Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 265 Expedition! That act which takes camping as its basic premise is absolutely no easy task. The process involves various hardships and inconveniences, and this process is so far from dignity that the expression 'roughing it' fits perfectly. Then here's the question. Would those high and mighty actually endure all those crude hardships and inconveniences that come with camping? As if. Risir realized anew. The fact that an expedition involving such exalted persons was not much different from a trip or a picnic. -Oh... large-scale... When he first confirmed the true nature of the Illatdein expedition, Risir had expressed pure admiration. Including the key figures Karoer and Lunadien, the expedition's personnel numbered about thirty- He had thought each and every one of them was an important figure who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the two elves. But that wasn't the case. -...Most of them are servants to help with the expedition? Most of them were servants recruited to help the noble elves with camping. -You. I see you're surprised after all. -Ah, yes. Lord Karoer. It seems... -I understand. However. I hope you can understand our position as well. This is none other than a matter related to the great World Tree. There absolutely must be no rash actions in our conduct. -Ah... so that's why so many people- -That's why we had to reduce the number as much as possible. -? -This is a composition formed by selecting and re-selecting down to the minimum necessary personnel. There will certainly be a feeling that it seems meager, but I promise the actual inconvenience felt during the expedition won't be great. -... Risir realized a fact he had briefly forgotten. Karoer and Lunadien. The fact that both elves were big shots in elven society who would be upset to be called second-best. If their status were applied to human noble society, wouldn't they easily correspond to Great Nobles? It wouldn't be strange at all if an expedition they participated in took on the meaning of a luxury trip. "Somehow, what I was worried about seems pointless." This was how Risir came to feel a mysterious mood that was neither relief nor disappointment as the expedition began in earnest. "Risir! I wondered what you were packing so much luggage for, and it was camping supplies!?" "I thought it was a chance to show off my proficient camping skills in front of everyone. 'Good heavens, Risir. You know how to do that too.' I was kind of hoping to hear something like that from Lord Karoer and Lady Lunadien." "What! What about me!? What about me what about me what about me!?" "Ms. Ratsil, you are the Observer of the vast Great Forest. Aren't you used to camping?" "What!? You mean you wanted to be praised by heavenly ladies like Lord Karoer or Lady Lunadien, not a tomboy like me- is that what you're saying!?" Hehe! Ratsil, who seemed shocked, put one hand on her hip and extended the other hand to Risir. Index finger. Waggling. "Then it's unfortunate!" "Yes? Unfortunate-" "Actually. Lord Karoer and Lady Lunadien are also tomboys, not much different from me!" "..." "What's with that expression! Do you think I'm lying!? It's not a lie! Both of them were Observers at one time too!" "Ah, is that what you meant by tomboy?" "Yes!? Then what other meaning could there be!?" Ratsil blinked, saying she had no idea. It was a reaction that could only come from someone with infinite confidence in her femininity. "...It's nothing. By the way, that's surprising. Those two are former Observers?" "Actually, all elves are like that! We elves have a duty to care for and protect the forest!" "Oh~...huh?" Risir's expression, which had been admiring, hardened stiffly. 'So, elves are all reservists who have undergone mandatory military training without exception?' Risir felt chills for a moment. Born with naturally magical power-friendly constitutions and they even receive military training? He resolved. 'If they ask me to give up the World Tree's front yard... I should persuade them to hand it over obediently...' No matter what happens, he must avoid making enemies of their race. "So! The situation Risir was hoping for was probably unlikely to happen! As for Lord Karoer and Lady Lunadien, there have been rumors since long ago that they were heavenly elves who stood out from their time as observers!" "...If you have excellent qualities as an Observer, you're a heavenly elf?" "Of course!" Risir gained a small realization about the fastidious nature of elves that people talk about. 'Is it like confidence as a warrior race? The more I know about them, the more mysterious and terrifyingly powerful this race is.' "Risir?" Without even realizing it himself, his attitude toward elves became more humble. "By the way, Risir. You're the surprising one???" "Yes? Me?" "I know. Human nobles are a delicate lot who rarely get their hands dirty." "Ah... well, that's not entirely wrong." "And Risir looks quite like a human noble, doesn't he? So I thought Risir wouldn't know anything about camping at all! Tell me. Where did you learn such things?" "First, I learned it from books. And I used it once before when making a long-distance journey." "Once!?" Pfft. Ratsil covered her mouth with her hand and burst out laughing. "Pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft." And true to her nature, that mocking laughter didn't stop at once. "..." Risir felt an overwhelming sense of defeat. He wasn't foolish enough to feel competitive toward a race that found their identity in a holy war for the forest. "To think you tried to impress Lord Karoer, Lady Lunadien, and me with something like that. It's ridiculous, isn't it!?" "...Tsk, I never tried to impress you, Ratsil." "Ha! Really! Then I never tried to be impressed either!" Night was falling on the camp. Risir sat with Ratsil like that, waiting for the servants to finish preparing the camp. After hearing Ratsil's story, they began to look quite different from before. 'They really are skilled.' Risir recalled the moment on the first day when he tried to help them. The elf servants who had adamantly declined his help. At first they were flustered and didn't know what to do, but after seeing what Risir was doing, they seriously refused. 'They must have wondered what amateur was trying to butt in.' Blanket. Give me a blanket. Risir's legs were itching terribly. "Huh?" It was during this time. Ratsil suddenly stood up and put on her hood. She headed straight for the entrance of the camp. Risir wondered what was happening and followed her. *** "Further approach is not permitted. State your business." Risir felt a moment of cognitive dissonance. Ratsil had blocked the group approaching the camp with the characteristically fastidious atmosphere of elves. 'Who are you.' Feeling Risir's gaze from beside her, Ratsil made a wall with her hand and spoke quietly. -It's a suspicious group, Risir. Look at them gathering and standing still in front of our camp like that. It seems they recognized we're elves and approached, so what should we do? Ah. When I say what should we do, I've already decided on a policy but I'm curious about Risir's opinion. It wouldn't make sense for Observer Ratsil not to know how to handle this situation, right? However, since this is outside the forest, I want Risir's opinion-... -Uhhhhh... That freely switching atmosphere seemed to show no hesitation about her dual nature. Originally, it wasn't duality at all. For elves, exclusion toward outsiders seemed to be a natural daily occurrence performed without self-awareness. Then. The figure at the head of the confronting group stepped forward. They were dressed similarly to Ratsil. They wore their hood pulled deep down, completely concealing their identity. "I felt curiosity about a special aura and was drawn here like this. Will you forgive our rudeness?" "...!" Risir shuddered involuntarily and spoke. The voice of the one who stepped forward was extremely androgynous, but that 'androgyny' had a completely different character from what Risir had encountered so far. Rona. Risir recalled that noble young master's voice. Her beautiful voice that broke down gender boundaries had an ideal androgyny. Then what about the voice of the one speaking now? 'What is this...?' It was both sticky and rough. That voice broke down gender boundaries in a different sense. Risir felt that voice was 'like combining only the worst aspects that each gender's voice could have.' "Ah...!" No wait. Their voice might just be a bit unusual. Risir corrected his mindset. So as not to inadvertently commit rudeness toward the other party. "This voice is...!?" But Ratsil. She openly reacted to that voice. 'Ratsil, surely...? Nah, it can't be.' Risir trusted Ratsil. No matter how talkative she was, she didn't lack enough discretion to mock a stranger's voice. "Beautiful..." "...!?" Risir screamed silently. Calling that voice beautiful. Wasn't that blatant sarcasm! Who knew elven exclusion of outsiders was this severe. Risir hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. "Might you perhaps be a Nad'ga?" However, Ratsil's action was a bit faster. She withdrew her previous wariness and spoke to the other party. "Huhu." The other party responded with laughter. To Risir it sounded unpleasant like nails on a chalkboard, but Ratsil smiled slightly as if even such a voice sounded pleasant. They pulled back their hood and spoke. "You recognize me." "Of course I had to recognize you! That beautiful voice... that beautiful appearance... I greet the apostle of Dinus, goddess of beauty." Ratsil bowed politely. True to her words, her actions were full of goodwill as if treating a beautiful person. "Hmm?" Then. The figure called Dinus's apostle looked at Risir. "Is there some problem?" "Yes? Ah-" "Risir! Were you also just another helpless man!? I suppose there's no way you wouldn't be entranced seeing that beauty!" "Oh my." Give and take. Risir could only stare blankly at how well they got along. 'This... am I the problem...?' Risir suddenly recalled part of his memories from his previous life. The appearance of a villain he had seen in a movie about a mage's story. The skin was beyond white to transparent, directly showing the blood vessels inside. The nose was so low as if stuck to the skin that only holes seemed to be plainly pierced, The target that the elf Ratsil praised for beauty as an apostle of the goddess of beauty was- Yes. They looked like a corpse that had drowned in water. "If you stare so intently like that, even I feel embarrassed." "Ah...! I'm sorry- I was so flustered that I-!" Risir came to his senses and hurriedly bowed his head. Apostle of the goddess of beauty. Avatar of beauty. It was the moment Risir first encountered that race of beauty. *** [Title: What the hell is this now lolololololol] Content: Nad'ga? lolololol What are these bastards that look like Voldemort's illegitimate children pretending to be fatal for? And everyone's totally smitten with them? What is this??? Is this that beauty-ugliness reversed world or something?????? -: Look at the ugly bastard being jealous lol -: For real lol If the beauty race Nad'ga isn't fatal, then who is fatal -[OP]: No seriously, that's supposed to be beautiful? Then possess me too damn it, my nose is just as fucking low so my face would work there too -: You're not a Nad'ga You're just a human who looks like a Nad'ga -[OP]: Fuck that's the same thing -: Nad'ga, even though they look like that They're a high-status race with insanely high individual values, higher than High Elves and can compete with dragons -[OP]: No shit really? -[OP]: Ah so that's why they suck up saying they're fucking pretty? Because they'll die if they don't suck up? Beauty (physical)? -: No? They really are pretty though? lol -[OP]: What the fuck Dragons are disgusting but really disgusting-looking things are beautiful? Is this really a beauty-ugliness reversed world? -: Oh lolololol -: What's the answer lol -[OP]: ? -: Limited to those two, that's really right lol -: The Nad'ga tried to steal the dragons' prestige They went all-in with power and cast a curse of perception alteration on dragons, so their mutual perception became reversed Nad'ga became objects of admiration And dragons became symbols of disgust -[OP] If I were a dragon I would've been so fucking pissed I'd have declared war immediately Why are these bastards just staying quiet? -: Think about it like you challenging the handsome kid in class to a fight Which side would the kids take -[OP]: Thanks for the easy-to-understand analogy, damn it *** The identity of the group that approached the camp was a group of followers centered around a Nad'ga. Ratsil welcomed them with goodwill and guided them to the deepest part of the camp. 'Is this... okay...?' That natural goodwill. That natural flow. Risir had no chance to intervene. He worried whether Ratsil would be questioned by her superiors for this. "Nad'ga!" It was groundless worry. Star of the Garden Lunadien. That red-haired elf who seemed particularly interested in splendor and beauty brightened upon seeing the Nad'ga. Lunadien immediately approached the Nad'ga and kissed her hand. "It's an honor to meet an apostle of Dinus, goddess of beauty like this. I am Lunadien, master of the Green Magic Tower." The Nad'ga placed her hand on her chest and bowed gently. "I too am honored to meet the 'Star of the Garden' like this. I am Hera, apostle of Dinus, goddess of beauty." "Hera. Even your name is beautiful." Then Karoer approached her. "Apostle of Dinus, Hera. Welcome to our visit." "Thank you for the welcome." "Would you tell us the reason why you sought us out?" "Like a butterfly drawn to flowers, I was drawn to your Pure Energy. Such Pure Energy indeed. I expected there would be pure elves like you." "..." Even that aloof High Elf couldn't completely hide the goodwill that surfaced on her face. It was clearly goodwill toward a beautiful being. Her ears perked up as if concentrating on that voice, and her deep eyes focused on that face proved it. 'What really is this...' Risir's confusion had reached its peak. If it were just Ratsil's reaction, he could have said 'what unusual taste,' but when all the elves showed the same reaction as Ratsil, the story became different. 'Am I, are my ears, are my eyes the strange ones...?' Rarely, Risir was experiencing the painful position of cognitive dissonance. Step. The Nad'ga Hera approached in front of Risir. "You are human, aren't you?" She created the 'image of a beauty feeling curiosity.' The nearby elf servants couldn't keep still as if they wanted to answer for him. "Y-yes, that's right." Risir answered with difficulty while keeping his head bowed down. "That's unusual. For the picky elves to include a human in their group." "He is Risir. A benefactor to us elves." Perhaps her mouth was itching, as Lunadien stepped forward to introduce him. "A benefactor to elves... a human, you say." "My name is Risir... It is an honor to meet you... Lady Hera..." "Yes. I'm also pleased to meet you. Benefactor of elves." How she interpreted Risir's appearance of mumbling with his head bowed. That Nad'ga created a satisfied smile. This time, she created the 'image of an interested beauty'. Me. I'm interested in you. So feel honored. As if saying that. "..." Indeed, some elf servants glared at Risir as if feeling jealous. -Th-th-this sinful human! Even Ratsil was giggling and nudging Risir with her arm. "Uh, uhaha... human... so sinful..." For Risir, he could only try to react as naturally as possible. 'Ah, this won't do.' Eventually Risir felt his limits. If he stayed here any longer, he might make some serious mistake. "Ms. Ratsil, I- have something urgent to tell you..." He tried to naturally leave the place together with Ratsil. "Let go of this, I said let go!!!" "Huh?" It was then that a commotion occurred among Hera's group. Clank! Clank! The sound of metal chains hitting each other. A figure ran out from among the group and fell to the ground. "I apologize for the disturbance. This is our slave, but as you can see, she's extremely violent-" Hera shook her head as if troubled. Then the elf servants actively empathized with her and glared fiercely at the 'slave.' "That thing...!" "How horrible..." Soon, more natural contempt emerged in those elves' gazes. Vertically split reptilian pupils. Horns that had grown subtly above her head. In the area from neck to jaw, scales sprouted instead of skin. Thus, the girl had a rather unusual appearance. It was proof that she was a humanized dragon. "Filthy dragon. What was she trying to do to the Nad'ga to get caught like that again-" The elf servants willingly directed their disgust toward that dragon. Thereby showing complete trust in the Nad'ga. Some elves including Lunadien awkwardly averted their gazes. "..." Contrasting reactions. Clearly divided favor and disfavor. Hera didn't even try to hide the vile smile blooming at the corners of her mouth. It was while the Nad'ga was enjoying that position. "Are you alright?" Risir approached the girl and carefully helped her up. "..." The girl's face, which had been full of venom, became tinged with confusion. "Good heavens, Lord Risir. What on earth-" "A-as expected of Lord Risir...? That terrible being-" Truly the benevolence befitting the Mother of World Tree! The elf servants expressed their admiration for Risir's action. "..." Tsk. Hera clicked her tongue inwardly while watching the entire situation. That human bastard. His actions had been somewhat annoying from earlier, and now he was finally going against her mood. "How kind of you." Hera created the 'image of a touched beauty.' She intended to toy with that arrogant human like that. She naturally extended her hand toward Risir. "Aieek!" Risir, sensing something unpleasant from Hera's atmosphere, was startled and avoided her touch. "..." The Nad'ga's expression was colored with shock.