Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

There were two identically looking women in the room. They drew their swords simultaneously. And simultaneously, they thrust the tips of their swords into each other's bodies. It was a strange sight, as if they were killing each other like reflections in a mirror. Did they have the same thought? Deep self-mockery appeared on both women's faces. Again, simultaneously. "Suddenly, I'm curious. Does this suffering that 'we' are going through... really have any meaning?" "Suddenly, I'm curious. Does this suffering that 'we' are going through... really have any meaning?" 'We'. Did the woman use such an expression with a faint hope? However, there was no change. It did not respond to the woman's words. "How foolish..." "How foolish..." It was only natural. A mirror only directly mimics the actions of the other party. In deep solitude, the woman's consciousness gradually faded. ▶Fate 71: Sword Sheath of Pofendal *** [Title: Tormund < What the hell are the completion conditions here?] Content: I've cleared all the quests while wandering around the city But the region clear still doesn't show up -: There's no full clear there -[Author]: Oh lol Now it's gone beyond making clearing difficult It prevents clearing altogether? lol Very fresh lol Good~ lol -: You really feel it's fresh, right? -: Fresh shit is also fresh if you call it fresh... -: Honest opinion) Isn't it too shameless to expect region clear when you missed the Magic Sword? -[Author]: Then fuck...The fate quest clear condition is 'beat up all Magic Sword hosts and vassals to make them run away naked', so what can I do -[Author]: Ah fuck, why is the phrase 'honest opinion' so annoying? It sounds like something a developer bastard would say, which makes it even more infuriating -: Once again, you've perfectly grasped the developer's intention -: For real; just looking at the ability to play according to the developer's intention, you're a bastard who rivals veteran players -: I want to feel that heart-pounding bullshit while playing this game too... -: That's because Tormund itself has the concept of being a warehouse of evil objects. So it feels like they made it unable to clear to match the concept yeah -[Author]: What does being a warehouse of evil objects have to do with not being able to clear it? -: The Sword Sheath of Pofendal. They find evil objects and lock them up, and keep guarding them indefinitely yeah...Because they can't destroy them. It's kind of that feeling. An endless bullshit, you could say -: Endless bullshit oh...Somehow philosophical? -[Author]: I don't know about philosophical but it's definitely bullshit *** [Type 0 Evil Object: 8th Floor Room 8 (Face-to-Face Mirrors)] Overview: A mirror that perfectly mimics the existence of the other party. Isolation Location: Warehouse 8th Floor Room 8 The 8th room on the 8th floor, which originally does not exist in the warehouse, can only be entered when special conditions are met. The conditions are as follows. Enter the 3rd floor holding a mirror. Here, all objects that reflect light are considered mirrors. Examples) Sword, armor, a bald head smooth enough to reflect images (this is not a joke, so be sure to exercise caution). Special Notes: Perfectly mimics the targeted subject right in front of them. Not only appearance but also actions. It's like facing a mirror. ... ... ... ※: Once this Type 0 Evil Object starts mimicking, it does not stop until the target completely dies. Furthermore, distinguishing between the original and the mimic is virtually impossible. Therefore, the only way to isolate this Type 0 Evil Object is for the mimicking target to voluntarily isolate themselves together with the evil object forever. The last isolator was an unidentified person, and the subject isolated themselves in the 3rd floor room 3 together with this Type 0 Evil Object. (After isolation, the 3rd floor room 3 completely vanished from the warehouse, and afterward the 8th floor room 8 began to appear.) At the time this rule was written, there is no possibility that the subject is still alive. Therefore, entering the 3rd floor holding a 'mirror' is absolutely forbidden. ─────────────── *** "Bolton, sir, are you in your right mind!?" This was the reaction of the Sword Sheath after hearing the whole story from Bolton. "Even if it's Risir, sir- to entrust the management of the warehouse to an outsider!?" At this point, there was no one in the Sword Sheath who doubted Risir's special nature. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to react strongly to Bolton's decision. The Sword Sheath of Pofendal, which had managed Type 0 Evil Objects for long years. For even them, Type 0 Evil Objects were still entities whose existence and power could not be fully defined. "Moreover, doesn't Risir, sir, know nothing about the rules at all!?" They were restless, worried that their benefactor Risir might find himself in a dangerous situation. "No, the rules aren't the problem-" Then. Delron spoke with a serious expression. "As you all know, rules aren't omnipotent. Some rules go beyond being unhelpful to the level of being irresponsible. The kind that says 'there's no answer so just don't encounter it'- sort of content. You probably have a vague idea of which rules I'm talking about." "...N-no!!!" Then. Someone from the Sword Sheath shouted. He checked the composition of the evil objects that Risir had last moved and widened his eyes. "Right now, Risir, sir, is in the final stage of organizing the 2nd floor. Perhaps he might have already finished!" "What are you trying to say?" "I'm saying Risir, sir, might go up to the 3rd floor! With the Sacred Sword at his waist!" "...!" It was an act considered an absolute taboo within the group. Going up to the 3rd floor holding a 'mirror'. The 8th floor room 8 that would be encountered by doing so was a representative example of 'evil objects without solutions'. Since the only countermeasure dealt with in the rules was 'not encountering it', its danger level was among the highest even among the evil objects in the warehouse. "What if Risir has entered the 8th floor room 8!?" They had harbored hopes of 'if it's him, perhaps?' while looking at the numerous evil objects already piled up like luggage at the entrance, but their thoughts had completely changed with the current conversation. It still wouldn't work. No matter how they thought about it, the idea of cleaning(?) the warehouse was too reckless. It was just as the Sword Sheath of Pofendal was about to step forward to stop Risir even now. Should it be called perfect timing? Risir came out of the warehouse. No. The 'Risirs' came out of the warehouse. The Face-to-Face Mirrors of 8th floor room 8. True to its name, it was facing Risir directly in front of him. "Ah, ahh..." The worst possibility the Sword Sheath could imagine seemed to be becoming reality. "...Hm?" But the action that Risir's were taking now- "Good, put it down there." "Good, put it down there." Risir gave instructions to 'Risir'. Actions and voice perfectly symmetrical without the slightest delay. It was unmistakably the sight of being under the influence of 8th floor room 8. But why was it? "Slowly, slowly- good." "Slowly, slowly- good." Right now, Risir's appearance looked natural, as if he was conducting joint work with a colleague. The reason was simple...Because he was truly working together with another version of himself- The two Risirs carefully moved an object by holding both ends and set it down on the floor. "Risir, sir, that's-" The Sword Sheath's gazes all turned toward that object. That object, thick like a pole, was carefully wrapped in red cloth. Even so, they could infer the identity of its contents. Risir, who had become two as if reflected in a mirror. The circumstances honestly pointed to the truth. Risir slowly unwrapped the red cloth. His touch was extremely respectful for handling an object. Soon the red cloth revealed its contents- "Hm?" "Hm?" The cloth was empty inside. "Hey-" "Hey-" Risir looked at the red cloth and got angry. And when he covered and lifted the cloth once more, the contents finally revealed themselves. The Sword Sheath of Pofendal. It was a woman proudly wearing that insignia on her chest. "Su-surely-" Someone muttered in dismay. In the very distant past. The unidentified person who had isolated themselves in the 3rd floor room 3 together with that evil object to contain it. The subject's identity was revealed. They too had been a member of the Sword Sheath. Was this also the incomprehensible nature that evil objects generate? Though enough time had passed that even bones should have rotted, that hero retained their original appearance. The Sword Sheath insignia proudly worn on the chest. An expression that conveyed deep solitude and fear, and the resolve to overcome it. "Ah, ahh..." Bolton and Delron, along with the other members of the Sword Sheath, felt something surging violently in their chests. Soon after, they bowed respectfully toward the woman. They reverently recited the name written on the insignia. "O, Sword Sheath. We all remember your sacrifice." *** Afterward, the Sword Sheath's attitude toward Risir's cleaning(?) changed markedly. It was no longer a matter of unnecessarily risking danger. Starting with the hero's body that had been left forlornly in the 8th floor room 8, traces of previous heroes began to be discovered everywhere. Thanks to this, they were able to record the faces and names of those who deserved to be remembered but had been forgotten. As all those processes were nearing completion. The members of the Sword Sheath looked at Risir's once more. "This is the end, right? You've spit everything out, right?" "This is the end, right? You've spit everything out, right?" Risir thrust the Sacred Sword into that red cloth as if searching a pocket. The edge of the red cloth fluttered violently. As if nodding desperately. It was a belated realization, but the red cloth he had used for cleaning was an object called 'Beast's Maw'. It was a terrible Type 0 Evil Object that swallowed and digested targets who broke the rules. Risir had been using such an evil object as a convenient pocket with unlimited storage. "Tsk. This would have been useful if only it didn't get gastric acid on things-" "Tsk. This would have been useful if only it didn't get gastric acid on things-" Moreover, the mirrored image created by the 8th floor room 8 had somehow become a soulmate. He utilized that property of mimicking his actions identically from across from him to achieve the miracle of double efficiency. "Well, anyway- is this the end?" "Well, anyway- is this the end?" The Risirs nodded while looking at the evil objects piled high in the warehouse yard. Then, they looked at each other and said. "Good work. Now let's head back in." "Good work. Now let's head back in." "R-Risir, sir-" The members of the Sword Sheath who had been handling the classification of evil objects with the expedition looked at him worriedly. The mimic created by the 8th floor room 8. It was impossible to distinguish from the original, and therefore impossible to eliminate. They couldn't just use it conveniently like a clone and then discard it. As if proving that fact, the two Risirs stared at each other intently. Just then. Risir's quietly said. "Do you know what happened to the friends who tried to copy me?" "Do you know what happened to the friends who tried to copy m-" An unexpected accident. Risir expressed genuine concern while thinking of those victims. The two voices that had been perfectly overlapping until now unnaturally split apart. Before they knew it, a wall mirror had been set up across from Risir. Tap. Risir pushed it with his fingertip, toppling it onto the pile of evil objects. No. He toppled it onto the pile of miscellaneous items. Those that had been brought outside through Risir's hands lost their original nature and became ordinary objects as they appeared. It was the path they themselves had chosen from the two paths Risir presented. "Everyone, shall we begin?" When Risir gave the signal, they gathered the pile of miscellaneous items in one place. Chair. Armor. Picture frame. Bow. Stuffed deer head. Oil was poured over those things that had once reigned as Type 0 Evil Objects. "..." Gulp. Bolton and Delron swallowed hard while holding torches in their hands. Type 0 Evil Objects. It is impossible to destroy them. Because they are phenomena that take the form of objects. Can you burn conversation with fire? Can you burn laughter with fire? It was the same principle. Nevertheless, Risir threw the torch over them without hesitation. The others followed suit. Whoosh! The fire blazed up surprisingly violently, then died down disappointingly quickly. Where the fire had gone out, not even a single ash remained. "...Ha-" The chuckle that escaped from Bolton's mouth represented the Sword Sheath's state of mind. The Sword Sheath of Pofendal had fulfilled their mission. *** ▷Fate 71: Sword Sheath of Pofendal - has been deactivated. The corresponding perks will be granted. *** "Risir!!!" After the situation had concluded. Alenza excitedly rushed to Risir. "Did I get it right!?" "Hm? Get what right, do you mean?" "Just now, which of the two Risirs was the real one!" "Ah." Then. From behind, Ratsil let out a petty snort. "That's nothing special." "That elf was all excited making bold claims, but she got it wrong so now she's like that!" "Oh... Ratsil. Very mature of you. Alenza will learn a lot." "It's unfair!!! Risir, weren't you left-handed!? So why did you suddenly act like a right-handed person!?" "Hm? Uh-" Risir looked down at his two hands in surprise. Looking back on it now. For as long as he was acting together with it, he hadn't been conscious of which hand he favored. "Haha..." A feeling as if he had been bewitched. Type 0 Evil Objects... Risir once again felt how dangerous those things- no, phenomena were. It was the reason he had felt greed for that incomprehensible power but ultimately gave it up. Of course, even in the midst of all that, he had still secured a few things. Risir exchanged meaningful glances with the spirits(?) of his Inner World. *** From the next day, the expedition finished their preparations and began getting ready to leave Tormund. The warehouse would have disappeared too. Bolton and the other members of the Sword Sheath were preparing to send them off with light hearts. It was then that a shocking fact came from Risir's mouth. "You have Type 0 Evil Objects that you separately secured...!?" The place where the expedition and the Sword Sheath of Pofendal had gathered was swept with shock. No matter how much it was him, couldn't he refuse the allure of Type 0 Evil Objects? No...Rather, because he was someone who could control Type 0 Evil Objects, he might have been even more drawn to their allure. 'To covet such dangerous power...' An unexpected side of Risir they had never seen before. They felt disappointment, but quickly withdrew that disappointment. Wasn't he human after all? 'Yes. He's human after all. And a young noble at that-...' Just an ordinary human who couldn't refuse the allure of power. They tried their best to accept this other side of Risir positively. That process went quite smoothly. When they interpreted that greed as 'human nature', Risir began to feel closer than before. Of course, it was unavoidable that the pure respect and reverence they had held for him would fade. "So, so- what kinds of evil objects did you secure?" Bolton carefully brought up the topic. Depending on the type, they might have to firmly prevent the removal of the evil objects. They fervently hoped. Please, let there be no sinister intent felt in the composition Risir mentioned! "Ah, well- I didn't choose them based on any objective criteria." "Pardon?" Bolton and Delron belatedly felt something was off. Come to think of it. They had no memory of Risir asking questions related to evil objects. What could he, who knew little about evil objects, have known to secure them? Based on what criteria? "I set them aside separately to give as snacks to my little ones." "Haha, Risir, sir. You're a bit clumsy at jokes." "Jokes?" "?" Things that looked delicious to the Baby Spirit. That was the criteria by which Risir had selected the evil objects. "Ah." The emotions they had felt toward Risir were restored... ...Along with that distance.