Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 92 It was the moment Risir showed signs of leaving the Inner World. Clana felt a suffocating pressure constricting around her solar plexus. An unpleasant yet tender sensation she had never experienced before. It was certain. That bastard must have exercised his dominance over her again. Therefore, grabbing onto him and speaking pitifully was unrelated to her own will. There was no reason to hesitate, no reason to feel ashamed. "Wait. I'll give you what you want." "..." "Detestable bastard. Even after making me do this, it's still not enough? Those eyes... how much shame do you want to inflict on me?" How much shame do I want to inflict on her? Risir took a moment for self-reflection. '...That's not really my concern, is it?' Upon checking, his dominance wasn't affecting her at all. Then what on earth was this? Her current attitude. Risir decided not to think too deeply about it. Good was good, wasn't it... For now, it would be best to play along with her worldview and secure what he wanted. Having finished his thoughts, Risir crafted a vile smile. Perhaps this was how she imagined (or hoped) he would look? "How much shame you'll experience... Well, doesn't that depend on your conduct?" "Kugh-" Clana gritted her teeth in humiliation. But her eyes held a slight gleam instead. Risir's behavior had granted her absolution. Yes. I knew this would happen. Look at that bastard's attitude. My current actions are completely unrelated to my will. So this is unavoidable. Feeling even the faint remnants of shame and hesitation disappear, Clana took active action. She demonstrated the same movement she had shown Risir before, convinced that he wouldn't have grasped the subtle principles contained within the technique. "Right. With your pathetic insight, you won't see anything. But you'd better not demand more than this from me. Teaching others isn't my specialty, and someone who can't understand even this simple movement won't gain anything from my sword." "I'll keep that in mind. Will you show me the next movement as well?" "Hah, how did I end up-" Clana sighed and repeated the movement. "No, that's enough now. I mean the next movement." "?" Wasn't asking to see the next movement the same as asking to see it once more? Clana felt bewildered for a moment. "Hopeless. Already trying to take shortcuts. What do you think will change by seeing two when you haven't even mastered one?" She sneered with contempt. And that was all. She didn't particularly feel disappointed. Disappointment was an emotion born from expectation. Clana had never thought from the beginning that Risir would be able to master her sword. She saw her role as indulging his recklessness until the arrogant brat before her understood his place. "Ah, then since we're on the topic, could you take a look at my stance? I've done what I can to the best of my ability." Clana snorted and gestured dismissively with her chin. At that, Risir took his stance. At first glance, it was an ordinary overhead strike. But that distinctive breathing. The stillness that broke down even the boundary between inhalation and exhalation was fully contained in the movement. The moving sword, the brushing collar, the advancing foot, the encompassing breath. All of it produced not even the faintest sound. It was a stillness like shadows moving along moonlight. Prey only realize the cuts carved into their bodies after seeing their reflection in the moonlight. The movement of the killer Blue Lotus had been reproduced. "How is it?" "...Again." Clana muttered without realizing it. Once. Twice. That muttering was repeated over and over. How long had she been endlessly repeating the same movement like this? Risir expressed his dissatisfaction to Clana, who kept repeating "again" in a soulless tone. "Could you tell me in words what the problem is?" "..." Clana couldn't grant Risir's request. Because she had no interest whatsoever in playing the role of a kind teacher? No. It was because there was nothing wrong with Risir's movement to criticize. The repeated "again" was for that reason. Clana couldn't easily accept the fact that Risir had flawlessly executed her movement. Of course, it wasn't perfect. However, that was merely a difference in proficiency. He had accurately discovered the subtle principles and meaning contained within the movement and made them his own. This had happened after witnessing just one movement and in only a few days. "...!" For a moment. Clana's breath caught. Her sword unfolding in another's hands. Her sword being understood by someone else. Clana imagined it. The moment Risir would cut someone down with that sword. In that moment, the 'Blue Lotus' held in his hands. Thump! Her heart beat loudly. It wasn't the euphoria of slaughter, nor the artificial happiness that bastard bestowed. A new kind of emotion she had never felt anywhere before filled her body completely. "Damn it... my sword to the likes of you..." Clana struggled to feign displeasure as she demonstrated the next movement. It was the advancing footwork that connected to the overhead strike. "..." Risir watched the movement intently and nodded. Then, without delay, he left the Inner World to begin earnest practice. "Ah...!" Clana unconsciously sighed while looking in the direction where Risir had been standing. *** [Affinity has increased] [Affinity: 11%] *** It was then that the familiar euphoria rushed in. "Ahh..." She crouched down on the floor and calmed her condition. "Damn it, damn it...!" While cursing repeatedly with her mouth, she didn't know what expression she was wearing. When that torrent of emotion finally passed, only one thought remained in Clana's mind. 'What's happening to me...?' The euphoria of slaughter. The euphoria of domination. None of that mattered to her now. She was simply curious about Risir wielding his sword. It was the moment a killer began to understand human emotion. *** <You have too many unnecessary habits> "Huh?" It was a voice that reached Risir as he practiced new movements in front of the courtyard mirror. Risir looked at the Blue Lotus in his hand. Clana, who had secluded herself in the Inner World no matter how much he called, was naturally possessing the sword. "What sudden change of heart is this?" <...You have too many unnecessary habits.> "What sudden change of heart is this?" <Shut up> Clana stubbornly pressed on, ignoring Risir’s reasonable question.<Why do you keep letting mana flow outward? Are you planning to ambush with magic or something?> To Clana, Risir’s mana control felt oddly foreign for a swordsman. Frankly speaking, it was at a level where one could say a mage was just waving a sword around. It was sarcasm pointing that out. "Oh, that's a good idea." <?> "?" <Are you being sarcastic back because I was being sarcastic?> "What? You were being sarcastic?" <?> "?" <Don't tell me you seriously said something so stupid?> "No... that stupid thing you mentioned, didn't you bring it up first? More importantly, I think it's a good idea?" <Cut it out. Distracting with the sword then ambushing with magic. Do you think you're some kind of mage?> "?" Risir looked down at the blue lotus. There was an awkward silence for a moment. "Well... I am trying to pursue magic, but..." <Good grief. Were all those garbage habits ingrained in your body because of that?> -Master! It was then that a third party's voice was heard from within the room. It was the gray Crystal Orb, Dangaleon, who had been watching Risir's training from atop the desk, repeatedly exclaiming things like "What a valiant strike!" and "No demon could withstand Chuinni's footwork!" -Magic is a more sophisticated power than swordsmanship! Do not take to heart the nonsense of a vermin who couldn't even preserve her own body! <?> -? "?" The gazes of two vermin who couldn't even preserve their own bodies seemed to clash in midair. Risir watched the staring contest between the two inanimate objects with great interest. Feeling that gaze, Dangaleon cried out. -Master! Surely you're not treating Dangaleon the Burning Black Fire like a mere chunk of metal!!! "Well, no... if we had to categorize you, wouldn't you belong to the same category? You're both egos contained within inanimate objects." -...! Dangaleon was shocked. Could one call a Sealing Stone containing a mighty demon something more trivial than that? Meanwhile, Clana...<Hey. Aren't I your teacher?> "To be honest, I perceive you more as a very useful sword rather than a teacher." <...!> Clana was shocked. She had no interest in being treated as a teacher, but even so, this was a bit- A massacre by one who had preserved his own body was about to unfold. -Anyway, Master! There's no need for Master to abandon your will toward magic just to learn mere swordsmanship! I dare to propose that you walk the path of magic together with me, Dangaleon! A supreme realm that chunk of metal could never show you awaits you and me! "I'm already walking it. The path of magic." -? <?> A moment later. Clana managed to control her embarrassment and said. <That's good, then. you'll have to find you aptitude before you get too deep into magic.> "Is that so?" <Yes. If you had reached even the 4th Rank, your body's Constitution would have completely solidified, becoming a body that could never accept swordsmanship.> "?" <?> "Actually, I did reach the 6th Rank not too long ago." <?> -? "Here-" Risir's breathing suddenly changed. From the Blue Breath that utilized Mana through the body to ordinary breathing. Then sand winds bloomed from his fingertips. Magic that purely contained his unique energy. It was clear evidence that he had reached the 6th Rank. Eventually, Clana spoke as if dumbfounded. <What kind of idiot is he?> "What?" <I mean the bastard who taught Blue Breath to a mage like you. Did he teach you properly? That learning Blue Breath at your level could cause a Magical Power rampage?> "Oh, is that so? I learned it through self-study, so I didn't know that." <...Why?> "What?" The embodiment of absurdity. The killer who always provoked questions in others now posed a genuine question. <The combination of sword and magic is the height of inefficiency. I'm sure you can feel it."> "I don't particularly feel-" <Shut up and listen. Why are you trying to learn the sword now?> Deep down, she was a killer who coveted him as a disciple. Her words carried the seriousness of trying to understand the other's essence. "Ah, well- my Magical Power was increasing too quickly, and my body couldn't keep up. So, yes. You could say it's to survive." <...> -... The killer and demon had seen countless swordsmen until now. This was a first. Someone learning swordsmanship to endure such rapid Magical Power growth. "Well then- shall we gradually return to the main topic?" <...What?> "Earlier, weren't you trying to correct my bad habits? Let's continue with that." <...Figure it out yourself.> "What?" -That seems right to me as well, Master. The killer and demon looked at the human before them as if viewing a mutant. *** City Councilor Gadum had been having an uncomfortable time lately. The 'Owner' of the Northern Back Alleys. The 'Saint' of the Eastern Back Alleys. Due to their sudden appearance and rapidly growing influence, the weight of Gadum's name in the Bondaless Underworld was diminishing day by day. City Councilor Gadum's power came from enormous funds. And those enormous funds came from illegal underworld business profits. Gadum was pushed to his limits. If his territory shrank further from here, his position as a City Councilor would certainly be endangered. 'Ran...' He recalled the recent conversation he had with City Councilor Ran. She asserted her rights based on the merit of expelling the cultists who had infiltrated Bondaless. City Councilor Ran's demand was this: -Completely withdraw your Guard Corps from my district. From now on, the Pelros House will take full responsibility for this district's security. If he complied with Ran's demand, it was obvious that his current 'business' operations secretly conducted in the Back Alleys of her district would be disrupted. It was absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, Gadum took action and was now facing three major figures. According to information Gadum received from an insider, they were mercenaries Ran had hired from outside to expel the cultists. If he could just buy them off, he could steal Ran's merit and dismiss her legitimate demands. "Are you thinking of buying us with money?" At such behavior from Gadum, Valrod, disciple of the Red Tower Master, showed displeasure. Gadum wasn't flustered. He was an expert in this area. Gadum presented the conditions he had prepared to them. Conditions that would make them casually abandon such shallow values as friendship with City Councilor Ran and honor. "..." Clear signs of contemplation appeared on their faces after hearing the conditions. It couldn't be helped. The conditions Gadum proposed weren't limited to them personally, but were enormous conditions that could benefit their entire organizations. For them, who were in positions representing their groups, these were conditions they couldn't easily refuse- And conditions that Ran, who had sacrificed much to preserve her honor, could never offer. "I promise on Gadum's name that this conversation will never be disclosed in a way that would tarnish your honor." Many nobles and citizens of Bondaless were in Gadum's pocket. Ran's people were no exception. Gadum had already hinted that many of Ran's people had been bought by him. Then, the demon hunter Maldad spoke. "Don't tell me you've already persuaded him too?" "Who are you referring to?" "The Honorary Mage of the Gray Magic Tower." "Ah." Gadum suppressed his laughter. It was a common mistake outsiders made. The Gray Magic Tower. They were different in nature from other magic towers that were based on great noble houses and wielded absolute influence. Their influence here in Bondaless was extremely minimal. Not only a mere Honorary Mage, but even a Master wouldn't dare interfere in a City Councilor's affairs. Gadum laughed triumphantly, wanting to show off his influence. His greasy cheeks displayed themselves proudly. "If any problems arise, I'll 'handle' him myself, so you need not worry about that." "...Handle?" What were they imagining? The three major figures were all disgusted in unison. Eventually they exchanged glances and said: "Let's pretend this conversation never happened." "...?"