Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"Ah..." She looked so faint, as if she would scatter like white petals if touched lightly. A pure white girl was gazing out the window with melancholy-soaked eyes. "Risir..." Soon. Those graceful lips spoke the man's name. It was like a kind of magical incantation. One that held the power to make anyone who saw it envy and resent the owner of that name- If any ordinary man had witnessed that scene, he would have immediately been dominated by that magical power. He would have stopped at nothing to make the name she called out so desperately become his own. In that sense, perhaps it was fortunate. The one watching that scene from nearby was not an ordinary man. And according to their own claims, not a woman either. Noble young 'master' Rona. She gazed at the pure white girl while producing a handsome smile that made many young ladies' hearts flutter. "What's this, Fienne. Gazing out the window and longing for a man? You had such girlish aspects too?" A chance to tease that haughty young lady. The noble young master didn't miss that rare opportunity. Rona pressed Fienne with a mischievous smile. However, Fienne didn't react. She was still locked in deep contemplation. Gazing out the window and calling a man's name. The pure white girl continued with her next action. "Just try coming back... I absolutely won't forgive you..." "..." Looking again, those eyes weren't exactly melancholic but rather coldly dead. The pure white girl...No, the Acting City Councilor. The shadow of fatigue was deeply etched on her face. It was the trace of efforts to make up for Risir's absence. 'Ah. This is why those in power choose corruption instead of diligent hard work.' Rona gained a somewhat misguided realization through her appearance. "So what if you don't forgive him?" "Obviously-" Fienne, who was about to shout with all her might, closed her mouth halfway and mumbled. She had tried to boldly claim the right to take his blood, but when it came to actually acting on it, her thoughts became complicated. To excitedly demand 'blood sucking' as a reward. "Why would I need anything from him?" "Fienne?" "That wouldn't be a reward for me, but rather a reward for that man, right? Right now, if I said I'd bestow such grace, all the humans in this city would line up in front of me..." The pure white girl grumbled with a reddened face as if making excuses. It was the perfect state to tease her, but Rona made an effort to restrain herself. If she provoked Fienne in that state, something unbearable would happen in a different sense. "...Ah!" How long had it been since Fienne started arguing with herself like that? As if a good idea had occurred to her, color returned to that graceful face that had been sulking. "I have a good idea!" "What is it?" Fienne sat in the chair and leaned back against the backrest. Then she slightly pulled her hips back and lifted her legs up. Rona unconsciously turned her head away. Swish. Pure white legs stretched out with the sound of the dress hem brushing against skin. That scene was so alluring that even the noble young master who could manipulate the hearts of city young ladies found it hard to endure. Even though it was a light atmosphere with no such intention felt at all. "I'll make that man wash my feet!" "Foot washing...?" Rona looked at her again. Like her excited voice, her expression was full of mischievous playfulness. "Yes! Like this, I'll look down at that man kneeling beneath my feet, diligently washing my feet while writhing in shame! How about it! Wouldn't this be sufficient reward- no, no!!! punishment?" "Reward- no, punishment you say. For what?" "What do you mean what! Punishment for dumping tons of troublesome work on us and wandering around outside!" "Us... well, at least I'm doing work because I want to do it-" "What!?" Hmph. Rona produced a confident expression along with her characteristic gesture. It was the aspect of a noble young master that stirred the hearts of many women. "Because I've never particularly wanted to look good to that guy or anything like that. From the start, men are- their skin is rough. Their hair is thick. They smell fishy- rather than caring about such things, it's better to associate with lovely young ladies." "...Ah, that setting. It's still being maintained?" "Setting? I don't know what you're talking about. From the beginning, I've never considered that guy as more than a friend." "..." Who's saying what now? The way she suddenly rambled on like making excuses as if struck by her own words. It was the perfect state to tease her, but Fienne made an effort to restrain herself. If she provoked Rona in that state, it would become a very troublesome situation. "From the beginning, that guy probably considers me a friend too, right? A casual same-sex friend. I don't particularly dislike that. Rather, it's comfortable?" Before anyone knew it, the noble young master had vanished without a trace. What was there now was a young lady radiating a fresh atmosphere like summer sky. She twirled the ends of her short blonde hair around her finger. Her healthy bronze skin flushed strangely, creating a subtle glow. "...Do you actually intend to maintain the 'anyway I'm a man' setting?" "What, what!?" Unable to stand it anymore, Fienne said a word, and Rona, startled, straightened up the atmosphere. "Ahem. Well, anyway. I'm not particularly interested in such things. I'm not, but..." Rona's gaze wandered in the air for a moment. "If only I slip away like this, only Fienne would become the bad person, so I have no choice. I'll also receive that what's-it-called, foot washing? I might as well try it." Reluctantly. Though unwilling. At that attitude of seeming to make excuses to herself, Fienne let out a small snort of derision. "No? Not at all? Why would that make me a bad person? I don't mind at all, so you can go hang out with the ladies with a clear conscience." "..." Their gazes clashed in the air like swords. "From the start, are you sure about that?" "About what?" "That you'll look down at that guy writhing in shame?" "That's right?" "Will that guy really writhe in shame?" "..." She pouts. Her pupils turn to the upper left. Thus Fienne's mind began the work of prediction. Draw the image of Risir washing feet while writhing in shame. Failed. And so what arose in Fienne's mind was a man casually massaging pure white feet without any concern. The one writhing in shame was rather herself. "..." As if she had already experienced the future, Fienne's lips jutted out. She muttered unconsciously. "Then there's no choice. I'll suck his finger like that time..." That night. It was Fienne's conclusion as she recalled Risir's restless appearance while his finger was being sucked. In fact, at that time, the one more restless than Risir having his blood sucked was Fienne who was sucking the blood- Memory was truly a convenient thing. In Fienne's memory, she was toying with Risir with an alluring and leisurely atmosphere befitting a Progenitor. It was quite different from the reality where her ears turned red as blood and she hurriedly ran away after finishing the blood sucking. "What are you talking about?" "Hm?" Then. Rona asked Fienne. "You did what to that guy's fingertip?" "Ah. It's nothing special." Fienne became quite proud and began recounting her heroic tale. Rona didn't focus on the majesty of the Progenitor in that story. What she was interested in was the background of the incident. It was the secret rendezvous between two people under the moonlight on a late night. "You, you harlot!?" "What!?" Rona's emergency outburst. Fienne, who had been proudly recounting her heroic tale, was flustered. "Har, harlot? Me!? Suddenly!?" "I mean, this is it! Going into that guy's room in the middle of the night and sucking on his finger-" "Don't! express it so vulgarly like that!? This isn't what you're thinking, it's a very sacred act!?" "Sacred or whatever, you did go into a man's room in the middle of the night and put his finger in your mouth and rolled it around!?" "Then, what about you!?" "What about me!" "You also pounced on that person naked back then!" "That, that...! That's different!" "Oh, really? How is it different?" "Because I had a perfect body that couldn't do such vulgar things back then!" "I'm telling you it's not a vulgar act!?" "If you put it that way, what I did wasn't vulgar either!" "That's right! Who's saying what!?" "...No, no matter how I think about it, you and I are different!!! You traitor!!!" "What-" There was neither the Progenitor who enchanted many hearts, nor the noble young master. Two young ladies became lost in ecstasy with reddened faces. Knock knock. The two people's bickering only came to an end after a visitor arrived at the office. "..." "..." The two people glared at each other with a "hmph" once before turning their heads away. Secretary Rona went to the door and opened it. "Ah, Lady Fienne. I'm sorry for interrupting when you're busy...?" The visitor was a servant of Acting City Councilor Fienne. The woman was someone who, like any servant in the mansion, dreamed of having conversations with Fienne, but sensing the atmosphere of the place, she tactfully got straight to the point. It was a report on the current Bondaless situation investigation that Fienne had ordered. Bondaless was one of the most significant cities on the route of the elf expedition. If by any chance the elf expedition occupied Bondaless, they could use Bondaless as a base to exert influence over the surrounding area. This was why foreign visitors had been continuously coming to Bondaless recently. They attempted to exert influence on Bondaless using the elf expedition as justification. They said they would station their personnel in Bondaless in case Bondaless failed to take appropriate measures. This was why Fienne and other powerful figures in Bondaless had to spend exhausting days. After all, Bondaless was a prosperous city but not a powerful one. Driving away the pack of wolves that pounced like lightning thinking this was their chance was absolutely not an easy task. However- "Following the previous conference, their audience requests have clearly decreased. The same goes for the blatant movements they showed inside and outside the city." In the end, it was resolved well. "Perhaps because of that, there's only one audience request remaining." Rona said afterward. "...You worked hard, Fienne." "...You too, Rona." The two people forgot about what just happened and smiled at each other. Because it was something worth celebrating. The great upheaval called the elf expedition. Normally, it wouldn't have been strange at all if Bondaless had become a stage for great power struggles and turned into chaos. In fact, City Councilor Ran and other city power holders unanimously said about this, "If it had been the old Bondaless, trouble would have already occurred." The change that brought about the current Bondaless... Bondaless being able to escape the current crisis was entirely thanks to that. "They came to us too." Rona recalled the previous audience. They had tried to win over Fienne's faction with gold coins and fear. -Think carefully, Acting City Councilor. -You might refuse, but would other city nobles really be able to remain detached in the face of this proposal? -By then, it will already be too late. -Neither the position you could occupy nor the gold coins will remain. Maintaining the city's original foundation against simultaneously acting external pressures was absolutely not an easy task. A city is naturally one community formed by various groups coming together. The thought 'Even if I maintain my principles, what if the others give in?' was bound to stimulate anxiety. In the case of cities like Bondaless that lacked a central great power, this tendency was even stronger. External forces had also reached out to Bondaless based on such selfish motives. -This makes no sense! That city councilor rejected the proposal!? Why? There should be absolutely no reason for them to refuse? Therefore, they couldn't help but express bewilderment at the series of experiences they had in Bondaless. Their integrity in prioritizing the city community in the face of any proposal or threat. It was a tendency that could only be seen in cities where absolute powers like Great Nobles reigned. The incomprehensible situation went so far as to stimulate their imagination. -Could it be... that there exists a secret force in this city that we don't know about? Perhaps the reason Frozen Breath and the Talent Scout established their base here... This could be said to be how the wolves came to step back and observe the situation. Fienne let out a quiet laugh as she traced back through the series of situations. "A secret force in Bondaless..." The great shadow that calmed the excited wolves. Naturally, no such secret force existed in Bondaless. Such great power manipulating the city from where no one knows. However, perhaps it depends on how one views it. "Lady Fienne." "Yes?" "Could it be that 'that person' had a hand in this?" The servant, confirming that Fienne's mood had improved, asked with an intrigued expression. That person. It was none other than referring to Risir. 'Risir? He is a member of some secretive yet powerful organization.' - This was a rumor spreading like established fact in some parts of current Bondaless. Perhaps it was the remnant of the tearful efforts of those who had not yet experienced that man, trying to accept fragments of his achievements. "Well." Fienne merely produced a meaningful smile. If Risir had done nothing, it could be said that way- And if he had solved everything, it could also be said that way. "Oh..." How she interpreted such an attitude from Fienne. Her eyes sparkled with great interest. What kind of stories would she share if she met with her colleagues in such a state? Fienne wondered if she had done something unnecessary. A super-massive(?) force operating in the shadows and controlling Bondaless. That urban legend, far from withering as days passed, only grew more vigorous. *** "Delron. Are you really sure this is okay? Such trouble-" Just before the expedition left Tormund. Risir met separately with Delron to have a conversation. It was because of their, the Sword Sheath's, sudden proposal. The expedition, having gained confidence in Tormund, greatly changed their route. They abandoned the existing route that went through detour after detour and designated a new route. Bold straight advance. According to that route, there was only one city they would have to pass through before reaching Bondaless. The city of the towering Red Magic Tower. It was the great city of Ifrien. For the expedition, it could be called a bold decision that assumed quite a lot of risk. The Sword Sheath of Pofendal decided to willingly endure hardship for the sake of such an expedition. They would temporarily join the expedition representing Tormund and guarantee their safety. "Rather, it's regrettable that we can only do this much." "..." The Sword Sheath of Pofendal. Risir, having confirmed their sincerity, had no choice but to accept their goodwill. And shortly after. The Illatdein expedition left the mansion and headed for the city's back gate. "Safe travels!!!" "May the gods' blessing be with you on your journey!!!" "Hey! How can you say that to elves! Aren't the gods our human deities!" "Ah, is that so? Then for the elves- what should we do?" "That what's-it-called. The World Tree? Isn't that it? That enormously big tree." "They worship a tree as a god?" "Well, maybe it bears golden apples or something." "Ooh, if it's such a tree, I'd want to believe it's a god too!" "Anyway- everyone from the elves! The World Tree's blessing will be with you!!!" "Since the Hero is with you, surely the World Tree will bestow its blessing too!!!" The Illatdein expedition received all the support from the Tormund citizens gathered there as they joined the procession. It was thanks to the misunderstanding, which wasn't really a misunderstanding, that the 'Hero of Advancement' was the center of the expedition. "No, these people really...!!!" Delron was shocked seeing such citizens. During his mercenary days. He had the experience of witnessing elves right before his eyes becoming furious when humans ignorantly mentioned the World Tree. Delron watched the elves' reactions and spoke to Karoer, their representative, with a respectful attitude. "I apologize, Lady Karoer. We humans know nothing about the World Tree- the great World Tree, so we occasionally commit such ignorance. Please don't take great offense..." To say that the World Tree's blessing accompanies them thanks to the human Hero being with them. Ignorance to that degree was violence. In fact, the elves must be feeling intense pain in the back of their heads. Delron was terrified that the elves might roll their eyes back and cause a riot at any moment. "The World Tree's blessing accompanies us thanks to the Hero..." "Eh?" A gentle smile appeared on that High Elf's serene expression. The other elves were each having conversations and bursting into laughter. At the impossible reaction from the elves, Delron could only blink his eyes as if bewitched. Karoer said to him. "Don't worry about it, we're fine." "Ah...! Thank you for your generous understanding!" "There's nothing particular to understand or not understand." "Pardon?" "Because what they said wasn't completely wrong." "...Pardon?" Following Karoer's statement, Delron's confusion reached its peak. How could saying that the World Tree's blessing accompanies them thanks to the human Hero not be completely wrong? '...Ah! Is that so!' Eventually. Delron nodded his head saying he understood. He was confident that he had perfectly understood the man called Risir through a series of events. Delron had learned that when approaching matters related to Risir, he had to thoroughly deny common sense. At the conclusion he reached that way, Delron let out a quiet laugh. Even he himself thought it was truly an absurd story. However. To understand that man, he had to distance himself this much from common sense. 'Lord Risir must have been recognized by the World Tree as one of the elves!' Afterward. Delron shared his realization with the members of the Sword Sheath. "No... how can a human become a member of the elves?" "Even if it's Lord Risir, that's a bit..." "They probably said that out of consideration for Lord Risir's dignity." At their reaction, Delron felt not frustration but a small sense of superiority. It seemed like he was the only one. Risir. The person who 'perfectly' understood him. 'Ah. Did I go too far after all?' Perhaps it was because he was obsessed with that position of being the 'perfect understander'. Delron belatedly made fine adjustments to his speculation, going as far as to think that Risir had done something very useful for the World Tree, and thereby been granted an important position by the elves. No matter what, it made no sense for a human to be chosen by the elves' god. *** "Huh? Rona. Come to think of it-" "Yeah?" "You just said there was one audience request remaining, but this morning for sure-" "Ah. That's right. I was originally going to refuse, but it's a rather special case-" "A special case?" "Dark Elf." That name was mentioned from Rona's mouth.