Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

'You've been caught red-handed.' Risir intended to make the peddler who had tried desperately to swindle him and his blacksmiths pay the proper price for his crimes. He was planning to entrust him with procuring the auxiliary materials that could be called the practical challenge of sword sheath restoration at present. For free, naturally. If the peddler had succeeded in ripping off the dwarfs as planned, that much damage would have occurred, so this was a fitting measure—such was Risir's thinking. In this world, one could sometimes feel that the sword was closer than the law to lawlessness. Risir was pleased that he had glimpsed a positive function in that lawlessness for the first time. "Hero, even so, that seems too harsh...!!!" "Ah, is that so...?" However, when he conveyed the plan, the dwarfs were aghast. Risir awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Had he gotten too carried away? 'Well, even justification has its limits... If I do this, I'd be no different from that fraud—' Risir readily admitted that he had gone too far. "I understand. Then—" "Let's burn that tongue of his first!!!" "Hmm." Risir fell into anguish. What's this? Did "too harsh" mean "too lenient"? Risir found it burdensome how lawlessness quickly closed the distance when he got just a little closer to it. "Didn't that wretch dare to try intimidating you by exploiting the Hero's delicate reputation and status!!! Just making him a slave seems too merciful a treatment!!!" "Slave?" This was why the dwarfs were so furious. They could tolerate the peddler trying to drag them down with him. That measly money would naturally accumulate again as they made weapons and armor. However, he had crossed the line. To try intimidating them by exploiting the hero's righteous and upright character. To try tarnishing his honor and reputation! Among dwarfs, there existed a culture of gifting a masterpiece bearing one's name to a single hero. It was their hope that the masterpiece's name would become renowned alongside that hero. And Murin and Dogan had already marked Risir as the man who would receive their masterpiece. A hero whose fame not yet spreading felt miraculous! The thought that their masterpiece would accompany such a great hero was overwhelming just to imagine. This was why they had put guild work aside and prioritized sword sheath restoration to win his favor. But! To dare try to damage such a hero's reputation! The dwarfs were as outraged as if someone had spat on their masterpiece. "Come to think of it, there's no need to dirty the Hero's hands!!! Let's throw that wretch into the furnace right now—" "You, you people, do you think you'll be safe after harming me!?! You don't know how many friends I have in Ifrien—" "Who cares!!!" "Th-these crazy dwarfs!?" The dwarfs' eyes had truly gone mad, and they looked ready to actually put the peddler in the furnace and melt him. With heavy strength that didn't match their youthful, boyish appearance, they lifted the peddler up. The peddler realized the dwarfs were serious and lost even his last remaining rationality. He began screaming in terror. "Everyone! Please calm down first!!!" "Good heavens! Even at this point, you're embracing this trash with tolerance!?!" "How can you be so merciful...!" "This piece of trash!!! You'll become the Hero's slave and spend your whole life repaying that debt!!!" "Ugh, uhhh... Thank you... S-Sir Hero... To think you would protect me here... Th-thank you so much for showing me mercy...!!!" Risir had tried to make the fraud pay for his crimes with a vindictive heart. And thus, he became a saint of mercy and tolerance. "Hmm." Risir fell into anguish. *** A kind peddler who brings whatever others desire! Thanks to his kindness, Risir's group was able to join the expedition with light steps, having put down even their last remaining worries. After traveling on horseback for a while. The expedition group came into their view, having finished preparations to depart and waiting for just one person. "Wow! It's grown again!!!" It was Ratsil's greeting as she welcomed Risir. Seeing the state of the dwarfs' luggage, she had realized they hadn't just come here to see Risir off. "Grown again, you say." Risir burst into laughter at that peculiar greeting. However, that was only for a moment. "...Huh?" Risir's expression gradually hardened. "You. Have you returned?" The group of elves led by Guardian Karoer, that is the Illatdein expedition. "Sir Risir. You have returned. You've worked hard." The knight order led by Ares ye Dibrien, and in general the Dragon's Followers. "Oh my, Sir Risir...!!! I was thinking of coming to escort you—" The shadowy armed group led by Stone Heart Delron - The Sword Sheath of Pofendal. The expedition members who had heard news of the protagonist's return all came at once to welcome him. From the leftmost end to the rightmost end. Risir slowly moved his head, carefully examining the crowd that surrounded him. Adding to that, the Steel Fire Guild that had joined last. "..." Risir suddenly remembered. Ratsil's peculiar greeting from just now. -Wow! It's grown again! At the time, he had thought Ratsil was making a fuss with her characteristic personality. But now. Looking at it again like this, his thoughts were quite different. Risir blinked and muttered. "When did it grow this much...?" Originally a small elite expedition centered around the elves of Illatdein. It had somehow become a large-scale expedition encompassing various groups and races. *** [Title: The expedition I sent got wiped again, damn] Content: No It's not like I'm asking for much Just don't let the characters and items get stolen, okay? But why the hell do they always come back missing characters and items like it's natural? This way I'm at a loss even when I complete missions?????? -: Bro, I seriously thought of a good idea, wanna hear it? If the problem is that expedition characters and items keep getting stolen How about sending expeditions without putting characters and items in them? -: Oh ho -[OP]: So When sending opinions too Did you send them without putting thoughts and concepts in them? -: No You just said not to get the characters and items wiped, right? If you do that, there's really no way for the characters and items to get wiped? -: For real for real for real for real for real -[OP]: OMG thinking about it, that makes too much sense Got it, now I'll send souls instead of expeditions -: LMAO hidden class necromancer job change congrats lol -: But for real, the expedition guys are pitiful The director is a min-max efficiency freak so they got wiped because he sent the expedition with minimal resources And that director is blaming them for it -: For real lol They put crappy mercenary groups and shitty adventurer parties in expeditions, of course they get wiped Blue Magic Tower investigation team, Sword Sheath of Pofendal, Cotrin's Problem Solvers, Observer of the Great Forest, Goldan's Demon Hunter Let's see if they get wiped even with guys like these lol -[OP]: They got wiped, damn it -: Oh ho -[OP]: No I was already fed up with items getting stolen, characters getting stolen, and missions failing So I tried making an overpowered expedition But some fucking random events kept popping up And it became a famous festival or something?????? Aren't they supposed to get scared and run away when the expedition is large??? Why are these crazy bastards going mad and charging instead??? -: Because the bigger it is, the more there is to steal Isn't that obvious? -: Oh ho -[OP]: Ah damn, why is this "oh ho" again? You think this kind of thing makes sense My brain has just rotted away -: The villains in this game < these bastards are just testosterone chunks They take all risks just to fuck others over -: I still remember that shit A group of priestesses went 'The outside of the city is scary uwu...' and asked to travel together, so I said okay Then in the morning all the male characters in the expedition were drained -: Ah that Isn't that Eron? That Desire Demon. -: That's a low level zone story -: We are talking of the final evolution form of that golden-tanned guy, yeah Desire Demon Queen NTR squad event -[OP]: The name itself is so much like Satan's army that my body trembles with fear *** While the expedition stayed near Ifrien for a while, rumors related to them spread at a rapid pace. "Did you hear that!? That elf expedition defeated a Magic Swordsman in Tormund and left the city receiving the warm welcome of all the townspeople—" "What? The elves killed a Magic Swordsman for the humans?" "Ah, it's not that. You know, there's a hero who moves together with the elves— it was something that hero did. Master of Advancement or something?" "A hero acts together with the elves' expedition? Why?" "How would I know. Anyway. Since it's none other than a hero, there must be thoughts and plans behind it all?" "Ah. True. If the elves were having strange thoughts, that hero wouldn't act together with them. Huh? Then that army of elves isn't as dangerous as we thought?" "What's going on, why is the city so noisy? Was Ifrien always like this?" "You didn't hear? A few days ago, an elf expedition passed through here." "The, the rumored one!? How on earth!?" "They say it passed straight through receiving polite protocol from the Ash Group and the city guard corps?" "The Ash Group, those fanatics let an elf army from the Great Forest into the city?" "Not an army, but an ordinary procession? You know, like when noble people travel as a group—" "Then what about that? They said the elves were going to start a war—" "Well. It's common. It was just a fuss." The actions of passing through Tormund and Ifrien while bearing risks and hardships were gradually beginning to bear fruit. The Illatdein expedition, which had been a subject of caution in the nearby regions, had somehow become an object of curiosity. Furthermore, the expedition's new composition, which hadn't yet spread as rumors, pulled their curiosity in an even more positive direction. "What's that flag— isn't that the flag of House Dibrien? Why is a Great Noble house's knight order together with the elves' expedition—" "Dwarfs? I'm not seeing things wrong, right??? Why are dwarfs together with elves???" People no longer avoided the expedition's route. Rather, they were willing to endure the trouble of taking long detours just to see that rumored expedition. Considering the early expedition when taking long detours to avoid causing confusion was the norm, this was hard to imagine. "We welcome your entry!!! If you wish it, we will immediately prepare a place where the entire expedition can stay!" Now even small cities welcomed them with open arms. During their brief stays, visits from city nobles never ceased. They intended to somehow establish connections while they had the chance. Thus. The new expedition route was not just smooth but downright comfortable. Thanks to this, time flowed smoothly and quickly— "Ah! Sir Risir! Would you come and take a look here!?" "Delron? What's the matter?" "From here is Rehorn Avenue! If you follow this avenue straight—" Delron folded the map and said with sparkling hair and eyes. "The next city is Bondaless." The expedition was entering its final phase. *** "W-wait a moment—" Risir took some time away from the procession to think alone. The thought of finally returning to that Bondaless made his heart restless. The journey that had somehow begun was truly long. Looking back, it was enough to make him burst into laughter. "I wonder if everyone is doing well." The pure white girl. The blonde noble. The resurrected killer spirit. Risir was immersed in sentiment for a while, recalling the faces he missed. It didn't last long. Because realistic problems were immediately facing him. "Ding-ding..." Risir called out to the young spirit with a heavy sigh...The World Tree Spirit. -Master!!! Then what he heard was the voice of the Grayish-White Fireball. -That easily burning thing is currently sleeping! "That way of addressing... Anyway, sleeping? That again?" -Yes! That's right! It's completely exhausted from transferring Master's energy to that very easily burning thing! The very easily burning thing. It was referring to the World Tree. Recently. The World Tree Spirit had been as busy as her mommy(?). The World Tree that had grown in a strange, barren, and distant place. It had struggled hard so that World Tree could grow healthily. The process of that struggle was as follows. Absorbing plenty of energy while sleeping in mommy's(?) mental world. Waking up and sharing that energy with the World Tree. And then going back to sleep for recharging— -It inherited even a speck of Master's virtue of diligence! For something that burns so well, it's quite admirable! "I suppose..." Risir, who had watched that baby spirit's diligent daily life from the side, felt the same sentiment. It was admirable. However— It was so admirable that it was a problem. The baby spirit's activities... Risir was gripped by one anxiety. 'What if the World Tree grows vigorously and Bondaless becomes a pseudo-Illatdein...?' The World Tree was undoubtedly a mystical creature. Just by the World Tree being there, that space is reborn as a incredible land overflowing with Pure Energy. At this point. Risir considered it virtually a foregone conclusion that some elves from Illatdein would settle in Bondaless. His worries stemmed from that. 'Surely... many will become interested in Bondaless because of the World Tree.' The elves of Illatdein were no problem. Because they were beings who loved and respected the World Tree more than anything else in this world. But what about others? Would the intentions of those interested in the new changes happening in Bondaless be as pure as the elves'? 'I need to handle things well so that problems don't arise somehow.' Bondaless. Risir considered that city his spiritual home. "Good." He renewed his resolve to safely protect his hometown from the currents of new change. Thus his gaze turned to the Magic Sword in his luggage. "..." If there was one realization Risir had definitely gained through this journey— It was the utility of power. 'If there's a problem that can't be solved with power, maybe it's because there wasn't enough power...' (E/N: Exactly!) This was a world where individual martial force could overwhelm groups. As such, the deterrent power held by an individual with overwhelming strength easily surpassed the realm of the unreasonable. If there was sufficient power. Any difficult problem that might arise in the flow of changes Bondaless faced could be sufficiently resolved. "..." Risir, who had been organizing his complicated thoughts, was now nodding with a comfortable expression. When he actually thought it through, it wasn't that big of a deal. The old days when he struggled to survive in the new environment called Bondaless. And now. Nothing had changed. He would simply strive to seize the best life possible in the given circumstances. "I'm curious how things will be when the sword sheath is restored." Risir looked at the Magic Sword and made an expectant smile. *** The sun began to set. The expedition settled down and began preparing to camp. "Sir Risir!!! You mustn't!!! This is something we should be doing!!!" Risir wandered around each group to help with camping preparations, but was without exception driven away by them and excluded from the chores. He ended up having to spend uncomfortable free time. "By the way— the Magic Swords. When on earth will they wake up? It's been quite a while since the sword sheath was destroyed—" In the midst of that... "Hm?" Risir noticed a commotion on one side of the campsite and turned his attention to it. The elves had settled in the center of the campsite, with other groups positioned around the perimeter as if surrounding them. The commotion had occurred in that outer area. Risir got up from his spot and walked over. "Delron, what's the matter?" "Ah, Sir Risir! Well, you see- these people have requested to accompany us! It seems they want to spend the night near our campsite!" "Ah." Risir nodded. The nights outside the city were truly dark. Dark enough that anything could happen. Small groups camping near roads being attacked by bandits was so common it was routine. Therefore, they were trying to spend the night with a large group like the Illatdein expedition. Risir looked at that small group. It was a group of priests composed entirely of young women. And they all had beautiful appearances. It was the type of group that aroused goodwill and sympathy in observers before suspicion. Risir felt expectant gazes directed at him. Those gazes were coming from his companions, not from the priest group. The Sword Sheath of Pofendal. The Dragon's Followers. The Steel Fire Guild. They were the young men from each group. Having their protective instincts properly stimulated by the priestesses' pitiful atmosphere, they seemed to hope that Risir would definitely accept them. There was not only expectation mixed in but also faith. Yes. The Hero would surely do so! Soon. Cheers erupted among them. Indeed, the merciful Hero did not betray their expectations. The priestesses were granted permission to spend the night together at the expedition's campsite. "Thank you for your kindness." The woman at their head made a meaningful smile. *** The tranquil night at the campsite. It was free time after dinner. When everyone was resting in their own way. Ominous currents were arising throughout the campsite. "Ah, Priestess, you mustn't do this...!" Inside the tent. Or under a tree. Or in the field. There, some of the male expedition members were together with those priestesses. Very secretly. They approached the male members with such a seductive atmosphere that it was hard to believe they were priestesses. The male members found themselves pinned beneath them before they knew it. 'This shouldn't be happening...!' A secret meeting with priestesses of all people. They knew they were doing something wrong and tried somehow to shake off the priestesses. However. It was strange. They couldn't push away those priestesses at all. A sticky energy like viscous liquid bound the male members. "Don't be afraid... We're just spending intimate time together as men and women...?" "Ahh..." "If you close your eyes and stay still... I'll give you the best time..." The 'priestess' only smiled secretly while looking at such prey. -Hey Galant!!! At that moment. The voice of a comrade calling for the male member was heard from outside the tent. A smile appeared on the priestess's lips. Whether his comrade called or not, that male member's attention was focused on her. It was proof that the target was completely dominated by her energy. In this state, it would be useless even if someone slapped his cheek or cut his skin with a sword. The priestess drew even closer to the male member. Now all that remained was to thoroughly helpless prey— -Hey, Galant!!! Are you there!? The Hero is about to do something with that sword!? "Kyaah!" The priestess screamed. The male member suddenly opened his eyes wide and sprang up from his position. "Ughhhh... Th-that... I have to see that...I can't miss it!" He stumbled out of the tent with staggering steps without looking back. The priestess could only blink as she watched his retreating figure. "...What?"