Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

[Title: Ash Group < These guys really seem like minions?] Content: I was looking at the walkthrough and they all have that same crazy look in their eyes Ah! I thought, "So in Ifrien I just need to beat up these fanatic bastards!" but These guys are supposedly the good guys? They all have that same crazy look in their eyes and They believe in some suspicious religion, but That's supposedly an officially recognized good-aligned group in the city? Is Ifrien perhaps a place like Gotham? -: It is kinda suspicious for real; Group < When this word is in the name, they're usually bad guys -: What groups have "Group" in their name anyway, how uncool -: It's nothing much really, not that big of a deal? -: What do you mean nothing much Just off the top of my head there's Team Rocket, Communist Party, Nazi Party, simple sugars -: Not a single decent one among them lol -: What the hell are simple sugars;;; -: They're the most vicious among them - -: But seriously, the Ash Group guys They're fucking dangerous in a different way They find danger factors in the city and eliminate them preemptively < That's what they call danger prevention but Their judgment method is completely arbitrary -: How is 'prophecy' the basis for judging danger factors lolololololol -: What the fuck is prophecy anyway? -: From what I see, seems like a Korean person? -: "You are under arrest as a criminal caught in the act." "What? What did I do?" "You might commit a crime in the future." "What?" -: Looking at it that way, they're really fucking crazy Do they really pull that shit? -: When you arrive near Ifrien There is an event where you witness a passerby getting arrested by the Ash Group It's exactly like that First time coming to Ifrien and Anyway they arrest him for getting caught on the Ash's Word radar yeah -[OP]: So what happens? Does he get arrested quietly? -: Going "Tsk, how did they know" while He pulls out black magic from his pants yeah -: So they didn't arrest him because he was a dark mage They arrested him and then found out he was a dark mage... -[OP]: What? Then is that really an amazing crime prevention system? -: Is Ifrien's crime rate really 0%? -: But wouldn't that have the opposite effect? If they arrest people even when they haven't committed crimes I think I'd rather commit crimes in advance out of resentment? -: Wouldn't people normally think 'Phew, I should live virtuously'? -: Ah so the Ash Group only arrests those kinds of bastards and achieved 0% crime rate in the city? -: But where did this Ifrien 0% crime rate thing come from? From what I see there are just normal criminals and city guards? -[OP]: What the fuck is the Ash Group doing then Not doing their job properly? -: What they see in their prophecies Are things related to 'Ifrien's destruction' It's fucking fragmented and fucking broad and fucking vague but Anyway the direction is properly set so the accuracy rate is high -[OP]: Ah so They roughly pass on the minor stuff and Almost perfectly prevent city-destroying level disasters? -: So the Ash Group < You can think of them like a weather service? yeah -[OP] : They suddenly seem friendly for a bunch of fanatics;; *** Hero and Saint. Demon and Dark Mage. They would appear at the same time in the same place. It was the Word of Ash that had brought the group led by Ash Group member Danil to this place. The Ash spoke. If 'they' cannot reach Ifrien, great calamity will befall the city- The Ash's Word was vague as always, but provided clear direction. Hero and Saint. Demon and Dark Mage. What would happen when they gathered in one place was predetermined. Who among them would be beneficial to the city was also predetermined. Therefore, Danil's mission was clear. Subjugate the demon and dark mage, and protect the hero and saint to safely guide them to the city! This was the reason the Ash Group had been waiting for Risir's party. ...It was also the reason the Ash Group was confused right now. "...Come to think of it, I haven't revealed my identity yet. Master of Sacred Sword. I am called Danil. I am a member of the Group, and as one of the Ash's hand, I carry out their will." Ash Group member Danil. In that dignified middle-aged man's deep eyes, something more than mere experience was deeply ingrained. Even with a person right in front of him, he seemed to look at a more distant place- perhaps it should be called a kind of madness. He was someone prepared to endure anything to follow the Ash's Word. Even if it meant death or terrible dishonor equivalent to it. That fanatic's eyes never wavered in any situation. "You saying you might be the Saint, what on earth are you talking about?" Except right now. Danil, knowing it was rude but inevitably, directed his gaze below the man's waist. It was an undeniable fact that he was a beautiful young man with delicate features, but there seemed to be clear limits due to realistic problems for claiming to be a saint. "Moreover, you said you know about the demon and dark mage who would be wandering around this area-" Danil's words stopped there. He was confused about whether he was properly understanding and speaking right now. 'Certainly-' When he mentioned the Saint The Hero said. -It's probably me. Then when he mentioned the existence of dark mages and demons. The Hero said once again. -Ah, I understand clearly. -It seems like it's me. Danil pondered. What should he doubt here? His own comprehension in grasping the intent of the statements? The Hero's logical ability to express thoughts coherently? "..." Thus. When the fanatic rarely fell into confusion, the Hero didn't miss the opportunity. "Hand of Ash, Danil. If it's alright, could you explain the detailed circumstances? That might greatly help us understand each other's positions." "..." Ash Group. Their course of action following the Ash's Word was already predetermined. Therefore, they needed no explanation whatsoever. Except right now. Following their policy to stop dark mages and demons, they couldn't even see a trace of them, so it couldn't be helped. "The Ash spoke-" The fanatic exceptionally explained the full circumstances of the situation. The Ash's Word. He explained it in simple terms so that even outsiders could understand. It was something he was reluctant to do, but it couldn't be helped. 'I need to correct the direction of this conversation...!' The fanatic thought as he looked at the man before him. It seemed he had gotten himself into a bad situation. He didn't want the situation to become more complicated than it already was. It was the moment the fanatic Danil regained his reason. *** This was what happened before Risir began talking with Danil in earnest. -Sir Risir, you must be careful. The Ash Group- they are fanatics who rarely listen to reason! Delron gravely warned Risir. Ash Group. Be repeatedly cautious when speaking with those fanatics! Why? Because those who regard the Ash's Word as absolute value were not kind enough to seek understanding from outsiders! "If they cannot reach the city of Ifrien, great calamity will befall the city. So we made our judgment based on such Ash's Word. Since demons and dark mages would block the path of the hero and saint, we thought we should help 'them,' the hero and saint, to safely reach Ifrien-" Except right now. 'Is that really the Ash Group...?' Delron had been burned by those fanatics several times before. He couldn't help but feel bewildered by the Group's attitude, which was like that of a kind neighbor. "Hmm... So that's how it was." Risir nodded, saying he understood. Once again! "Y-you understood...?" The previous answer in the same situation had been 'I'mtheSaintDarkMageDemon'. The fanatic earnestly hoped that this time a normal answer would come back. "Yes. I understood correctly. Actually, just before coming here, there was a clash with dark mages." "Is that really true!?" Risir's eyes briefly looked toward the upper left. It was something familiar to him. Moderately embellishing things related to himself so others could accept them more easily! "White Shadow Cult!" Risir's consideration worked. The fanatic was delighted, thinking he was right. Finally, the conversation is starting to connect! "Those wicked demon-worshipping group!!! What did you do with them?" "Thanks to the help I received, I was able to resolve it well." "...The Ash spoke- the magnitude of that darkness was by no means weak." The fanatic side of Danil that he had briefly set aside returned. The fanatic prioritized the Ash's Word and doubted the man's statement. 'So the prophecy that Ash-whatever saw is more accurate than what I actually saw and experienced? What the-' Risir was inwardly startled. He could understand why Delron had warned him so tremblingly. Those fanatics were definitely people who couldn't be reasoned with. 'What should I do?' If he tried to persuade them rashly, it would only provoke them. Fanatic faith was like burning flames, which would only burn more fiercely when water was poured on them. 'Can't be helped.' After much deliberation, Risir made his decision. Rather than clumsily pretending, let's just reveal things as they are! "...You're right, as you said, perhaps that darkness was certainly not weak." "Certainly, that's right." When his opponent showed complete respect, the fanatic finally produced a smile. It was a benevolent yet coercive smile. A smile that was ready to immediately deny any answer that didn't align with his beliefs. "Right now we are at the same time, in the same place. We've been drawn by one great flow. Hero. You may not have realized it, but you too have seen the same thing as us. Could you tell us what you saw and felt, without embellishment?" That fanatic's madness was directed at the man. "Actually. I am currently in a state where I am both a hero, a saint, a demon, and a dark mage." "...You just said you received help—what kind of help did you receive?" The fanatic hastily regained his reason and listened carefully to his opponent's statement. (E/N: I dunno if it's because I'm tired of it's an issue with raw, but somehow none of the above section makes sense to me and I can't make proper head and tails of it. The words I understand but the sentences just don't flow together, it's like they are speaking past each other...Or is that the point?) *** Before arriving here, they clashed with dark mages and repelled them without incident. The Hero's story became an explanation for the words of the Ash. In its own way. "But the Ash certainly-" The Ash's Word had certainly implied the current location and current time. If the Hero's story was true, at least that battle should have taken place in front of the watching Ash Group. As a fanatic who absolutely believed in the Ash's Word, the Hero's story was not entirely trustworthy. The fanatic looked at the elf and bald man who were the Hero's companions. They returned his gaze with honest eyes. Those gazes seemed to assert that the Hero's story was the truth without a shred of falsehood. "By any chance, is there something you don't understand?" Then. The Hero stared at the fanatic. That polite attitude full of consideration seemed to say that he was ready to tell the 'truth' anytime if the other party wished. "No! I understood perfectly!" The fanatic said in alarm. From their brief conversation, what he felt was: The Hero seemed to be the owner of a very extraordinary mental world and linguistic system. How could a clash with a Dark Mage be expressed with the words 'I'm a Hero, Saint, Dark Mage, and Demon'? Surely, twisted understanding and belief must be at work within for such behavior to be possible. 'The Hero of advancement is quite an unusual person...! It would be better not to rashly provoke him-' Having inevitably regained his reason, the fanatic judged it would be best not to clumsily force the Ash's will upon this man. "Ah! I'm glad you understood. Then, are all the problems here resolved?" "Problems here?" "As I mentioned, I was on my way to deliver a letter to Ifrien as an envoy representing the expedition-" "When you say expedition, you mean the elves' expedition, right?" "That's correct." "..." Danil briefly stroked his chin beard and fell into thought. Soon. He extended his hand to Risir. "Please, the letter-" "Yes?" Risir was bewildered. He already knew from Delron that the Ash Group's authority was immense. But- 'They're going to review even letters sent to the city's upper levels?' Risir observed Ratsil and Delron's reactions. "..." Ratsil, apparently quite displeased with the human's attitude, had become the prickly Ratsil that was her universal demeanor when dealing with humans. Delron was equally displeased with their attitude, but- -Sir Risir. It can't be helped. He cautiously urged with his eyes. As a citizen of Tormund, a relatively nearby city, he knew well about those fanatics' notoriety. 'Well, there must be crazy bastards who would tamper with a letter using magic-' Risir tried to console himself as he handed the letter to Danil. "..." Danil carefully reviewed the letter's contents, then tucked it into his bosom. Risir was relieved. At least, it seemed he intended to properly deliver it to the city's upper levels. "I will permit passage." "Yes?" Risir doubted his own ears. Setting aside the confidence to casually let the expedition into the city. 'Making a decision about that many troops passing through the city, right here? Outside the city?' Risir unconsciously let out a laugh. He thought he had sufficiently grasped the extent of the Ash Group's authority through Delron's repeated emphasis, but- Apparently their actual authority far exceeded his expectations. "However. There is one condition." "Please tell me." "We would like the Hero to stay in Ifrien for a while." "..." Risir saw burning flames in the fanatic's eyes. 'Is it because of that thing called the Ash's Word?' He immediately realized. That they would absolutely never compromise on this condition. *** Risir's party immediately returned to the camp and conveyed the city's demands. As the expedition's atmosphere became unsettled. Risir spoke up. "Well, isn't this a good thing?" "Risir?" "Didn't they clearly emphasize it? Just for a while. If just me taking a little time can save time for the entire expedition, it's definitely a profitable deal. If the expedition departs first, I'll quickly catch up." "...By any chance, is there another reason?" Karoer, who had been staring intently at Risir, said. "Ah." Risir, feeling he couldn't hold out, confessed the truth to her. "The Magic Sword spoke." "The Magic Sword?" "Perhaps, the remaining sword- might be in this city." "...Ah." Only then did Karoer nod her head satisfactorily. "I understand. If it aligns with your purpose, I will gladly follow." After consulting with Lunadien, Karoer spoke. "We will pass through Ifrien and wait at a point beyond it. According to them, the time you stay in Ifrien will be brief." The expedition began preparing to pass through the city. Meanwhile, Risir had a gathering with the companions who had completed the envoy mission together. "Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to mention this. Everyone. I'm sorry. Or should I say thank you-" "Yes? Sir Risir, what do you mean-" "What's this about all of a sudden, Risir?" "Just now. When I was persuading the Ash Group. I had to inevitably make up stories to persuade them- and you all willingly went along with me. I'm sorry. For making you participate in lies because of me-" "?" Ratsil exchanged glances with Delron and said. "Lies? What lies?" "What? No, that thing. About finding and defeating dark mages before encountering the Ash Group-" "What!? That was a lie?" "...What? What do you mean, Ratsil? I was with you all the whole time." "No, but it's you, Risir!? We thought you had stepped out and resolved it without us knowing! Like sending only your soul or something." Delron beside her vigorously nodded in agreement. "..." Risir was confused. Ash Group. He felt greater madness in the current situation than when he was talking with those fanatics.