Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"So you're saying you're feeding an Archdemon as food to a spirit!?" Meltas shouted in surprise. Students passing nearby whispered among themselves as they looked at him. "M-Master Meltas, good morning!? What a wonderful morning today!" "You look especially healthy today!" "You know we respect you, right?" "Please stay healthy and keep teaching for a long, long time!!!" We love you! We respect you! Please hug us! The young people in their prime poured their overflowing vitality directly onto Meltas. As if the other person looked like they desperately needed it! Warmth and concern directed toward the elderly. It was a beautiful aspect of society. "No, no...!!!" Meltas, who had suddenly become a senile old man, felt wronged. "Oh... as expected of Master Meltas. You're receiving the full respect of the students. I feel like the direction I want to pursue in my old age is being determined." "How does that look like students respecting their Master!? Those are young people taking care of a doddering old man who might drop dead any day!" "Come now. All of that would only be possible if backed by respect and love, wouldn't it?" "Tsk. Since you say that, well, I can't really do anything about it." "Do something separately? What do you mean?" "The stubbornness characteristic of old people. It's something that uses the fatigue of an aging mind and body as driving force—but for me right now, it's not exactly an easy task." "That would be proof that Master Meltas lives youthfully. Uhahaha!" "That's not it, I've absorbed quite a lot of the World Tree's aura." "Ah." Until Risir arrived, it had been Gadena and the Masters of the Gray Magic Tower who were in charge of investigating the World Tree. They were complaining of severe aftereffects from the powerful aura they had inevitably absorbed during the investigation process. The symptoms of the aftereffects were as follows. I sleep well at night lately and feel refreshed in the morning. The stiffness in my body has disappeared and minor ailments have vanished. It might just be my imagination, but I feel younger. My aura has become purer and my magical achievements have improved. "So that's why the Masters looked like they had such good complexions!?" Risir recalled the faces of the Masters he had greeted when he came to the Magic Tower. "I thought it was because they were happy to be reunited with Honorary Mage Risir...!!!" "What are you talking about! Of course we're happy! It's just that there's a separate reason why that happiness is doubled!" "Huh? But some of them seemed happy to see me yet somehow uncomfortable—could it be that those people—" "They heard the news that merchant Gus gave you an entire annex as a gift in return for receiving the World Tree's blessing, so they're feeling self-conscious." "Ah, Risir! You've returned?" They say even Masters appear when you speak of them. A group of Masters who happened to be walking through the grounds recognized Risir and immediately approached him. They enthusiastically expressed their joy with all their might for a moment. "Ah...!" They started watching Risir's reaction, saying they had remembered something. Risir immediately recalled what Master Meltas had said and waved his hand dismissively. The World Tree's aura wasn't merchandise—was he going to price it out and collect payment for everything? When he heard that some were even preparing to liquidate their assets to prepare tributes(?), Risir was horrified and calmed them down. After that commotion passed— "Risir. You've returned?" Another group approached Risir. Unlike before, this was a group consisting of several students. And one Master surrounded by students. "Huh?" When the Master greeted him, Risir showed a reaction as if possessed by a ghost. "Master Didoa...?" Because he never could have imagined that the Master surrounded by so many students would be that introverted half-demon woman. "Hasn't there been research that achieved tremendous results at the Magic Tower recently?" The Magic Tower's joint research based on the half-spirit Feryn's core. Master Didoa had distinguished herself in that research and played a central role, transforming into a person who received the full respect of the Magic Tower. "People coming from far away just to have a conversation with Master Didoa is now a common occurrence." "Ooh...!" Learning the full story from Meltas's explanation, Risir felt great emotion. Suddenly. The image of her when he first encountered her came to mind. The image of a woman who had been forced into isolation due to various external factors. "Master Didoa! Have you been well all this time!?" "Yes. Thanks to Risir." Complex greetings weren't necessary. There was enough emotion in the eyes that looked at each other to convey everything. "What? Suddenly showing up like this." "Huh?" Amidst it all, a familiar voice could be heard. "Feryn!?" Risir was startled once again. The half-spirit Feryn was mixed in among the group of students. Master Didoa was one thing, but mingling with other humans!? When Risir reacted as if he had seen a ghost, Feryn showed disgust like an adolescent girl dealing with her father. Feryn clicked her tongue and turned her head away. Risir's gaze moved to the top of her head. Pop. The wolf ears she had hidden sprouted up sharply. Swish! Swish! Following that, her fluffy tail wagging vigorously caught everyone's attention. "When did you disappear without a word, and now you suddenly show up again causing a commotion?" Risir's ears tickled. It wasn't anything else—Feryn had leaped like a wolf and was speaking while clinging to him. The wolf girl rubbed her head vigorously against Risir's nape. "I don't even want to look at you, so get lost right now." "Hehe." Risir was confused for a moment about which rhythm he should follow. He decided to be surprised for now. "Feryn. Don't tell me right now—you're enrolled as a student at the Magic Tower?" "It's nothing special. Didoa's work looked fun so I tried copying it from the side, and they just let me do it?" "Ah, really? That's great." The professor's work looked fun so I tried copying it and it just worked out. From a fellow student's perspective, could there be a more despairing story than that? Before they knew it, the students were looking at them with tearful expressions. "Risir. She's definitely your spirit." "Yes?" The spirit practices deception as naturally as breathing— And their masters naturally accept it as easily as breathing. Meltas and the others thought. Certainly, like master, like spirit. *** "So, Risir. What did you want to ask the Tower Master about regarding the Archdemon fragment? If it's alright, try telling me once. I'm woefully inadequate compared to that person, but who knows? Perhaps this old man can provide some decent help." After the noisy informal welcome gathering. Risir once again had a private meeting with just Meltas. "To continue the story—you understood everything up to what I just said, right?" "What story?" "The story about feeding the Archdemon to Ver as food." "No, of course I didn't understand it." "..." "Of course, that's only speaking rationally—in a Risir-like way, I understand it to some extent, so please continue." What's this "Risir-like way" supposed to mean? Risir organized his thoughts for a moment and then continued his story. "I suddenly began to wonder whether I'm really handling this object in the right way." "Isn't that your own process for destroying the Archdemon fragment?" "That's right." "But?" "Ver was having a hard time with it." "What!?" Meltas practically jumped up from his seat. Verdandes. That high-ranking dem— no, spirit who had committed countless bizarre acts together with Risir was having a hard time!? "So this is truly an Archdemon fragment!?" "From what I can see—while the actual size of the power isn't that great due to being fragmented, the inherent status of its nature is so high that Ver seems to be having trouble fully absorbing it. It's like a creature thrashing around in the stomach after being swallowed, you could say?" So! Risir spoke with emphasis as he brought up the topic. "I've devised a new strategy." "A new strategy... Good heavens. I can't even imagine what kind of strategy it could be. Would you tell me what strategy it is?" "To thoroughly destroy the nature of that aura, then hand it over to Ver." "...So you're going to cook the creature thrashing in the stomach to make it easier to digest?" "Exactly that. With this method, I think we might be able to completely annihilate the Archdemon fragment." "...You were going to ask the Tower Master whether that method is truly correct?" "That's right." After a moment. Meltas nodded his head. He spoke resolutely toward Risir. "Risir. I think I can give you a definitive answer in place of the Tower Master." "...!" Risir straightened his posture at Master Meltas's serious atmosphere. Gulp. He swallowed his dry saliva once and then spoke. "I'll listen carefully." "Why are you asking me that?" "?" "If the Tower Master had heard your story right now, that's exactly how she would have answered." Meltas raised both hands and said. "The proper way to cook a demon. Who in this world would know such a thing?" "Ah..." "To begin with—" Meltas raised his index finger to emphasize what would follow. "Destroying demons is itself unprecedented. Finding someone to discuss the advanced processes of that is a paradox in itself." "Then—" "Risir. I dare guarantee it. Not even the great Remier, nor anyone else in this world—can have the same perspective as you." Meltas grasped both of Risir's arms. Emotions that couldn't be fully expressed in words were transmitted through his arms. Pioneer. Meltas pronounced that title with strength. "I'll trust your judgment." "...!" At last. Risir nodded with determination. "I'll cook it!" "...No, that expression a bit—" Meltas once again became convinced of his thoughts. Risir. No one else could have the same perspective as him. *** Outer Sword Rodan. Having received shocking news from Ash Star, he was forced to join her group. To guide them to Risir. And thereby, to save him. On the road heading to Bondaless like that. "Master of Advancement..." Risir. When that hero's name was mentioned from the Outer Sword's mouth, Ash Star couldn't help but be quite surprised. His fame that had spread through Ifrien had naturally reached the ears of her, the Red Tower Master. The Outer Sword was creating a pleasant smile as he looked at her surprised profile. Risir's fame, which had surprised even himself, was indeed effective on the Ash Star as well. "Listen." "...Speak, Outer Sword." "You must have heard the rumors about that hero as well." "Rumors?" "The rumors about subjugating the Magic Sword." "What are you trying to say?" "Someone like our Risir should be able to fully control that object without needing help from you people—that's what I'm saying." "..." "Who knows? Maybe my junior brother could destroy that—what's it called, Archdemon fragment." "...If you truly care for him—" "Huh?" Ash Star stared directly at the Outer Sword with her characteristically hollow eyes. "Pray that such a thing never happens." "...What do you mean by that?" "If he recklessly tries to destroy that object—he could immediately face the worst possible situation." "The worst possible situation—what do you mean by that!?" "That is a medium for the barrier that has deliberately divided and sealed the Archdemon. It's incredibly precise and incredibly unstable. Even if you contained a massive explosion within a small ball, it wouldn't be more unstable than that." "..." "Now, shall we think about it? What would happen if you applied a shock with destructive intent to that unstable object." Damn it. The Outer Sword unconsciously swallowed his dry saliva. *** [Title: Is this Archdemon fragment thing for real?????????????] Content: Is it true that this thing eats up sealing resources??????????????? It's basically like adopting an elephant during a damn death march??? If we seal this bastard with our base's current situation, we'll go straight bankrupt damn it What do we do about this -: What do you mean what to do... You should have done better... -: Should we just kill the elephant? -: It's possible to destroy that thing -[Author]: But pressing the destroy button won't actually destroy it, right? It's supposed to be immortal, damn it -: Yeah It doesn't actually get destroyed -[Author]: Then why the hell did they put in a destroy button? -: It's a philosophical question but -: First, when you press the destroy button Something like a hell gate opens up -[Author]: Hell gate? -: Those Archdemon Vassals. They're lesser demons that were sealed together when the Archdemon was sealed When the shock spreads from trying to destroy the Archdemon fragment That gets marked as coordinates and they all come swarming yeah -[Author]: What? Why are these bastards telling me this so readily? -: Because no matter what you choose, you're fucked anyway -[Author]: Ah Now I feel a bit relieved -: Is feeling relieved the right response? *** -Master!!! Look over there!!! Dangaleon shouted urgently. It was something that happened suddenly. Suddenly a crack appeared in the air and gradually began expanding its area. As if brutally tearing open an incision in skin. The space beyond the crack was filled with ominous darkness like blood. -Haaaaaa. -Siyaaaaaaak!!! -Kerrrrrrrrk. Countless eyes emerged from within the crack. To ravage the defenseless and powerless world of light. Then the first thing that could be seen. Bang! Bang! Bang! A holy-magic swordsman who had brutally gripped the Sacred Sword and Magic Sword in both hands was hacking away at the Archdemon fragment. The inside of the crack writhed like living entrails. It threatened its target while producing terrible screams. Did the threat work? The holy-magic swordsman stopped hacking away. And then— "..." He trudged toward the crack while still holding his swords. Swish. The crack healed as if nothing had happened. (E/N: We are not paid enough for this shit) "?" The holy-magic swordsman stopped in place. "What?" Risir shrugged his shoulders and resumed his work. The thunderous sound created by the collision between the fragment and immense power rang out loudly like screams.