaaaaak!!! The saint is not just a vermin!!! If kept alive, she'll be useful someday...- Kraaaaaak!!! The spirit had boldly attempted even reconstructing his thoughts to accept that vermin's existence. And now, having reached this point. The spirit was realizing how foolish his actions had been. "Right, right! There's no way that the wicked- no, wise and vile- no, sagacious Master would have shared such a vast aura just out of a desire to be generous!" The spirit recalled. The Master's schemes that sometimes impressed even himself. Those schemes that impressed even him, who had the cursed and sorrowful past of a 'former demon'! Thus- The spirit thought of his master's new follower. The saint. From what the spirit felt. That person called a saint was a greedy pig. The way she kept demanding power without compensation, knowing no satisfaction! "Even wicked demon followers offer appropriate sacrifices when they desire power!!!" It was truly incomprehensible to the spirit. Just having the lowly name of saint, to assign noble meaning to such pig-like behavior! In that sense- the spirit thought. "Indeed, Master!!! You saw through that greedy pig's true nature!!! Surely, you were not deceived by that insignificant name!" Thus the demon's thinking reached a new phase. "The Master is endlessly merciful to pure(?) beings like me, but on the other hand, he is endlessly ruthless to wicked beings like demons!!! Would such a Master truly bestow a vast aura upon that greedy pig without any price!?!" In the late night when Risir fell asleep. Within his inner self, a grayish-white fireball was burning fiercely. "Hey, you mute wench!!! You tell me!!!" The spirit pointed to another spirit with vigor. It was the purple girl who was looking at him blankly from nearby. "..." The purple girl just looked at the spirit with her characteristic emotionless expression. It meant 'I don't really know.' "As expected!!! It seems to be a matter so obvious that even a dimwit like you can see it without a doubt!!! That's right!!! There's no way the Master would leave that greedy pig alone!!! "..." The purple girl just looked at the spirit with her characteristic emotionless expression. It meant 'If this is how it is, why ask me?' "Good!!! It's becoming clearer and clearer what I must do for the Master!!!" The grayish-white fireball was about to ride the momentum and ask other spirits' opinions too. "No! On second thought, it's fine! I, Dangaleon, second in rank!!! There's no reason for me to listen to the opinions of you insignificant beings!!!" The grayish-white fireball cast disdain for juniors. Then, he politely rubbed his hands toward somewhere. It was the sand baby spirit who was straining with her small body to create the same sleeping environment as Risir. In this Inner World filled with incomprehensible aura, it was nearly impossible for spirits to preserve their own aura. Nevertheless, the spirits were preserving their aura, even if limitedly, with the power they originally possessed. The sand baby spirit was the being preserving the most aura among them. The grayish-white fireball told her his plan. "For that reason, could you please lend me your power, Verbande...ssu!?" "!!!" The baby spirit, whose eyebrows had become particularly determined due to the important work she was doing, looked at the grayish-white fireball. "It's time to sleep now!?!" "!!! The senior's lights-out declaration! Before that statement with absolute power, the spirit literally felt his vision go dark! "Hmm!!!" However, then the baby spirit cupped her chin with her small hand and fell into contemplation "!!!" The manifestation of anguish! The angle of her eyebrows became even fiercer. "I understand! Just this once!?" (E/N: I fcking hate this character's baby speech) "Ooooh...!!!" The senior's night watch assignment!!! The grayish-white fireball added to his fierceness. The aura of the swirling sandstorm supported his aura. "This blazing white flame Dangaleon!!! I will surely complete my mission!!!" "We're going to sleep now!" Before long, within the Inner World, the same environment as the room where Risir slept had been created. A bedroom where gentle moonlight descended through the window. Tap tap! The baby spirit energetically patted the bed. Trudge trudge. Roll roll. The spirits gathered busily on the bed with their respective gaits. "Ah, yes." The grayish-white fireball sensibly lowered his voice and dimmed his brightness. Afterwards. He carefully approached the 'pathway'. To fulfill the mission his master entrusted to him! *** -And so!!! While the Master was sleeping, I infiltrated that pig's Inner World!!! "..." -And, like this!!! I extracted appropriate compensation from that pig!!! This was the full story of 'glowing Risir' that the spirit was telling. Risir. Shuyen. Tara. They belatedly realized. Glittering Risir. The fact that they could feel denser 'divinity' from him than before. No. They had actually realized it long ago. It was just that the divinity was too clear to dismiss as imagination. Nevertheless, they were denying it while averting their gaze. Because they could easily infer where that divinity originated from. Risir recalled. That prayer where she had requested him and Tara Dollin to bestow aura upon her. The divinity contained within that prayer. "Ah...!" Risir sighed unconsciously. It was a fact that could no longer be ignored. The saint. The identity of the 'greedy pig' the spirit spoke of was undoubtedly that saint. They were immediately overwhelmed by shock. "You've... stolen the saint's aura...?" Risir was shocked by the fact that his spirit had stolen the saint's aura. "You've... made the saint into a follower...?" Tara and Shuyen were shocked by the fact that the saint had fallen to become someone's follower. They recalled the aura possessed by the current saint. That aura, which stood out for its sanctity even in a weakened state, was certainly - worthy of being praised as a saint. Even Tara Dollin, the first saint. Even transcendent beings who command numerous followers. They wouldn't be able to make her a follower by ignoring her will. "How could such a thing be possible...?" Tara and Shuyen demanded an explanation from Risir with their gazes. "No, even if you ask me that..." Risir was equally confused. This was the first time he had shared his aura in its entirety. But who would have thought that such an act would result in making the saint a follower. "Originally, does sharing aura result in this?" "If it did... she would have become Tara's follower long ago." Risir nodded at the fairy's answer. Right? Then what is it? "Risir. Is there anything special about your 'status' that we should know?" Then, the fairy Shuyen said. "Status?" "Yes. Not status of power, but status as a being. A characteristic that adds basis to the fact that you're something beyond human." "..." Risir opened his mouth after a moment's contemplation. "Well, I am a Guardian Spirit." Shuyen and Tara, who were listening intently to his words, felt something click in their heads. "Oh, and recently I also became the World Tree's-... mother." "..." Is that sentence correct? Shuyen and Tara had to spend time developing mental flexibility to accept that sentence. *** "Fine. Let's say all of that is possible." Saint Tara. Fairy Shuyen. Their thoughts reached the same point as Risir after arduous effort. Tara closed her eyes and fell into contemplation for a while. Finally, she opened her eyes wide and shouted. "What, what are you doing!? To steal the aura of someone who needs help!?" Tara's facial muscles trembled. Tara had been consistently in contact with the saint through prayer until now. She knew. The saint's frailty. And that sacred heart that tried to help others rather than care for herself even in such frailty! This was why Tara had helped the saint without doubt and with sincerity. Kinship. She had glimpsed her past self in that foolish figure who helped others while sacrificing herself. Tara knew how arduous and lonely such a life was. That's why she earnestly wished. That pitiful child would not follow the same process as herself- "Do you know what feelings I had when I helped that child!?" Risir's spirit. His actions trampled on all of that. The resolve and effort that Tara had painfully maintained until now- "But... but...! To do such a thing to that child...! To extort that much power from that pitiful child!!! Like this, she won't be able to protect even herself, let alone others... What to do, what to do-" Huff. Huff. Tara's breathing became labored. The first saint, who had never felt doubt or anxiety even in the moment of facing annihilation through self-sacrifice, was rapidly being consumed by all kinds of negative energy. -What foolish nonsense are you babbling!? What calmed(?) the saint was the spirit's domineering voice. -Pitiful my ass!!! What pitiful thing stockpiles treasure like a mountain in a barn! "...What?" -No, should I say outhouse instead of barn!? Yes! That would be more fitting! "Wh, what are you saying-" -That pig has received aura from you countless times! Your aura, which has quite useful power for a vermin! Yet you say it's just frail! Haven't you ever thought it strange!? "That's... that child... to sacrifice herself and help others..." -If that were the case, her fame would have already reached the Master!!! Master!!! Have you ever heard of that pig!? Saint Asrania. Risir began to recall things about that current saint. What came to mind was the conversation that had taken place when the High Priest visited the Gray Magic Tower before. -Does the saint still seclude herself these days? Risir had little interest in religion, and thus didn't know much about the saint. That was all he knew about the saint. "What...?" Nevertheless, it was better than Tara, who lived completely cut off from the present world. Dangaleon was right. According to Tara's claim, the saint was performing constant self-sacrifice with the first saint's aura - salvation through that. The achievements accumulated through repeated salvation should have naturally spread throughout the continent and reached Risir's ears. However. All Risir knew about the saint was news that she was holed up in her room. Even if she had begun a pilgrimage after receiving Tara's aura- The fact that news related to that didn't reach Risir was clearly problematic. Therefore. What the series of information meant was obvious. -That pig was pretending to be poor while coveting your power, and was actually secretly accumulating power! They couldn't help but be shocked by the saint's true power that Dangaleon described. It was a fact clearly conveyed even through indirect words. Risir, who was riding a wave of momentum and heading towards the end of the 7th Rank. The saint possessed power and aura that surpassed such Risir. It was infinitely far from the 'frailty' that Tara spoke of. -You dullards! Be glad that the Master has arrived before you!!! The cunning- no, the wise Master noticed all of this far ahead of this one, and intended to lure that pig into a trap! "..." Tara and Shuyen looked at Risir with great surprise. Risir also looked down at himself with great surprise. Me. Me? In truth, Dangaleon's statement wasn't entirely wrong. Originally, Dangaleon was not much different from others. Even to that demon who treated mortals like insects, the name 'saint' held its own meaning. A greedy saint. If Risir hadn't opened their thinking through a new perspective, Dangaleon wouldn't have been able to suspect that saint either. -Master! This Dangaleon! Once again, I am in awe of you, Master!!! To think you would lure that pig into a trap with such a cunning plan!!! Shuyen and Tara looked at Risir with shocked expressions. Someone who can come up with schemes that even demons admire!? "...Yes. That's how it happened." (E/N: Am I supposed to say 'Sasuga, Ainz-sama!' now?) Risir sighed and reluctantly responded. Right now there was something more important than resolving misunderstandings(?). He looked at Tara. Through true dedication, truly in a weakened state- The true 'saint'. "Dangaleon. In the place where the saint- no, that woman accumulated power, was Tara's aura clearly stored there too?" The spirit observed Tara carefully and then nodded. -It was piled up like a mountain!!! The truth was revealed. The saint was siphoning off the first saint's aura for impure reasons. While Tara was confused, and even Shuyen was in confusion. Risir spoke with an unwavering voice. "Is there a way to bring all of that back?" *** "Kyaaaaaak!!!" Early morning. The believers rushed to the saint's room after hearing the scream that came from there. "What's the matter, Saint-...?" The believers who burst through the door unconsciously trailed off their words. It wasn't because the saint was still in nightwear. That saint- On the expression of the loving and delicate saint, there was a terrible venomous aura. Saint Asrania was breathing heavily in that state. "..." Soon, the saint gradually returned to her original appearance and spoke to the believers. "I'm sorry for causing a commotion. I had a terrible- a truly terrible nightmare..." The way she was consumed by anxiety and pouring out cold sweat like rain certainly looked like someone tormented by nightmares. "I see." Another one following yesterday's heretical trial. The believers felt unease but left after paying their respects for now. 'Why!?' As the believers left- Asrania immediately regained that venomous expression and questioned herself. 'Why? Why!?! Why!?!?!? Why did it suddenly decrease!?' She took out a necklace embedded with a huge gem from the pouch hidden in her bosom. It was a 'vessel' thoroughly hidden in a subspace pouch. Dawn's Guidance. The power accumulated to achieve that cause. That power, which was approaching its target, had somehow greatly diminished. As if it had been stolen! 'What is it, what the hell is it- who could do such a thing...!' No matter how much she thought, nothing came to mind. Thus, Asrania was dominated by 'anxiety'. The anxiety that these auras might be stolen again at any time. And the anxiety that she might not be able to achieve the cause. In the end, Asrania was dominated by that anxiety. "This might be just the beginning..." She muttered in a somewhat alien tone. Those eyes that had been shaking mercilessly were firmly fixed with madness. Asrania stared directly at the vessel. Thus- It was the moment she was about to use all the power remaining in the vessel. "...!" Asrania's pupils dilated. Suddenly the world changed completely and swallowed her. Asrania didn't know. The fact that she had unknowingly become someone's follower. The fact that their auras and Inner Worlds had become connected. The pure white world that had suddenly abducted her. The fact that it was someone else's Inner World. Then. A certain man appeared before Asrania's eyes. "My child..." Risir. He spoke to Asrania. In the most mysterious and meaningful atmosphere possible. Asrania's expression crumpled. Dawn's Guidance. There was only one being who could call her, a member of it, that way. Dawn's Hand. The great being who should truly be called the main god. Just as Asrania was about to turn to rejection. "...!" Suddenly Asrania's eyes were filled with verdant greenery. A massive tree scattering life. "World Tree..." Before she knew it, that sacred tree had grown and was guarding behind the man. The World Tree is the heart of elves. The parent of all elves. But how could a mere human 'possess' that World Tree. Who could. Make such a thing possible. "...!" In an instant. Asrania's eyes opened wide. Dawn's Hand. She recalled the great being who tried to embrace all things in the world with that vast hand of tolerance. That great being she had only encountered indirectly until now- Had finally revealed himself before her? "My child." The man said once more. It was at that moment. -Asrania... "!!!" Asrania hurriedly looked down at her hand. A necklace decorated with a huge gem. The vessel. A voice came from that essence of power dedicated to Dawn's Hand. -Do not be deceived... Asrania looked back and forth between the man and the necklace in confusion. A familiar voice and presence. And an unfamiliar man. The situation was clear. However, it was unavoidable. -Asrania...? The World Tree. Its massive presence strongly drew Asrania's gaze. -Asrania...? A priest of dawn. Her eyes shook. It was a ripple caused by the question thrown at her. Asrania suddenly felt such a question. Our god. Is that possible?