Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 72 [Title: But why are dark elves discriminated against anyway?] Content: It's not because their skin is dark, right? -: Right? -: Do you need another reason? -: That's the reason they oppose the independence declaration? -: These damn racist bastards -: The dark skin thing is just a reason they added later; they're like that because of karma -[OP]: Karma? -: But their karma isn't really anything special -[OP]: What is it? -: To put it simply, the Dark Elves produced about two Hitlers -[OP]: Holy shit -: It's nothing special, just about two Hitlers or whatever -: Even Churchill would be screwed by that -: The continent almost got destroyed because of them -: Night of the Forest - this bastard is truly legendary (E/N: That's Pamon's master, right) ────────── ────────── [Title: Night of the Forest - this guy is completely insane for real] Content: Turbid Truth, Speaking Nightmares, Indelible Dishonor - when you check the sources of all the nasty stuff in the game, this bastard's name is on everything. What the hell does this guy do? -: He's a Demon Lord apparently -: He's been retired for over a hundred years but gets mentioned more than active Demon Lords... -: Anyone with "Night" in their title is basically treated as a Demon Lord -: What's really maddening about Night of the Forest is Other Demon Lords all went around advertising "I'm a badass!" and barely managed to get the Night title This guy just got the Night title through pure power level. -: "What would happen if I turned an entire forest into Plant Zombies?" (Became one of the continent's 9 great disasters)" -: "What would happen if I made fraudsters into heroes? (All 13 got recorded in history and completely destroyed the continent's historical foundation)" -: "What would happen if I gave human ego to magical beasts? (Became one of the continent's 9 great disasters)" -: "Ah, I'm bored, maybe I'll make a poison without an antidote~ (One of the continent's 6 ultimate poisons was born)" -: "What would happen if I revived a hero who was used and executed as a Death Knight? (One great noble house was destroyed and the entire territory became a demon realm)" -: Night of Karmic Fire: I will burn this filthy world to ash -[OP]: This friend called Night of Karmic Fire has something to say? -: It's the difference between real madness and fake madness -: That's why people really freak out when they hear the name 'Witch of the Western Forest' -[OP]: Witch of the Western Forest? She's just a nobody in Bondaless -: Yeah, she's Night of the Forest's disciple -: Witch of the Western Forest was originally Night of the Forest's name, and she inherited it ────────── *** <An antidote for Turbid Truth? Does such a thing even exist?> "Master said making antidotes wasn't very fun so he gave up on it." (E/N: yeah why waste time creating antidote when you can create better poison? I prefer explosions myself but I can see this Night of the Forest is a demon of culture) <That's the most absurd origin story of an incurable poison I've ever heard in my life.> Pamon fell into thought while looking at the parchment. "But why would they ask about something like an antidote for Turbid Truth?" <What does it matter? The important thing is that 'Sahila' is asking the 'Witch of the Western Forest' for help. This is your chance to erase the debt your master owes to the Sahila House. You won't have to worry about the Sahila House anymore.> The reason the 'Witch of the Western Forest' carried around 'Sahila's' parchment. Pamon burst into laughter as she recalled the debt her master owed them. "How sudden this is. For such an opportunity to come out of nowhere like this? How should I put it, lately it feels like only good things are happening? Ever since I met Risir. Don't tell me this matter is also related to my disciple or something?" <Oh, please. Why don’t you say Risir ate Turbid Truth for you?> (E/N: ...) "How touching~ That's my disciple alright." <This is maddening. Ah. Wait. But if we don't know the antidote for Turbid Truth, isn't this all pointless?> Pamon suddenly covered her mouth with her hand and let out a quiet laugh. <What now?> "Nothing. I just suddenly thought of our Risir." <Suddenly? You talk about that kid whenever you get the chance. Separately, I think I know why you suddenly thought of him. You're thinking that kid's Intrinsic Color might be able to normalize Turbid Truth.> "Duran thinks so too, right?" <You're really ridiculous. I admit that kid's ability is special, but there has to be a limit. To neutralize one of Night of the Forest's 6 ultimate poisons? That kind of thing- Damn it. Why does it seem possible?> (E/N: Not clear if Night of the Forest has 6 ultimate poison or if the poison he created is one of the 6 that exist) "Duran is also intoxicated by my disciple's charm." <A more terrible poison than Turbid Truth. Anyway, are you thinking of introducing Risir to them?> "My disciple who would be in Bondaless, to the Dark Elves of Kehlin? Could the two meet within the deadline?" <True.> "We need a more realistic solution. That's why I thought of this." <What is it?> "An antidote for Turbid Truth doesn't exist, but a suppression method does." Pamon wrote down the contents regarding the suppression method on the parchment. <A suppression method? Four White Lotus, that's a poisonous herb that ruins people's bodies.> "Poisonous herbs are poisonous herbs in their own way? The reason this one ruins the user's body is because the energy it contains is too powerful. That's why it's usually refined into an elixir before consumption. You know Desert's Tears, right?" <That secret potion of the Dark Elves? The one that only direct descendants of Sahila can drink-> "This Four White Lotus is the main ingredient of that Desert's Tears." <You want them to deliberately eat it as a poisonous herb without processing it?> "Fighting poison with poison. The tremendous energy contained within will temporarily drive out the effects of Turbid Truth." <And then?> Pamon shrugged her shoulders. "That's it. The meaning of this method is only to postpone the end. You could say it changes the outcome from the worst to the second worst?" <Will Sahila be satisfied with this?> The parchment suddenly burst into flames. At this moment. The debt that the 'Witch of the Western Forest', the shame of the Dark Elves, owed to 'Sahila' disappeared. "Yay~" Pamon picked up her wine glass again with a joyful heart. <Raising a toast in advance brought good fortune along with it.> "It's thanks to my disciple eating Turbid Truth for my sake~" <Are you going to keep pushing that narrative? Is it really okay for Risir to have eaten Turbid Truth?> "I believe in the power my disciple has~ After all, it's an absurd power that unconsciously repelled even the Progenitor's Mental Interference~" <True... Ah, right. Pamon. While I'm thinking about it, let me ask you something. Why did you stop by this city? As far as I know, it wasn't on your schedule.> "That's because~ I was curious~ They said the owner of the holy sword appeared." <Ah, so that's why.> "They said the new owner of the holy sword was a young female swordsman, so I wondered what kind of person she was, and I was shocked. I never thought it would be that child~" (E/N: ...Oh. I see) Pamon chuckled as she recalled her disciple's face. "Wouldn't my disciple be so shocked he'd faint if he knew? Hmm~ By the way, talking about my disciple keeps making me miss him. My disciple. He's doing well, right?" <Doing well? When his so-called master just had a taste and spat him out.> "No~ He'll be doing well~ Risir is a spirited child~ By now he must be 4th Rank, no, 5th Rank~" <Sure, sure. You're right. The great Risir will soon reach 6th Rank.> (E/N: Well, yeah) "Right? Duran thinks so too, right? That's why I'm worried. Risir. Has he obtained Arcane Magic by now?" Magic established as a unique system, different from basic magic and general magic. Arcane Magic. It explosively expanded the learner's knowledge and insight just by learning it. Furthermore, it became the mage's unique identity. Therefore, whether one possessed Arcane Magic sometimes became a criterion for judging an excellent mage. "Of course, my disciple is a child with infinite possibilities even without Arcane Magic~..." Nevertheless, the regret was unavoidable. "Really, it's such a shame~? How wonderful it would have been if my Arcane Magic was honorable enough to pass on to Risir. If that were the case, I would have stayed by Risir's side and taught him even if it meant pushing myself. Well, it should be fine though~? Considering Risir's talent, people wanting to pass on their Arcane Magic would line up." <Yes, they would line up. The problem is that kid's personality.> "What's wrong with my disciple's personality~" <Arcane Magic is the identity of a group that serves power—its history and future. No matter how talented Risir is, would anyone pass down such a thing without a price? They’ll surely try to bind him in exchange for it. And Risir left his family because he was sick of being chained. Ironically, there’s no better Master for him than you. Neglect can also mean perfect freedom.> “So, my Disciple would rather never have Arcane Magic than become someone else’s Disciple?” <I explain it perfectly, and you get it all wrong. But you got the gist right. As you said, he’d rather avoid being someone’s Disciple and learning their Arcane to stay free.> "Maybe, just maybe~ Wouldn't there be someone~? A sage who feels pure awe for my disciple's magical talent and would pass on Arcane Magic without any price~" <Arcane Magic passed down by such an idiot? It would be worse than having none. Like some screwed-up master.> "That's too harsh~" *** "Young Lady?" "Huh...? Uh-" Cartria, who had been staring blankly into space, came to her senses at Keiren's call. But that was only for a moment. She looked into the void again and muttered absently. "Keiren. How many days has it been?" Cartria looked down at the bracelet on her wrist. Verdandes' Hand. Right after using the demon's power to postpone Risir's end, Cartria suffered from intense self-loathing. Was this really the right thing to do? Whether it was because she had buttoned the first button completely wrong, the more she tried to solve the problem, the more it seemed to go wrong. But now. The fact that Cartria's judgment was ultimately correct had been proven. "...Three days have passed." "Three days..." The third day since the investigation began. Cartria and Keiren still hadn't found whatever had purified the Turbid Truth. If not for Verdandes' power, Risir would have long been dominated by Turbid Truth and become an empty shell. "Fortunate..." Cartria's mouth, which was about to say that, closed. "...What am I saying about it being fortunate." "Young Lady...?" She was filled with deep self-mockery. "What the hell have I done...?" After three days of investigation, Cartria had reached one conclusion. To find the 'something' hidden in the Magic Tower, the help of those familiar with the Magic Tower was desperately needed. However, Cartria couldn't ask for the Magic Tower's help. Here, in the Magic Tower, Cartria was nothing more than a Dark Elf slave. Even if she revealed her identity as the Young Lady of Sahila, nothing would change. What could she possibly say to ask for their cooperation? She had fed Turbid Truth to a mage of the Magic Tower, and now ask them to help detoxify it? They would surely listen to her story with great interest. The situation could be summed up in one word. Hopeless. And all of it was thoroughly because she had buttoned the first button wrong. It was because of her foolish mindset of wanting to return the hatred she received from them in full. "Young Lady...?" "..." Deep anguish. At the end of it, Cartria created a cheerful smile. "Yeah! It's nothing. I was just spacing out because I was tired for a moment. Keiren! Let's resume the investigation!" Because right now she didn't even have the right to be sad. *** Early morning of the 6th day of investigation. Maid Cartria was busy preparing breakfast for her master in the kitchen. "..." Cartria looked at the soup boiling in the pot. While holding a stalk of grass in her hand. That grass named 'Four White Lotus' was a rare herb found extremely rarely in the southern desert. Its primary use was as an ingredient for the Dark Elves' secret potion, 'Desert's Tears'. In other words, it was a medicinal herb. When used properly, that is. A sprout that grew on the top of steep cliffs touched by the sun accumulated Solar Energy over years of receiving intense sunlight. What bloomed in this way was this Four White Lotus. The energy contained within was so vast that it would become poison if not refined. In Cartria's personal storage, one stalk of that Four White Lotus was kept. In the distant future. When all ingredients were gathered, it was to make 'Desert's Tears'. Yesterday, Cartria had used an artifact to retrieve the Four White Lotus. Following the Witch of the Western Forest's advice, to feed the Four White Lotus to Risir in its unrefined state. To postpone Risir's end once again, having already postponed it once. 'Is this really the right thing to do?' Cartria asked herself. The answer came immediately. 'There's no way this is right...' She had fed him Turbid Truth, making his life terminal. Not content with forcibly injecting him with such a demonic poison, now she was even feeding him poisonous herbs. The more she tried to help him, the more harm she was causing him. But what could she do? This was all she could do. The Four White Lotus slowly dissolved into the soup. "It smells good. Tia, is that this morning's meal?" "...Yes! You can look forward to it!" Cartria created a cheerful smile. That smile was somehow discordant. 'I'm beyond salvation, only causing him harm.' *** ────────── [You have resisted!] [Brilliant Solar Energy dwells within!] [New trait acquired!] ────────── *** Flames flickered! "?" "?" Risir was confused. Meltas was confused too. During their sparring. Flame Energy had dwelt within his usual specialty, Wind Magic. "When did you learn Flame Magic?" "Ah, is this Flame Magic?" "?" "?" *** Late night of the 7th day of investigation. The large topaz embedded in the bracelet absorbed the moonlight and displayed its characteristic turbid appearance. Cartria commanded Verdandes' Hand. "Verdandes. This is the final command. Transfer all your existence and power to the owner of this hair." -No, you can't!!! Sahila!!! Withdraw that command!!! "...I know, I know how foolish a decision I'm making. But I can't help it. I've already come too far." -No!!! The topaz shattered into pieces. With this, Risir not only harbored the power of the mighty desert demon, but came to harbor its very existence. "...Kyahahahahat!!!" Cartria created a cheerful, excessively cheerful smile. 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Risir. Please. Just endure a little more, just a little more...' *** ────────── [You have resisted!] [Memories of the masterless desert are imprinted!] ▶New system unlocked. System: Unique Skills [Unique skill acquired] ▶Unique Skill: Desert's Scream (C Rank) [Unique skill reacts to custom trait!] [A brilliant sun shines over the desolate desert!] [Unique skill has been enhanced] ▶Unique Skill: Song of the Desert (B-rank) ────────── *** "...!" Meltas couldn't hide his shock. A sandstorm filled with unknown mystical energy had swirled and destroyed his barrier. Today. Finally, Risir's magic had reached Meltas. With the shocking technique of an Arcane Magic. "Risir, you...! When did you learn Arcane Magic!?" "Ah, is this Arcane Magic?" "Seriously, cut it out." *** Early morning of the 8th day of investigation. Cartria thought. "Tia, that vegetable that looked like white flowers? Don't you have any more? I don't know what it was, but it had a nice fragrance." 'What the hell.' The condition of the man who was poisoned by Turbid Truth, being consumed by a demon's power and existence, and had taken poisonous herbs was strange.