Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 273 [Title: Oh what, Alenza fate quest, does this even have a happy ending?] Content: If you defeat the Nad'ga after saving Alenza You can regain dragon status, is that real? -: No? There's no happy ending though? -[Author]: True lol This game lets you regain dragon status just like that? For real, that would make no sense, this game is not like that. -: No? It does let you regain it though? -[Author]: ? -[Author]: You said there's no happy ending, damn it -: No? I didn't say there was a happy ending though? -[Author]: Ugh damn, what's with that shitty way of talking What is it, what are you trying to say -: That's actually facts though You can regain dragon status but that's not a happy ending -[Author]: Damn lolololol How can saving Alenza, wiping out the Nad'ga, and regaining dragon status not be a happy ending? -: Another Tale makes it happen -[Author]: For real, it's at the level of art At this point I'm curious enough to try eating shit? -: Try eating shit? What bullshit You're swimming in shit right now, if you didn't quit and came this far you're just a shit fish living in a shit river -[Author]: Damn -[Author]: Oh what's this -[Author]: Regaining status means Alenza tortures the Nad'ga to regain it? lol The Nad'ga saying these bastards are so damn resilient How did she do it lololol -: Alenza< this crazy bitch has only lived for this moment -[Author]: She must have studied regaining status like crazy lol This is a rare satisfying ending in this shit game though? -: Nah nah that's not satisfying -[Author]: No lol if this isn't satisfying then what is -[Author]: ? -[Author]: Wait a damn minute, it's Alenza -[Author]: Why is she killing people -: The carbonation is a bit strong lol what's the name of this? -: Hydrochloric acid. -: Those guys also followed the Nad'ga and treated Alenza like a slave -[Author]: Damn, it was because of the Nad'ga curse They were originally good kids -: Dragon: Do I care? -: For real lol -: Dragon: Guys, this is because of the Nad'ga's curse T_T World: Do I care? I've been dealing with this bullshit for hundreds of years, why would I care -[Author]: It's not just "do I care?" level though? Why is she suddenly like this, damn, who are you -: Regained dragon status and Alenza regained her identity as a dragon She was basically a girl with dragon skin but got completely consumed by dragon identity -[Author]: This crazy bitch is dragon average? -: Dragon average for one who was despised as a slave -: Basically this "Guys~ Alenza might endure but the dragon can't~" -: Alenza's black flame dragon endured and endured until status revival and exploded together -[Author]: Ah this is fucked This crazy bitch now wants to fight me? -: Dragon heart farming dragon fight lololololol -[Author]: Fuck I don't know lololol Dragon fight lolololol *** The morning at the campsite was unusually noisy. It was because the aftermath of dawn had been directly conveyed. The awakening of the young dragon. Everyone at the campsite had shared that moment of wonder and remembered it. "What is everyone doing here!?" Alenza. This was how that young dragon came to be suddenly surrounded by followers. Alenza, who was surrounded by a crowd as soon as she left her tent, checked their faces. "You all are-" Ares ye Dibrien. The knight order of great noble houses led by him. And numerous heroes. It was a composition that could be summarized in one sentence. Former followers of the Nad'ga. Alenza had been included in their journey with the Nad'ga. That dragon who had been the Nad'ga's slave. "..." Wariness appeared on Alenza's face as she unconsciously recalled memories of that time. 'Risir-' Just as the young dragon was about to look for that man with an anxious heart- "...No." She gritted her teeth. There was no longer any reason to fear them. She was no longer the Nad'ga's slave, nor an ugly and pitiful monster. Dragon. As a being of great higher status, a Guardian of Harmony and Balance. That was exactly what she was. 'I am a dragon, I am a dragon-' Alenza repeated inwardly. As this was repeated, her atmosphere gradually changed. There was no longer a girl anxious about being surrounded by adults. "What business do you have with me?" Humans. The dragon added that word quietly. Yes. Alenza was treating humans as a dragon. As a being of higher status, treating those lower beings. "...!!!" Such dragon demeanor served as a signal. Thud! Starting with Ares, they all knelt in unison. "Dragon, great Guardian of Balance and Harmony!" Startled. Alenza was quite flustered by their momentum. She had thought they wouldn't treat her as before, but she hadn't expected them to show such devoted respect. For Alenza, who had lived her entire life as an ugly being, becoming an object of reverence was something that had only just entered its second day. "..." Alenza tried to control her confusion as she looked at them. Their appearance, kneeling and bowing their heads, was like that of terrified sinners. "Ah..." Alenza sighed softly. She thought she was beginning to understand why the humans were acting that way. -They're afraid. It was a voice coming from deep within. The young girl's life filled with humiliation and persecution was more than enough to create darkness in her tender inner self. Now that Alenza had spread the broken dragon's wings again. That darkness also spread like wings, revealing its presence. -Because you're no longer some ugly monster. -Because you've been reborn as a higher being who can trample those lower races anytime. -So now they bow their heads to you. -You must never be mistaken. -What's moving those things now isn't guilt. -Those things don't care at all about having trampled a young and innocent dragon. -They just don't want to pay the price for it. "..." When wounds fester without healing, they rot terribly. That darkness wasn't some evil power. It was definitely part of the young and pure dragon and an incomparable understanding companion. The darkness gently caressed the dragon's wounds and whispered tenderly. -Ask. Whether they feel sorry toward you. "Are you... apologizing to me right now...?" "...!" They bowed their heads even deeper as an answer. -Yes. They must be sorry. They want to appear that way. -But think about it. -If they were truly sorry, would they really ask for forgiveness like that? -They want to act like nothing happened, don't they? -Is that the attitude of someone who's truly sorry? "..." Alenza couldn't respond to that whisper. The darkness, as if that was the answer it wanted, spurred on its whispers. -You know too. We know. If we had been in their position. We would never have forgiven ourselves. We would never have asked for forgiveness. -Right? That darkness's whisper, which had been like the sound of water drops falling from stalactites in a cave, was by the end completely imitating Alenza's voice. Alenza couldn't distinguish whether it was the darkness's whisper or her own thoughts. No. Was there even a need to distinguish in the first place? The young dragon had countless wounds. All of those were gaps through which darkness could penetrate. The dragon had regained status. Regained lofty dignity and the perspective that befitted it. It was a terribly difficult thing. For that higher being to forgive the lower beings who had humiliated them. Just as shadows were about to fall over those golden eyes. "Risir..." The young dragon murmured. It wasn't a monologue but a question. A question directed to her own darkness. To the wounded, terrible, and pitiful monster. 'What would Risir have done...' -... The unstoppable momentum of the monster subsided. The terrible monster knew about him as well as the dragon did. No. Perhaps it knew about him even better than the dragon did. -Risir... Even the terrible monster wasn't much different from the dignified dragon in front of him. He had accepted the monster's appearance as it was. He had accepted the monster's story as it was. His existence was a denial of the monster's existence, which was born from hatred and existed to hate. The darkness whispered faintly. -Indeed... What would Risir have done...? What would he have wanted us to do...? Before long, the young dragon was creating a bright, innocent smile. "..." The humans who had been crushed by the dragon's status unconsciously raised their heads. Thus they faced each other. "Ah." Alenza made a sound without realizing it. The humans' appearance was quite different from what she had thought. It wasn't the petty struggle of a lower race trying to avoid retaliation. "..." What could be felt from the humans' expressions was disillusionment toward themselves. They were blaming their past selves who had helped the Nad'ga persecute the dragon. "Ah." The humans made sounds without realizing it. The dragon's appearance was quite different from what they had thought. It wasn't a higher being that mere humans couldn't dare to fathom. The tearful girl's face was filled with very complex, and therefore human, emotions. "..." The humans' expressions became distorted with guilt deeper than self-loathing. "Ah..." Just what. What have we done to that young girl all this time- They finally tried to understand Alenza as an equal being. Thus, they realized their greatest mistake. Before fathoming how great an insult Alenza felt as a dragon- They began to fathom how much pain she suffered as a young child. They spoke. That they were sorry. They put sincerity into their trembling voices. "..." Alenza felt as if their apology represented everyone. All those who had despised dragons along with the Nad'ga. Was that why? She felt that her response might also represent all dragons. The burden made her legs tremble. The young girl couldn't even gauge what she should say in such a situation. 'Risir...' So, she unconsciously thought of that man. That reliable human. No. Adult. 'What would Risir have done...' The girl ultimately didn't speak. "..." Instead, she created a smile. It was the kind of smile that suited her youthful appearance, where the tear-stained look added to her freshness. The dragonkin who had sought to regain her clan's pride had achieved her purpose. Thus, the girl reclaimed herself. *** ───────────────────── ▷Fate 52: The Dragon and the Girl. - Deactivated. Perks will be granted accordingly. ───────────────────── *** Those followers were heroes who had gathered to carry out a great cause by following the great Nad'ga. Now that the Nad'ga had disappeared. They seemed to have found a new purpose. "You want to follow me...? Why?" "Lady Alenza, you said so yourself. That you wanted to fully restore the dragon status that isn't yet complete. And that in the process, you wanted to help your kin who are in the same situation as you." "...You're saying you'll help with that?" "That's right." "Why?" Alenza had intended to reject their proposal. However, at their following answer, she burst into laughter. "Lady Alenza is still young. We cannot leave you alone." "...What?" It wasn't an expression of pure reverence. Before following Alenza as a dragon, they hoped to protect her as someone who was still young. "That's not even funny." "Ah, Lady Alenza!!!" Alenza snorted. She shook her head and turned her back on them. As she entered the tent again, she was wearing a cheerful smile across her face. "Lady Alenza..." "Kyaah!" Alenza jumped up in place. "Wha, what!? How long have you been there!?" A spiritual being had welcomed her into the tent. Though hidden by the golden helmet and not visible, she could vaguely sense it. That the spiritual being was shedding tears of emotion. "Magnificent... Truly magnificent tolerance... Truly magnificent magnanimity... Worthy of bearing the pride of the great dragon-" "Ah, enough! Stop!" Alenza waved her hands in exasperation. The girl's face was flushed with embarrassment. "By the way-" Alenza hastily changed the topic. "...I still can't believe it." Her expression as she looked down at her hands quickly became calm. "That I used Word Magic... That great power permitted only to pure dragons... In a crisis situation, did my dragon instincts manifest?" "..." Ahem. The spiritual being awkwardly averted its gaze. Alenza asked such a spiritual being. "Will such a day come someday? A day when I can wield that power at will...? A day when I'm reborn as a proper dragon?" "..." The spiritual being was troubled for a moment. Recalling the previous situation, he nodded resolutely. "Yes, Lady Alenza. Certainly, such a day will come." "..." Alenza responded with a resolute smile. And that resolute smile quickly changed into a mischievous yet innocent smile. "Risir." "...!" The moment that name was mentioned, the spiritual being couldn't help but startle. "No matter who he is, he must have been surprised this time, right!?" "Wa, wait- Lady Alenza!?" Alenza ran out of the tent in an excited state. She headed straight to Risir's quarters. "Kyaah!?" A moment later. A girl's sharp scream burst from Risir's tent. "Th, this is...!" The spiritual being who followed her also took a battle stance in alarm. A knight equipped with dark armor and sword, seemingly forged from ominousness itself, greeted them. "Ri, Risir-" What did you do to Risir! It was the moment Alenza was about to shout at the knight. "Ah, everyone. Please come in." "...Huh?" A familiar voice flowed from the gaps in the helmet. "Ri, Risir...?" "Yes, Alenza. It's me." "...Why are you in that state?" "Hm?" Alenza looked at the spiritual being. Because his attitude toward Risir was somehow awkward. "Ah, this." Risir answered naturally while looking down at his body. "My body is temporarily strained, so I'm recuperating." "...Recuperating?" "Ugh..." "Risir!? Are you okay!?" "It is difficult. The magic sword-" "Magic sword!?" "Why the magic sword!?" When that ominous name was mentioned, the spiritual being and dragon couldn't help but be alarmed. Surely. Had Risir fallen victim to that ominous monster!? "It would be great if I had just one more magic sword..." Risir smacked his lips like an old man coveting medicine. "..." This was now a familiar occurrence. The dragon and spiritual being couldn't understand the man's words. *** The elf expedition. They had left the campsite they had grown fond of. Movement that had been stagnant for a while resumed. It was agreed that the dragon and followers would temporarily travel together with the expedition. This was the result of Alenza's strong insistence that she couldn't be at ease until she saw with her own eyes that Risir was completely fine. Inside a running carriage. Alenza sat facing that dark knight. "Are you sure? That staying in that state speeds up recovery?" "That's right. Though it may not look like it, I've already benefited considerably." "...Well, okay. If you say so, then it must be so." Alenza had become somewhat accustomed to dealing with him. Alenza sat close to him with acceptance. And looking up at him, she spoke naturally. A friendly attitude as if treating an older brother. It would be a sight that would shock any hero. "So, Risir. What exactly happened? What happened for you to end up in that state?" "...There is such a thing." "What. I wasn't asking you, you know?" When the spiritual being, transformed into a small golden fireball, intercepted the answer, Alenza glared at it sharply. "...As the spiritual being says. There is such a thing." "What, you two? Did something happen between you two?" After that, Alenza persistently tried to get an answer from Risir, but it ultimately ended in futile attempts. *** The elves, including Karoer, did not ask about Risir's condition after he became a magic swordsman. It was because of a premonition that they would hear an answer they couldn't handle. However. Continuing to avoid it wouldn't solve anything. "Indeed. What happened at dawn is somewhat concerning. What do you think, Lady Karoer?" "Hmm..." Eventually. They decided to ask Risir for the full story. The expedition group was in the midst of lunch before arriving at a city in a few days. Karoer and Lunadien crossed through that group toward Risir. "The seasoning could be a little lighter! Ah! I know too! The fact that Risir prefers strongly seasoned dishes! But as everyone knows, Risir's body is weakened right now, right? Ah! I know too! The more your body hurts, the more you want to eat delicious food! But-..." "Uhhh..." "Ah!" Ratsil, who had been tormenting(?) a servant cooking nearby, discovered them and followed with perked ears. "You're looking for Risir!" He was currently spending time in a nearby field away from where the group was located. It was to spend time alone and focus on rest. "Risir~" Soon. They could see the back of a dark knight in the distance. Then, they could see the front of a group confronting him. "Huh!? Lady Karoer!? Lady Lunadien!? Risir is confronting someone right now!?" "...What?" "Some people in black robes are surrounding Risir! As if they're about to attack at any moment!!!" They picked up speed. "Stop there! That man is our companion!" "Lady Karoer!?" Karoer stopped Lunadien, who was about to attack them without a second thought. It seemed like Risir was trying to resolve it through conversation, so she intended to follow his will for now. "That attire is-..." "The ears are-..." "Elves? Surely that expedition-..." The group with dark intentions stirred for a moment. "Elves! What are you up to!" "...What?" They suddenly began questioning the elves. "We know well about magic swords." Then they pointed at the dark knight. "That he is currently dominated by a magic sword! But you- elves said. That he. That one dominated by a magic sword, is your companion." The one at the front signaled to his companions. Shing! The group with dark intentions all took battle stances in unison. "Answer, elves. What are you plotting?" "Wait! That's not a state of being dominated by a magic sword!" "..." The man at the front nodded. "Yes. I understand." "You understand!" "It seems conversation with you all would be meaningless." "...!" They pointed at the dark knight. -It hurts... It's painful... It's painful... That thing constantly groaning. "To brazenly say such things with that right beside you. You must think quite little of us. Look at that and tell us again. If that's not a state of being dominated by a magic sword, then what exactly is it?" The man at the front sneered at Karoer. Karoer sighed briefly and answered. "...That's the sound the magic sword is making." "?"