Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

A vast hall. It was originally built to honor the glory of the great ancestor who laid the foundation of the Great Noble house—Mastien. Only the family's direct bloodline was permitted entry. The hall never lost its reverence, not even for a single day. "Everyone, prepare!" "Are there enough Mana Stones!?" "The ones selected here are of poor quality! Replace them with high-quality items!" "Everyone hurry! It's the Family Head's strict order that the schedule must not be disrupted!!!" "Lord Martian!!! They have arrived!!!" "Is that so!? Guide them here immediately!" Now, the vast hall was filled with a bustling atmosphere like that of a marketplace. Those who should never have set foot in the hall were busily coming and going without distinction. The dirt from uncleaned shoes left marks throughout the hall, and loud voices continuously echoed in a space where even small whispers would resound. The hall had lost its reverence. However, glory would become even more steadfast. They were not intruders in the hall. What they were doing was also not sacrilege. All was according to the Family Head's will. All was for the greater cause. "We pay deep respect to Mastien's choice." A star rises in the hall soiled by dirty feet. Star's Council. The beginning of all events originated from them. As soon as they entered the hall, they solemnly showed respect toward Mastien with proper etiquette. Soon the Family Head of Mastien— The clear and undisputed ruler of a part of the continent appeared at the venue. "..." She looked at the state of the hall with a troubled expression for a moment. (E/N: I think it's a woman but not sure) "Golden Star. Have you been well during this time?" A man adorned with gold all over his body, including a golden mask, stepped forward. He removed his mask and bowed to the Family Head of Mastien. "Has Lord Mastien also been well during this time?" "To speak honestly, my heart is not in such a good state right now." "I fully understand. That is why I want to express deep respect once again for your choice." Rokard! The Golden Star gestured to call his disciple. "While I am speaking with Lord Mastien, prepare the ceremony in advance." "Understood, Master." At least outwardly, he appeared to be a very humble young man. The Golden Star's disciple bowed deeply to Lord Mastien and then left his position. Lord Mastien watched his retreating figure briefly and then spoke. "What happened?" "Hmm?" "Your disciple. The atmosphere has changed somewhat. Originally—" Lord Mastien's meaningful gaze turned toward the golden mask. Originally. He was a sinister child who looked exactly like you in your youth. It was an expression as if those words were tickling the tip of his throat. "..." The mouth revealed beneath the mask formed a strange smile. "His nose was too high." The Golden Star's meaningful remark. The Family Head's expression was colored with considerable surprise. "Your disciple learned the virtue of humility? What kind of noble person—" Rokard of the Yellow Magic Tower. That young genius's reputation was already well-known throughout the entire continent. In terms of talent alone, it was said that those who could be compared to him could be counted on one hand even across several decades. Suddenly, a smile appeared on Lord Mastien's lips. She recalled that among those few geniuses mentioned, her own daughter— Heinya Ye Mastien was included. In that regard, the Golden Star's behavior raised even more questions for Lord Mastien. Though his methods were different, the Golden Star's pride in his disciple was second to none. For such a person to humbly acknowledge his disciple's humiliation like that? "...Ha!" "?" "Hahahahaha!!!" "This person, why is he suddenly—" At that moment. The Golden Star suddenly burst into laughter. It was laughter that seemed to be positioned midway between hearty laughter and bitter laughter. The laughter of someone who found it so absurd that the very absurdity made him feel amused? The Golden Star, having struggled to regain his composure, spoke. "There's so much I want to say, yet I have nothing to say. Lord Mastien. You too will come to understand this laughter someday. As well as my disciple's condition. Probably quite soon." "You've become even more eccentric in the short time we haven't seen each other." Just as Lord Mastien was looking at the Golden Star, thinking him peculiar, a voice was heard. "Master! The preparations for the ceremony are complete!" "..." "..." The chaotic atmosphere within the hall had somehow settled into something heavy. Lord Mastien asked the Golden Star with a more serious and grave atmosphere. "What has happened?" "As I conveyed through my avatar. The darkness has begun to stir once again." Archdemon. The Golden Star painfully uttered that word. "Something unusual has occurred with some of the 'fragments' that the Council was safeguarding." "Unusual?" "We can no longer store them like gold coins in a safe." The Golden Star extended his hand forward. Then, the gold adorning various parts of his body intertwined with each other, forming a fist-sized box. "Lord Mastien. To bring such a hideous thing into this solemn space. I apologize once again." The Golden Star carefully opened the box. In that moment. Both the Golden Star's and the Family Head's expressions simultaneously contorted. From inside the box, an obsidian fragment about the size of a thumb tip revealed itself. Along with the profound Negative Energy trapped within it. "This is..." "One of the fragments the Council was safeguarding." The Golden Star's box melted down and formed the shape of a hand. The Golden Star carefully picked up the fragment with that artificial hand. "The fragments are resonating. To become one with other fragments somewhere on the continent. To thereby return to this world." "...What should Mastien do?" "Please. Would you take care of this fragment?" "Until when?" "..." The Golden Star's mouth twitched. The Family Head spoke as if she understood. "Immortality." It felt as if her vision was becoming pitch black from the encroaching darkness. "Is there truly nothing we can do? Other than shouldering that great task for all eternity, along with immortality?" The Family Head already knew the answer to that. Therefore, her questioning attitude was pitiful, as if pleading. "..." At that moment. The Golden Star's gaze stared into the distance. In the direction where a certain city lay. "Lord Karzen?" "Lord Mastien. Do you know what the difference between a demon and a spirit is?" (E/N: Actually, I wonder that too...) "?" What could that be. The Family Head was confused by the sudden question but seriously pondered it. "...I have no idea what the intent of your question is. Lord Karzen. Please tell me. What exactly is the difference between a demon and a spirit?" "I don't know either." "?" Again. The Golden Star burst into sudden laughter once again. "How on earth does that happen..." "Karzen?" The Golden Star once again removed his mask and faced the Family Head. A strange smile had appeared on his expression. Vague and irresponsible. Yet on the other hand, brimming with confidence. It was a smile filled with that incomprehensible faith. "Don't abandon hope. Even that mighty demon lord might suddenly become a pure spirit someday." "..." Soon. Lord Mastien looked at the Golden Star and inwardly shook her head. 'This will be a difficult time...' Judging by the Golden Star's condition, the outlook didn't seem very promising. She had to steel her resolve once again. "Go ahead." The altar built to honor the ancestors' glory became the center of the magical ceremony. The massive Magic Circle drawn around it was filled. With the Mastien Knight Order. With the Golden Star's mages. Eventually. The ceremony was performed. The ceremony proceeded for a certain period of time. It was not long, but it felt like an eternity. During that time, night and day alternated several times within the hall. In the Vortex of Power, heroes collapsed one by one from exhaustion. In the end— "Urgh, Master—" "Rest, Rokard." Only the Family Head and the Golden Star remained standing. "..." Huu. Huu. The Family Head caught her breath as she looked at the center of the Magic Circle. The obsidian fragment that had been spewing endless darkness had somehow become an opaque gray crystal. The resonance that had been emitting Negative Energy had also stopped. "Ahh..." The Family Head felt deep emotion. She felt great wonder and relief at the fact that even that vast darkness could be imprisoned within light. And she felt overwhelmed. "How long will this barrier even hold..." It was a ceremony where Mastien and the Golden Star poured everything they had. A crystallization of enormous power that could remain permanently in this world depending on its direction. Nevertheless, it was not permanent. Rather, it was extremely temporary. The Family Head found herself already worrying about what would come next. She realized. Star's Council. Why they had reversed their previous policy and requested help from the Great Nobles. It was the only way. Archdemon's fragments. It was an object that could only be controlled if the Star's Council and the Great Nobles joined forces. And even that only temporarily. 'How many more of these things are there...!' The Family Head asked the Golden Star, hoping he would alleviate her anxiety. "Lord Karzen. At the end of all this... what do you think there will be?" "...Ha!" Then, that laughter again. "Well. If we can confirm that, perhaps it would be a spirit?" "..." The Family Head shook her head with a pitying expression. It seemed that the Golden Star was not in his right mind due to the series of events. *** "Haah..." The one-eyed man let out a sigh mixed with resignation. "Is it right to swarm like this just to bother a single wanderer? Besides, unlike someone like me, you're all probably busy people." Outer Sword Rodan. He had become a new person with the single desire to reform himself. However, it was rather a short time for a person to completely change. His characteristic rough temperament that would bounce back twofold when provoked still remained. The Outer Sword was one who would never avoid a fight that came to him. However— There were certainly exceptions. The Outer Sword checked the faces of those surrounding him and burst into bitter laughter, saying it was absurd. Legion. No other expression came to mind. A group of red mages led by the Ash Star. The most destructive military force on the continent stood there. "You're spouting nonsense." The woman at the head of the legion put a cigarette to her mouth. Unlike the flames burning at her fingertips, when her pale lips touched the cigarette, it naturally lit at the tip. Huu. Ash Star. Her decadent eyes followed the dispersing smoke. In that state, she spoke to the Outer Sword. "Do you think all these red mages came out just to bother one person?" "..." Just one person. The Outer Sword pondered whether he should be pleased or feel humiliated by the ashen woman's words. In the end, he nodded. No matter how many mistakes he had made in his foolish past days— It wasn't to the extent that the entire red mage legion would come out for elimination. "What do you want from me?" "Everything will be resolved if you return the item you took without knowing what it was." "The item I took without knowing what it was?" "In the past. You must have secretly broken into some family's storehouse." Huu. The ashen woman exhaled smoke once again. "Return that item." The Outer Sword recalled the commotion that had happened in Bondaless before. In order to get help from cultists regarding matters related to his master— He had stolen an item from a certain family at their request. "That is..." "It seems it's not in your possession now." "...That's right." "It hasn't fallen into the hands of malicious people, has it?" The ashen woman spoke in a calm tone throughout. The Outer Sword shook his head. "Even though I don't know what that item is, you can rest assured. It's with a very trustworthy person." "How foolish. This isn't a matter of trust." "What?" Archdemon. It was a word suddenly mentioned from those pale lips. "That is a fragment with part of an Archdemon sealed within it. It's not something a mere individual can handle. Do you understand what I'm saying?" "...!" The Outer Sword's expression quickly contorted. The woman dropped the cigarette to the ground, crushed it under her shoe, and spoke. "Guide us to that person. Before the situation becomes uncontrollably serious." *** "Pardon? Master Remier is absent?" After contact with the apostles. Risir visited the Gray Magic Tower for the first time in a while. It was to seek advice from the Tower Master regarding the series of events. "Could it be her wandering habit again!?" "That's not it, so don't worry." Master Meltas shook his head. "She said there was an urgent summons from the Star's Council." "Star's Council? Ah—" Risir recalled the enormous dragon he had encountered before in Illatdein and nodded. "So, Risir." "Yes? Ah, yes. Master Meltas. Please speak." "How are you currently managing that—the fragment of Pleasure?" Given the nature of the matter, Meltas's expression was very serious. Depending on the situation, he was even prepared to issue a mobilization order for the entire Gray Magic Tower. To handle a fragment of an Archdemon, such a level of force would naturally be necessary. "Ah, about that—" Risir's eyes turned toward the upper right. It was a complex expression as if he were pondering something. "Well, I'm not sure how to bring this up—" "What is it that's making you act like this?" "Well, it's something that would be very difficult for the listener to understand." "Come on, you!" "Master Meltas!?" Meltas got angry, saying he felt hurt. "How long have I known you! Do you really think I won't be able to understand!?" His pride as an authority in the field(?) had been wounded. "Ah...! You're absolutely right— I'm sorry, Master Meltas. I was thoughtless." "Ahem. No, you don't need to be sorry. What I mean is. I don't know about other people, but when talking with me, you don't need to worry about not being understood. I get it right away! Even if you bring me dough, I'm confident I can bake it into bread and eat it." "Indeed...! I understand! In that case—" Risir spoke with intermittent hand gestures. "For now, once in the morning, once in the evening— I'm feeding it in divided portions like this." "?" The suddenly diverging line of conversation. When Meltas stared blankly, Risir hurriedly added an explanation. "I'm sorry, I was too disorganized." "Ah. It's fine. I thought I was going senile or something." Hahaha. Hehehe. A round of warm laughter was exchanged. "So, tell me again. What happened?" "Well, if I give too much at once, Ver gets indigestion. So, I give it in small portions. In the morning and evening, timed with meals—" "..." Meltas's eyes wavered.