Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"Ah, right. Risir. I forgot to mention this. It seems your master visited Bondaless." It was a name suddenly mentioned from Rona's lips. "What? Master Pamon?" Risir had been absent-minded for a while and then startled, coming to his senses. "When you say my master, surely you're talking about Master Pamon? The dark elf with the cheerful expression who's utterly hopeless?" Utterly hopeless, he said. Rona had to hesitate in answering, smiling bitterly because of that last expression. "I couldn't directly meet her to ask her name or confirm her appearance, but it seems certain she visited Fienne's mansion." "What do you mean... Could you tell me a little more in detail?" "It was around the time when the city was starting to get noisy about the expedition. Back then, there were so many outsiders wanting to meet with Fienne that we almost had to hand out numbered tickets." Rona shook her head as if just remembering it made her tired. "While dealing with visitors almost every day like that, your master also visited. Very secretly." "Secretly?" "Yeah. Suddenly there was an unfamiliar note placed on Fienne's desk, you know? Wait, that note was probably-" ────────────────────────────── -Hello? Miss Fienne. It's been a long time. Do you happen to know where our Risir is? If you leave an appropriate answer on the desk, I'll take care of retrieving it myself★ P.S.: A city councilor of Bondaless. It seems like you're doing well, which makes me happy★ But isn't that too much of a promotion? I might feel a little intimidated? ────────────────────────────── "Master!?" Risir exclaimed involuntarily. The moment he read the note, he could almost hear that characteristic lively voice. "Risir's master!?" Instantly. The atmosphere of the place stirred. "Uh, uh, uh- everyone?" Risir lowered his posture like a trainer surrounded by wild beasts and looked around warily. Not only the strict archmage, but even the aloof high elf. Everyone present was perking up their ears and gathering around Risir in unison. Risir's master. They were helplessly drawn by the magical power that provocative phrase generated. Just what kind of being could be the master of that incomprehensible existence!? "Sir Eron! Are you sure it's safe for you to read that note!? Don't the letters on the note seem to rise like a mirage, or do you forget how to breathe because of the note's contents!?" "What!? If that's the case, then that note might be like a succession book-" "Is that really true!? That Risir's master is the one who compiled the succession book-" "The note was suddenly placed on the desk... Did she use long-range matter creation magic!?" "Perhaps it's a hyperdimensional authority that overlaps spacetime to interfere with other dimensions- there are records that ancient transcendent beings used such power-" "Even if the first hero were the hero's master, I wouldn't doubt it at all-" "What!? The first hero is Lord Risir's master!?" Risir gained a new realization. Ah. Expectations can become madness when they exceed a certain level! Risir was horrified by their appearance as they casually spouted incredible words. Just what do they think of someone else's master!? "Everyone! Please, everyone calm down! My master is not the kind of being you think she is! Rather, she's an extremely ordinary person!" She bestowed warmth and care upon a mere bastard, opening a new path for him. Risir told them his master's heartwarming stories. To make them understand just how normal a being his master was! "What!? She abandoned you after just one week!?" (E/N: At least she was downgraded from being some transcendental goddess beyond space and time) "?" They understood just how incomprehensible a being Risir's master was. *** "So, Rona-" After a bout of commotion. Risir struggled to regain his composure and asked Rona. "What happened then?" His voice carried an undeniable tremor. The one who wanted to meet 'her' more than anyone else in this place would be none other than Risir. 'Master Pamon...' Risir recalled Pamon's appearance at the time of their parting. A master sending her still immature disciple out from her embrace. What was felt first from that expression was not anxiety and worry, but rather deeper faith and expectation. Someone might see that and blame it as irresponsible. However. Risir could only be endlessly grateful for such an attitude from his master. After all, it was the first faith and expectation that the bastard who had been nothing had ever received in his life. Risir asked himself. Was he truly ready to repay his master's faith and expectations? "..." Risir felt the weight of his sword. He felt the beings of his inner world. He felt the gazes of those around him focused on himself. Eventually. Risir nodded his head. The disciple was ready to reunite with his master. "Here-" "...!" Rona handed over a new note. Risir struggled to calm his trembling heart and checked the contents of the note. ────────────────────────────── -I have urgent business, so I'll be back in a hurry. ────────────────────────────── "...!!!" Risir's eyes widened after reading the first sentence of the note. Just as he finished preparing his heart for reuniting with his master, another abandonment declaration!? 'Long-distance, high-speed abandonment...!!!' Risir writhed in deep despair. "Aah... Even though I've grown this much, am I still completely under the authority of abandonment...!!!" "Risir...?" After making a fuss to moderately dispel his disappointment, Risir checked the remaining contents of the note. ────────────────────────────── Please tell our Risir that there's no particular need to wait. No matter where each of us is, if we wish to meet, it will happen. P.S.: What I left on the desk is a gift for our Risir. It's a very, very precious item, so I'd be really happy if you deliver it to Risir intact★ ────────────────────────────── "..." That lively voice that seemed to ring out once again. A smile rose to Risir's lips once more. He carefully folded the note and kept it close to his chest. "Risir?" "Yeah?" "Here, this is the gift mentioned in the note." Careful movements. Rona placed a small box in Risir's palm. "This is..." Ha! Hahaha! Risir, having opened the box, couldn't help but burst into laughter. It was laughter filled with joy. Elixir. Upon seeing that gift, his master's figure was clearly drawn before his eyes. The sight of her diligently searching through the fake hero family's warehouse, looking for a suitable gift to give her disciple. The box contained another small note in addition to the elixir. Risir checked the contents of the final note with anticipation. ────────────────────────────── -Risir, my disciple. Are you doing well? This master is so excited about meeting her disciple that I've been losing sleep at night lately. Sometimes, I'm reminded of the family sword that my disciple used to wear at his waist. I had no thoughts about it at the time, but looking back now, that sword seems like a kind of chain. Just by giving up the sword, my disciple was able to become such a fine mage. Wait! Shall I guess what Risir is thinking right now? -To think I could become such a magnificent mage. -What does she know to talk as if she knows everything? How's that. Did I guess correctly? Of course. Whose disciple is Risir, after all? Whose master am I, after all? Actually, I was thinking of visiting the Gray Magic Tower when my disciple wasn't in the city? To see how much respect our disciple commands at the Gray Magic Tower. Duran kept saying such things, you know? -That guy Risir, surely he hasn't become a Master!? After hearing that, I almost felt like being sucked into the Gray Magic Tower. But I held back. Because I wanted to see my lovely disciple's growth with my own two eyes. Now. By now, my quick-witted disciple must have caught on. (Quick-witted enough to see through his master's Perception Interference Magic★ ) This master has great expectations for our Risir's growth. A lot. A whole lot. During this journey, I met someone who knows Risir, and after hearing that person's story, my expectations grew even greater. So what I'm trying to say is-... This is a big problem. My expectations are so big, so very big, that I thought I might be disappointed without realizing it when I actually meet our Risir. My disciple always showed more than what I expected, no matter what I expected, right? So I tried to raise my expectations to an ideal beyond that ideal to match it- but Duran said something like this: -Pamon. Isn't that too excessive? What exactly do you think of that guy Risir? When he said that, I actually got stubborn!? What does he take my disciple for!? In the end, this master decided to have enormous expectations for our disciple. Whatever I imagine, our disciple will surely show more than that! Huh? The note has already gotten this long? Our disciple will surely be completely overwhelmed (laugh), so I'll wrap up this writing. So what is it that this master ultimately wants to say!? ────────────────────────────── At the end of the note, there was a symbol drawn. When Risir injected mana into it, it began to emit light. Soon- "My disciple~ Master didn't give you too much pressure, did she~? It's okay if you're lacking~ Now master can teach you plenty~ I'll get another elixir on the way~" A lively voice flowed from the note. Along with that, Risir, who had organized the contents of the note, burst into laughter. Her expectations for her disciple were so great that she ended up worrying about her disciple instead. Having completed his reunion with his master through the note, Risir smiled with satisfaction. 'Master is still the same.' She was still the greatest understanding person who gave her disciple greater expectations and faith than anyone else. To a hopeless degree. Afterwards. Risir reread the note and made a spirited smile. If master said she was worried because her faith in her disciple was so infinite- It could be said that it was the disciple's duty to ease that worry. It's okay to be lacking? Now master can teach plenty? 'No, master... now it's time to inherit the throne...' The succession of abandonment. Risir willingly decided to fulfill his master's wish for that purpose. Whatever she was expecting- He would show more than that! Then what would be the ideal appearance that master expects? ────────────────────────────── -Just by giving up the sword, our disciple was able to become such a magnificent mage. ────────────────────────────── "Gasp...!!!" Risir was startled. "Risir!?" "What's wrong!?" Those who had been watching him warmly nearby expressed their concern. "That's right, I'm supposed to be a mage!" "?" *** "Urgh...!" Clear pain appeared on the dark elf's expression. Pamon. She was now writhing in fatigue and pain. 'Why is this happening...' Even in this situation, Pamon was suffering from terrible unreality. When she left the city, briefly postponing her reunion with her disciple, she couldn't even imagine that such a thing would happen. -Damn it, Pamon...! Get a grip!!! The grimoire urgently called to awaken its owner. "Duran..." Pamon made a weak smile. "I think I'm done for now..." -Damn it, stop talking like that!!! "No..." Pamon slowly shook her head. Drop. Drip drop. The floor became wet with drops falling according to her movements. "I know myself well... This is as far as I go-" Pamon's words were cut off there. Her arm fell powerlessly to the floor. -That's not for you to decide! That's enough, raise your hand again!!! Before I call for Lady Labella!!! "Shh~ What if she actually comes?" "Did you call me?" "Ah, master~" Pamon raised her arm again as if nothing had happened. Pamon, who had come to the night forest upon her master's call. Right now she was being punished by kneeling and raising her arms. The charge was abandoning her disciple. "Just how, from such a child..." The master looked up at the sky and felt ashamed without an ounce of dignity. However, Pamon was smiling. "Master." That voice was filled with confidence and pride. With this, surely even master would unhesitatingly make a bright smile! "I think I found a clue. A clue to destroy 'that thing'-" "..." "Master?" Night of the Forest awkwardly averted her gaze.