Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Curse thought. That everything was fucked up and a complete mess. That whatever she did in this situation would be meaningless. However. Even in such circumstances, a thread-thin hope appeared. To try to control it by putting a spirit into the sword sheath....She could assert with certainty. That this time, those idiots had gotten carried away and committed a fatal mistake. The Magic Sword's sheath. In other words, the body of the Night of the Sword. It was not an entity that could possibly be controlled. In fact, even the Magic Swords would be gradually eroded and assimilated if they became one with the sheath, their egos completely annihilated. In other words. What they had done in their attempt to control the sheath was nothing more than granting an ego to what had been merely an empty shell. It was truly only a matter of time before the sheath completely devoured the spirit's ego and transformed into a complete being. Yes. A matter of time. -Why, why!?! Why!!! She had thought all that remained was to leisurely wait for time to pass. However, at the spectacle unfolding before her eyes, Curse had no choice but to lose her reason and scream. Kneeling before the hero like a knight being ordained and having that Sacred Sword placed on its shoulder—that much could be understood. If it was a high-ranking spirit, it would be possible to maintain its ego temporarily even inside the sheath. However, its next action. It unhesitatingly grasped the Sacred Sword's blade with both hands and thrust it straight into the gap in the armor. Even that body with infinite power and potential had its limits. The resurrection was unstable, barely managing to obtain minimal power. And if it received the hero's strike while defenseless, even offering its neck—no matter how mighty the body, it couldn't remain unharmed. Clatter. Thus. The strongest body that should have become the nightmare knight by claiming all the Magic Swords became an empty shell, rolling pathetically on the floor. Curse could not accept that futile ending at all. -You idiot...!!! With that body alone, you could have become anything!!! You could have achieved anything with your power alone!!! You wouldn't have needed to grovel to that hero bastard, but- you threw away that chance!? Because of some petty loyalty!?! 'You could have become anything!!! But you just casually threw it away!?' - of course, some would argue that if in the end, if it was to be devoured by that body, what use was power? Even so, the power possessed by that sheath certainly held irresistible allure. The spirit must have clearly felt that power from within the sheath. So how could it unhesitatingly give up that body! -Kuaaaaaaak!!! What ultimate foolishness!!! That's why you can't escape being a mere weapon!!! -...What? -I clearly said it!!! With that thing, there would be no need to be bound to Master anymore!!! -...Ha!!! Curse snorted with all her might. In her eyes, that spirit(?) was in a state of being bound, held captive by the Hero. If not, would it have obeyed the near-threatening command to enter the sheath, which was the essence of ominousness for a spirit? If it had taken the sheath, it could have easily escaped from the hero's constraints. But judging by how it responded, it seemed like it hadn't even noticed that fact. 'This guy who's worse than a blind person. Don't tell me he didn't recognize the true value of that body?' Domination thought so. That the spirit had misjudged the power of the sheath, incorrectly thinking it alone would be insufficient to escape from the hero. 'Then—the sheath being destroyed was entirely due to meeting such an idiotic master?' She felt frustrated and angry to the point where her insides were boiling over and melting down. In this situation, the only comfort left for Curse was the spirit's reaction. That with just the sheath, it could have easily escaped from the hero— Its reaction when it realized that fact! Thus Curse looked forward to the spirit's answer. Intending to correct its foolish misunderstanding and savor its regret. -Yes... if only you had that sheath... you would no longer need to be bound to him... You idiot. Though you didn't notice it. -Kahahaha!!! You foolish metallic thing!!! Did you think I wouldn't know something even you could figure out! Domination burst into laughter out of spite. -Then you knew that and still gave up the chance to escape from him!? -Isn't that obvious? -? -If having that body means there's no reason to be bound to Master anymore, then where exactly is the reason to take that body? -...? Domination was stunned, forgetting even the violent torrent of emotions swirling within. Had it misspoken? Or had she not understood its words properly? Or perhaps—... Thus. At the glorious final moment when the Night of the Sword was ending, all that Domination, who had been part of it, could do was writhe in incomprehension. *** "Is everything... over...?" One of the fanatics said. "Right. This much should mean it's over. If not—if that thing comes back to life and causes a rampage—then we'll just have to die obediently out of sincerity." "You can rest assured. From what I can see, it definitely seems to be over." Star of Defying Heaven and Danil answered with confidence. Still unsatisfied, the fanatic asked once more. "...But what exactly ended? What had started in the first place? Am I the only one who doesn't know?" "..." "..." Star of Defying Heaven and Danil remained silent with confidence. Come to think of it.... What had started and what had ended? It was clear that something tremendous was about to happen but was prevented— The whole sequence from the incident's beginning to resolution had proceeded so frantically that nothing remained in their heads. All they could say now was "Good thing, good thing." "Everyone, thank you." Then. The hero spoke. "Without everyone's help, it would certainly have become something tremendous." It wasn't merely formal praise, as his expression contained sincere emotion. The presence the hero exuded through the series of events had reached its peak. Such sincere respect and encouragement from the hero. The fanatics associate all purpose and meaning with the Great Ash. However, even they felt purely moved at this moment. Even Star of Defying Heaven, who lived faithfully to instinct and treated others' recognition as shackles, wore a satisfied smile. "...But what help did we provide?" "..." "..." They straightened their faces with confidence. Come to think of it... 'What help did we provide?' "You helped find the remaining Magic Sword and its sheath! If it weren't for meeting all of you, we wouldn't have discovered the Magic Sword and sheath so easily!" "Hmm..." Danil nodded. Certainly, it wasn't wrong. The problem was that it wasn't just not wrong. Semi-forcibly involving the hero in the incident according to the Ash's will. Could that really be called providing help? "Perhaps all of this might be thanks to the Great Ash's guidance." "...!" Then. The hero's perceptive remark led the fanatics to peace. "That's right! Surely, all of this is the Great Ash's guidance—...!!!" The fanatics looked at each other and felt deep fulfillment. What does it matter if they don't know what something is! If that too is the Great Ash's will, they would simply gladly accept it! "Hey, is this okay?" Of course, Star of Defying Heaven, who wasn't a fanatic, was an exception. She spoke to the hero with a displeased expression. "It's like you're offering your achievements to that Ash or whatever." The fanatics who had been excited all stiffened at once. It wasn't because of Star of Defying Heaven's disrespect toward the Ash. It would be stranger if the Star of Defying Heaven showed respect to the Ash. Rather, they were in a position to empathize with Star of Defying Heaven's words. Even heroes who regarded wealth and power like water couldn't let go of fame. No. Because they shunned wealth and power, they often coveted fame even more. They thought this man would be of the same type as such heroes. Hero Risir. He had driven out the Magic Sword that was secretly eroding the Ash Group from within and furthermore destroyed the body of the Night of the Sword. This was an achievement that would become legend in itself. And in that legend, the Ash Group would be remembered as a foolish and ignorant fanatic group that almost caused great disaster. Moreover, the Ash Group wasn't just a simple fanatic group. They were also a power group that held most of the security authority in the great city of Ifrien. In other words. It was fair to say the hero had protected Ifrien in place of the Ash Group. That's how fame is born. By an unknown entity devouring what belongs to a group or individual that already possesses great fame. The Ash Group. The Star of Defying Heaven. They finally realized the identity of the uncomfortable feeling that had been bothering them. It was a sense of crisis. A problem they hadn't even been aware of had been solved by the man's power alone. If this fact spread, their fame would be absorbed by the hero as is, and they would face an unpleasant situation. Conversely, a very pleasant situation would unfold for the hero. In other words. The hero was essentially saying he would give up all that fame. By attributing all those achievements to the Ash Group. Star of Defying Heaven's question, accepting uncomfortable truths. Not only the questioner herself but even the fanatics listened tensely to the hero's answer. "Oh, is that how it works?" An awkward laugh. It was the hero's answer. "That kind of approach is also possible. I learn something new." He seemed to genuinely feel his own inadequacy and appeared to have gained new insight. Certainly, it was the appearance of a naive young man, but— They saw another side there. Overwhelming composure—should it be called that? From the beginning, he hadn't felt the need to cling to each of these 'trivial' matters. "...Ha!" The giant's laughter burst out like an explosion. That was the signal. Their tense atmosphere softly relaxed. Star of Defying Heaven clutched her belly and burst into laughter for a while. The entire area rumbled and resonated for a while according to the giant's emotions. After a short while like that. Star of Defying Heaven, who had barely controlled her laughter, looked at the hero and said. "This kid—no, this hero. You're a big shot that someone like me can't even compare to, aren't you?" *** The Ash Group seemed deeply impressed by the attitude the hero showed afterward as much as by the abilities he had displayed during the incident resolution. In a way, it was natural. The hero's detached attitude toward achievements clearly showed what path he had walked so far. Therefore, the Ash Group no longer treated the hero as they had before. He was no longer a small part belonging to the Great Ash's will. Something enormous that transcended that. The Ash Group showed the hero the proper courtesy befitting such a person. This was why the expedition that had settled near Ifrien's back gate to wait for Risir was enveloped in bewilderment. When Risir appeared with a whole bunch of Ifrien's Guard Corps following behind him, they wondered if some problem had occurred— "...So you're saying all of them are your escort, not surveillance?" "That's how it turned out." "What did you do again in such a short time?" "Oh, it's nothing much." "Nothing much..." The Ash Group members beside them muttered as if fed up. To say that the great achievement of stopping the Magic Sword and destroying its main body was nothing much. Humility at that level was deception. "Hmm. It really is nothing much." "!?" However, the following reaction from the elf—Karoer. The Ash Group members almost protested without realizing it. If that's nothing much, then what on earth is something big! "I was worried that you might have become a god of Ifrien or something like that Great Ash. That would have caused problems for the expedition." "..." "Hmm? What is it, you people? Do you have something to say to me representing Ifrien?" The Ash Group members who had been observing Karoer intently for a while carefully asked Risir. Hero, sir. That elf, is her head okay? Suddenly talking about how you became a god of Ifrien or whatever— Whisper whisper mutter mutter. "..." The Guardian of the World Tree felt wronged. "Ahem. Then Risir. Can we consider that our expedition has paid all the 'price' we need to pay to Ifrien?" Karoer said, looking at Risir. It was said for the Ash Group behind them to hear. An Ash Group member right beside Risir perceptively stepped forward and spoke. "Lord Risir can leave Ifrien right now if he wishes." "Right now... that's surprising. Almost bewildering in a way." Karoer looked at the expedition far off in the distance. The sun that had been at its peak when they passed through the castle was now creating a sunset. Accordingly, the expedition had begun somewhat early camping preparations. They had intended to settle in and wait since Risir would be staying in Ifrien for at least several days— Eventually Karoer spoke. "Risir. We're fine, so it would be good if you finish your remaining business in the city before joining us." "Yes? But—" "Obviously, you were probably trying to include us because you felt uncomfortable receiving VIP treatment in the city alone." "Ha, haha— thank you for thinking of me as such a caring person." "However, don't worry about it. Now that I mention it, we elves are more comfortable camping in the fields like this rather than staying in human cities." "Ah... then—I'll solve the remaining problems and join you as soon as possible." "Remaining problems?" "Yes. I don't think we can leave that armor, which is the Magic Sword's main body, here." "Ah." After a brief consideration. Karoer spoke with a faint smile. "Then the next time we meet, you'll have become a proper knight?" (E/N: What composure...) *** The Magic Sword's sheath. That dark armor, even with its essential power destroyed, still emanated an ominous aura. Even Star of Defying Heaven, who would at least show interest in any weapon, didn't dare look at it— In the end, the dark armor was still left scattered and abandoned in the place where the sheath had been stopped. It was the result of everyone's unanimous opinion that accurate assessment was needed before treating it as spoils of war. Risir first tried to seek advice from the Magic Swords. "Excuse me? Everyone?" -... -... -... However, whether the sheath's destruction had an effect. They were sleeping in a greatly weakened state. He briefly thought about forcibly waking them, but— "...No, let them rest 'for now'." Concerned that it might harm their use for a 'specific purpose' in the future, he had to look into other options. Thus, on the evening in Ifrien. Risir was facing people the Ash Group had connected him with. According to the group— They were the finest blacksmiths in Ifrien, people that even Great Nobles couldn't easily meet under normal circumstances. 'Like a restaurant chef you need to make reservations a year in advance to see.' This was why Risir was quite surprised when he faced them. 'Children?' Being told they were the finest blacksmiths even in Ifrien, the city of fire, he had expected seasoned elders like Master Meltas or Palag to appear— But what was this. A pair of fluffy-looking figures appeared? They had appearances that seemed to be on the borderline between children and adults. An appearance like young men compressed to a smaller size? That's right. They were dwarves. Though it was called a polite invitation. Those dwarves, who had been almost dragged here by the Ash Group's strong request, had displeasure written all over their faces. Risir first apologized to them. "I'm sorry. At such a late hour—" "Forget it. If you were really sorry, you wouldn't have called us like this." "No no no. If you were really sorry, you would have at least explained exactly what this was about." "Come on! They said it's tremendous business that can't be disclosed outside! And do you need to hear it to know!? "No! I know too! Obviously, there's someone who did something tremendously important for the city, so they're asking us to produce weapons worthy of giving to that person! Do you think I'm saying this because I don't know that!?" They approached bickering and spoke irritably. "Show us the weapons you usually use." "Weapons?" "Yeah. Whatever you have, we'll bring you something better." "But—" "Ah! Come on! Just show us first!?" Risir reluctantly brought the swords he had stored in his room and laid them out before them. One Sacred Sword and three Magic Swords. "..." "..." The expressions of the thoroughly angry dwarves became gentle.