Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"This is not the time for this!" One Watcher kicked his chair back and stood up. "What is this person doing!?" "Why are you suddenly acting like this!" "Why am I suddenly acting like this? Why am I suddenly acting like this!? Did you see and hear the same thing I just did?" He pointed at the flesh with a mouth with his trembling hand. "L-look here! Monster! Tell us again what you just said about that wish! In more detail!" The Orb of Greed. The Watchers adjusted it so that its mouth faced straight forward. If the Orb of Greed speaks the target's wishes on their behalf- Right now their wish was for it to say something different from before. Hair that it had previously swallowed was stuck between its teeth. The Watcher cut his palm with a knife and sprinkled blood on it. -Mmm, mmmm...!!! It smacked its lips while making chewing motions, then opened its mouth. -When I was first taken in by Family Head Bolton and became a member of the Sword Sheath. Then a completely different voice flowed out from its mouth. It was the voice of the Sword Sheath agent who owned the hair. -My wretched and meaningless life was completely transformed. -I swore an oath. That as a member of the Sword Sheath, I would dedicate everything to fulfill my duties. -I wrote my will on the first page of my diary. Like the previous Sword Sheath members before me, I thought it wouldn't be strange if I died at any time. -Yes. My original wish was a comfortable death. If I were to be a bit greedy, a comfortable yet honorable death. -Even if I died in vain, I hoped that future generations would remember me as an honorable member of the Sword Sheath. -An honorable death. With that, everything would have seemed satisfactory. -Then one day. I suffered serious injuries during the process of containing an abomination. -My colleagues praised it as an honorable sacrifice, saying they were able to safely contain the abomination thanks to me. -I had gotten a little closer to the honorable death that was my wish. -But why? -When I recall that time, I am overwhelmed by suffocating anxiety. -Perhaps an honorable death isn't as wonderful as I thought it would be. -Family Head Bolton would sometimes say such things. -If the day comes when the world no longer needs the Sword Sheath, he would like to build a villa near a lake and fish until he gets sick of it. -At some point, that became my dream too. I've never fished even once in my life, but it would surely be wonderful. -May we all be at that villa that Family Head spoke of. Mmm. Mmmm. The flesh smacked its lips. The Watcher quickly fed it blood to make it continue speaking. -I still can't believe it. -To feel this light-hearted. To feel this free. To feel this confident. -The Sword Sheath has completed its duty. -Right now at this moment. I am satisfied with everything. Wondrous connections I never imagined. Wondrous experiences I never imagined. -Perhaps. I may already be part of a legend with them, expanding that story. -Future generations might remember me alongside their names. -Damn! Even though I didn't die honorably! -Damn. How is something like this even possible? -There was nothing more to wish for. If I were to want anything more than this- that would make me a shameless bastard. -So. -Just one small wish. -I humbly wish... The chaotic atmosphere in the hall had somehow calmed down. The Watcher who had kicked back his chair had also calmed down and was sitting back down. "Yes, this is it..." The Watchers nodded their heads in satisfaction. The story of a hero who cleared away the opaque fog of the future and felt infinite gratitude for the present he had seized. It was truly realistic and humble. 'Something was definitely wrong before!' Enough to bring such conviction. "A villa near a lake... I happen to have a decent one." The Watchers were already prepared to fulfill his humble wish. When they exchanged glances, the Watcher cut his palm one last time and fed it to its mouth. -To witness with these very eyes the spectacle of the Magic Sword and Sacred Sword clashing and the world being reborn! "Damn it! Isn't there something wrong with your blood!? Stop eating so much sweet stuff!" "Why are you taking it out on me!?" "Hey! Why are you all acting like this! Don't lose your dignity! But what the hell is this really!?" Like a coachman suddenly jerking the reins, the story went wildly off course, and they lost their grip on the thread of composure they had barely managed to hold onto. From the story of a humble man who had regained his daily life- Why did it suddenly become the story of a demon lord dreaming of the world's end!? "I'm quite confused- I'd like to clarify this point. What exactly is this monster's standard for 'humble'?" "It's based on the target's values." "Then. This-" A finger pointed irritably at the Orb of Greed. "The owner of this hair feels that is humble? The Magic Swordsman and Hero clashing and the world being turned upside down!?" "Didn't it say Magic Sword and Sacred Sword, not Magic Swordsman and Hero?" "That's the same thing!" "...True." The Watchers were confused. If the Orb of Greed had consistently spoken of madmen's stories, the confusion wouldn't have been this great. But the story of a sincere man who considers the world's end a modest wish? "...Let's pretend this never happened and move on to the next one." "Hmm. That seems like a good idea." "The target's hair might have been contaminated for some reason-..." "That makes sense!" "Then, unless the Orb of Greed itself is wrong, it should work properly next time!" A clean agreement. They united in covering up the uncomfortable parts. "Ahem, then next-" One Watcher took out the target's hair that he had stored in his pocket. "Who is that person?" "Sir Coltrin of Ares' Knight Order." "Coltrin? I haven't heard that name-" "Hmm. He's not from a high-ranking family. In fact, I believe there was quite a bit of talk when Sir Ares brought him into the knight order." "Oh my. A person with many circumstances?" "People with many circumstances usually have strong desires." "You saw correctly. Sir Coltrin doesn't show it outwardly, but he has a strong inferiority complex about his social origins." "Sir Ares' knight order, who is the legitimate son of Dibrian... It's a group composed of such outstanding individuals, so it can't be helped." The Watchers wore meaningful smiles. A lower noble suffering from an inferiority complex. For the Watchers who had formed a faction as high nobility, he was all too easy prey. "Probably Sir Coltrin wishes to achieve solid accomplishments to raise his 'honor' and gain recognition among his colleagues?" "You know him well? When I spoke with him, he said he hasn't been able to achieve any proper accomplishments since his appointment-..." "Oh my. Then he's practically penniless? They say there's nothing more important to a knight than honor." "If I were Sir Coltrin-... I would have been very anxious. I would have been itching to achieve at least one decent accomplishment to save some minimal face." "A decent accomplishment. Hmm. That's difficult-" "Difficult?" "Yes. So many decent plans come to mind that it's hard to choose just one-..." "Aha! By difficult you mean-" "Exactly. If we intervene, giving that young knight one decent accomplishment- that's not a difficult task." They extracted the hair stuck in the orb's teeth and put new hair into its mouth. -A humble desire... "As expected." The Watchers nodded their heads. As expected, Sir Coltrin's current situation seemed quite desperate. A humble wish. It was clear he was in such an urgent state that he wanted to achieve any accomplishment immediately. "You, come to think of it, didn't you say you were planning to organize a Subjugation Force soon?" "That's right. Some crazy Mage came and settled in my forest, didn't he? I heard he used to be a Master of a Magic Tower?" "A former Master who's a mad Mage! That's quite an excessive accomplishment for an urgent lower knight!?" "Exactly. Sir Coltrin would be very pleased-" -I want to tell my story to a dragon... "What the hell!" One Watcher couldn't stand it and drew his sword. "Calm down!" "Do I look like I can calm down now!? This thing keeps playing with us!?" "A dragon... Haven't those great beings long since disappeared?" "I can't understand this at all! How can wanting to meet a dragon and tell one's heroic tales to gain recognition be a humble wish!? Just trying to actually encounter that legendary being is close to an impossible delusion!" The desires that the Orb of Greed glimpses are expressions of desires that the target clearly feels and recognizes. In other words. That lower knight truly has meeting a dragon and telling his story as his top priority. "What kind of madman is this!? To make such a childish dream his life's purpose!?" "These crazy knights! This isn't romance or anything! It's ignorance, ignorance!!!" They writhed in frustration. The Watchers spent some time desperately hurling crude criticisms at knights. "No! That's not the problem right now! Something must definitely be wrong!" One Watcher pointed at the Orb of Greed. "Let's say it's fine for a knight to have the childish dream of meeting a dragon and gaining recognition! But calling that a humble desire? No matter how ignorant a knight is, would he think telling his story to a dragon is a simple matter?" "That's right! Dragons aren't neighbors you can find by going to the house across the street!" "It's clear! This horribly ugly thing is definitely deceiving us!" "Or something might be wrong with it. These magical items are delicate and break easily." "As I thought, isn't there something wrong with your blood? Since you're so fat, your blood must have gotten thick-" "Are you trying to fight me right now!?" The Watchers were reaching a consensus that the Orb of Greed was malfunctioning. -... The Orb of Greed chewed with its mouth. It somehow looked wronged. "Now, now. Everyone please calm down." While everyone was excited. A middle-aged person stepped forward to calm them down. Lady Melida. As high nobility, she was a person who held a respected position even among the Watchers. Most importantly, she was the owner of the item. "We have clearly seen and felt the power that this Orb of Greed possesses. Just because it was wrong a few times, we shouldn't close off possibilities so easily. Right now, how do you plan to persuade them- the Hero's expedition- without the Orb of Greed?" "..." The Watchers made an effort to regain their reason. They knew the influence Melida held within noble society, and they knew that most of that influence came from the Orb of Greed. The mysterious treasure that had put Melida in her current position. They couldn't simply give up the infinite influence that treasure possessed. "I have been the owner of this item for a long time, so I know. The Orb of Greed is in a state where it can function properly." Persuaded by Melida's strong assertion, they put the last remaining hair into the orb's mouth. It was hair from the Steel Fire Guild blacksmiths. -A humble desire...Ah! I want to quickly restore the Magic Sword's main body!!! I want to see the Hero wielding the completely restored Magic Sword!!! Melida nodded her head. "It's no longer usable." She was convinced that something was wrong with the Orb of Greed. Because that was more credible than the expedition being a collection of out-of-spec madmen. *** "Damn it, for the Orb of Greed to break down in such a desperate situation!" Someone violently slammed the table. Thunk. The Orb of Greed rolled from the impact and fell to the floor. -... The way it chewed with its mouth truly looked wronged. "What should we do now?" "For now, let's wait for those who participated in the banquet." "A gathering with the Hero and the expedition's leaders...it's not a place to participate just to satisfy hunger." Those who participated in the banquet were the most experienced old nobles even among the Watchers. Cunning people who would naturally drain your energy just from talking to them, even from the same Watcher's perspective. They wouldn't be intimidated by the expedition's leaders, and could even apply meaningful pressure to extract information. "Our next action won't be too late if we start after understanding the information they bring back." Thus. While the Watchers were gathered in the tent spending uncomfortable time in silence. A knight who had been guarding the entrance outside the tent came in and made a report. "A Priest from the expedition wants to see us?" The Watchers recalled the group of young Priests they had glimpsed while approaching each group of the expedition. Young and pure priestesses. "..." They exchanged glances with each other. The Watchers had excluded them from their targets for persuasion out of minimal conscience, but in this urgent situation, they couldn't afford to maintain their dignity. "Let her in." They let the Priest into the tent. "Thank you for taking your precious time, everyone." High Priest Akirin. She looked at the Watchers and created an innocent smile. Brief everyday conversation such as asking about each other's well-being took place. Soon. Akirin began to preach the doctrine she followed to the Watchers. It was something the Watchers had guided her to do. There was nothing as effective as using their faith to break down believers' wariness. They pretended to listen to the naive Priest's sermon while maintaining the dignified posture of nobles. And while they were contemplating when to sink their fangs into that defenseless neck- "As such. Any corrupt being can be reborn as a pure existence if they are with Him." High Priest Akirin began to list the Divine Authority that great being had exercised. Just by being nearby, Desire Demons became human- He turned demons into spirits and commanded them- "Good Lord..." The Watchers' expressions had hardened. They had thought that being heretical Priests accompanying the Hero's expedition, they would be a somewhat respectable group- But it turned out to be some kind of cult group? Doing something to Desire Demons, and something to demons? They weren't some ignorant country bumpkins, so did she think they would believe such absurd stories? Watcher Melida suddenly felt irritation surge. She thought of the broken Orb of Greed. Along with the nonsensical babble it had spouted. She sarcastically mocked the fanatic with her irritation. "If such an omnipotent being exists, would it also be possible for him to hold the Sacred Sword and Magic Sword in both hands and remake the world?" "That's right! You understand! You are ready to serve Him!" "?" She was somehow recognized as an honor student?