Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 93 [Title: Damn, this Buyer fate quest is pretty ingenious lol] Content: Is this progressing from Ran's perspective? -: Yeah, defending party members from Ran's perspective so Gadum can't steal them away -[Author]: Interesting lol -: ...It won't be fun though -[Author]: What now? -[Author]: Is this going to have another shitty development? Spoilers damn it -: Isn't saying there's a shitty development in this game not really a spoiler? -: People die (not a spoiler) -[Author]: Ugh damn ────────── [Title: Wow this Buyer fate quest is fucking unreasonable lol] Content: No fucking way, I made a resource gathering mad movie thinking this is it, this is definitely it, but damn Gadum has so many resources, is he cheating alone? I have to throw all my resources just to buy one party member? -: Yeah bro does human trafficking, drug dealing, smuggling, basically everything fucking possible so money gets duplicated How does this not make sense? -: It's represented as money in-game The conditions that bastard offers for bribery are even more ridiculous when you read the text, seriously you just can't not get bribed -[Author]: They're both city councilors but why is the weight class difference so extreme damn -: Ran... this girl is just a stupid fool who only cares about citizens... -: Gadum, if there's one family, sells drugs to the parents, sells the kids of indebted parents, and if parents can't pay for drugs, gets them involved in crime He's just a fucking god of value creation, how can Ran compare -: Ran: Yeah make orphans all you want, I'll keep supporting the orphanage -: Gadum: Yeah support the orphanage all you want, I'll keep creating orphans -: Who wins that? -: Who do you think wins -[Author]: This is maddening -[Author]: But seriously damn, isn't there really no way to stop them from leaving? -: Put a knife to their throat and threaten them not to go or something yeah -: Gadum's better at that though -[Author]: This is infuriating, can't I bribe Gadum's subordinates too? -: Lol if you can do it, try it ────────── *** Ran opened her mouth with determination. But soon, that mouth closed again. The compensation Gadum had promised them. Because she had no confidence in promising greater compensation than that. Because she couldn't think of a reason why they shouldn't leave her. Probably, no reason would have sufficient persuasive power. Shouting about honor and justice would only be childish whining. In the end, what she could say was predetermined. "I will respect your positions." "Sorry it came to this." [...has left the party] "That's how it is. I won't ask you to understand." [...has left the party] "I'm ashamed." [...has left the party] "Young Lady... I'm sorry. Please stay safe." [...has left the party] "You know our family's circumstances!!! Don't look at me with those eyes!!!" [...has left the party] "..." [City Councilor Ran has left the party] ▶Fate 10: Bought out ────────── *** "..." Ran, sitting at her desk, was deep in thought. The worst possibility she had feared had become reality. Gadum. He had made contact with the three big shots. Ran didn't doubt her friendship with them. She didn't doubt their honor. However, she knew. The fact that those in positions representing groups like them sometimes have values that must take priority over personal friendship and honor. Gadum too must have perfectly understood that aspect before approaching them. That's why Ran could neither stop nor dissuade them. "Please..." There was only one thing Ran could hope. Please, let her be able to handle the conditions that Gadum would present to them. "Lady Ran." A moment later. Ran's butler came to inform her of the three big shots' return. Ran immediately left her office to greet them. She met them as naturally as possible so they wouldn't feel burdened. "Ah." "...Ahem." "..." Nevertheless, there was no helping the awkward atmosphere that flowed between the four people who had met. Eventually, the three big shots exchanged glances once. "Lord Ran. Could we have a word?" Shakan spoke on their behalf. What was bound to come had finally come. "Of course." Ran tried to act calm as she guided them to her office. Knowing this wasn't a situation where either side would bring up preambles, the conversation immediately jumped to the main point. "Actually, City Councilor Gadum approached us and brought up this story. Asking if we wouldn't attribute the credit for this cultist expulsion to him." It was as expected. "...What did Gadum offer in return?" "Well-" At the story that followed, Ran gritted her teeth. The conditions Gadum had promised them far exceeded Ran's expectations. Ran, who didn't possess massive funds like Gadum, illegal distribution networks that could obtain rare items, or political leverage that could force cooperation from other influential families- Had no ability to offer corresponding compensation. Ran opened her mouth with determination. But soon, that mouth closed again. Because she couldn't think of a reason why they shouldn't leave her to side with Gadum. Probably, no reason would have sufficient persuasive power. In this situation, crying out about honor and justice while appealing to emotion would be nothing but throwing a tantrum. In the end, the action Ran could take was predetermined. "I will respect your positions." City Councilor Ran lowered her head powerlessly. "Wait-" "No. You have no reason to make excuses to me. As I said again, I respect your positions- and I understand them." The voice choked with emotion was meant to convince herself, not the other party. Ran's tightly clenched fist trembled like an aspen leaf. She savored her wretchedness and despair, waiting for them to leave the room. "No, that's not it- we. We rejected that proposal." "?" Ran, who raised her head again, had a completely dumbfounded expression. "Wh, why did you make such a decision...?" Ran spoke as if interrogating without realizing it. She looked like she wouldn't be convinced no matter what answer she heard. "Risir-" "Ah." However, the moment the first word was mentioned from Valrod's mouth, Ran unconsciously nodded and was convinced. It was the result of repeated learning. Ran felt that her senses had somehow gone awry. "We reached an agreement that the qualification to judge this matter belongs entirely to him." "Pardon?" "Well, of course, we didn't do anything in the subjugation." "..." No! Don't say that! It was a part that should be completely denied, but Ran could only awkwardly avert her gaze. It was true that Risir had led the subjugation through providing crucial information. However, it was the three big shots who had actually exercised executive power in the subjugation. Sure, without Risir, the cultist expulsion would have failed nine times out of ten. But likewise, what if the three big shots hadn't been there? "..." "..." "..." "..." Probably, wouldn't the cultist expulsion have succeeded anyway? That is, with Risir alone. There were those who felt it was plausible enough despite having no evidence. It was a scene where a certain elderly mage would nod and say, 'It's slightly different, but that too can be called Risir.' (E/N: In case it's not obvious, 'Risir' is a magic word that, by itself, can explain any and all phenomena) "So, let's wait for Risir's decision." They awkwardly looked at each other's faces. *** -Knock knock "Hm?" Risir, who was unfailingly conducting sword training in the garden attached to his room. He moved his steps at the sound of knocking. "Lord Risir. I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy. If it's alright, could you spare a moment now?" The woman standing in front of the door was a maid who had been assigned to attend to Risir during his stay at the mansion. "What's the matter?" "City Councilor Gadum has sent a gift." "City Councilor Gadum, you say..." Strength entered Risir's eyes. City Councilor Gadum. Risir remembered that name as a person of interest in Bondaless. The chief officer of the Bondaless Guard Corps and one of the central figures in Bondaless high society, he was one of the most powerful people in the city. 'Even Lady Ran would have to yield to him, probably?' Such a Gadum had sent him a gift. 'Has what was bound to come, come?' Risir recalled the conversation he had with Shakan the day before. -City Councilor Gadum might approach you soon to steal the credit for the cultist subjugation from Lord Ran. -It's entirely your right and authority, so you can judge as your heart desires. 'To sum it up, Gadum is courting and Ran is anxious- roughly that kind of situation?' Two powerful people in the city fighting to possess him. Looking at it alone, it was an incredibly thrilling situation. However, looking at it in detail, the situation was quite complicated. Risir had learned all related information in order to conduct himself properly as an Honorary Mage of the Gray Magic Tower. The information he had learned also included the political situation in Bondaless. 'Lady Ran is clean but her power is correspondingly weak, while conversely Gadum has strong power but correspondingly...' Risir was well aware of the bad rumors related to Gadum. 'I'm carrying the name of the Gray Magic Tower, so I can't associate with bad friends and tarnish the tower's name.' Thus, Risir's mind was already made up. But separately. There was a part he was worried about. In Risir's view, he was absolutely not a morally flawless person. Nor was he an ascetic person. 'But what if he offers too much money?' Even in that case, would he be able to make the right choice? Risir's expression was colored with anguish. Interpreting Risir's silence somehow, Dangaleon, who had been bickering with Clana in his hand until just before, shouted. -You wench!!! How dare you trouble Master! "...!" The maid, who was merely a servant of the mansion, didn't know about the talking crystal orb. When the maid was startled, Risir spoke to reassure her. "Ah, don't be surprised. It's nothing serious, just a sealed demon. As you can see, it doesn't have a mouth so it can't bite even if it tries." "A, a demon...!" -Wench!!! Master told you not to be surprised!!! "I'm, I'm sorry...! I'm sorry!" "Can't you just stay still?" -You heard! Wench, stop all actions immediately! Until Master gives an order, I won't allow even a small breath! "No..." Risir sighed and headed to the bed. After lifting the blanket, he sealed Dangaleon there. - This place...! My master’s bed where he rests!? My master...! This sudden reward leaves me, Dangaleon, at a loss for words! <So, you became a Crystal Orb because you didn’t know where to put your body?> -Hahaha!!! You inorganic thing! You're jealous of me! Because I'm occupying Master's bed! <What’s this halfwit blabbering about? Why would I be jealous of that? He stuffed you in there to shut you up. Don’t you get it?> -Mmm!!! I can clearly feel Master's body temperature that a certain inorganic wench can't feel! <Disgusting bastard. Feel it to your heart's content. Hey, Risir. Let's go.> -Master!!! If you're taking that wench, you must take me too!!! "..." Risir rubbed his forehead. Let's do sword training. No, let's do magic training. The childish bickering between the killer and demon that had been repeated countless times over the past few days. Risir had no intention of experiencing that in daily life beyond training. With a tired expression, he pushed Blue Lotus into the blanket as well. <Hey!!!> -Master!!! Why! What did this inorganic thing do to receive the same reward as me! Risir left the room with the maid, leaving behind the cries of the two weapons. The place they eventually arrived at was the mansion's reception room. There, the three big shots were already keeping their seats. "You've come." Gadum's representative, who had been talking with the three big shots, immediately stood up from his seat and bowed to Risir. Risir responded with a bow and then asked the three big shots. "What were you discussing?" "We were talking about you." Gadum, who had been rejected in the previous conversation, had presented better conditions to the three big shots. Including compensation for Risir. Thanks to that, the three big shots' expressions had become even more complicated. "Lord Risir, please sit. Since you're someone with many affairs, I'll get straight to the point." When Risir took his seat, the representative turned the opening of the box that had been placed on the table toward him. "City Councilor Gadum, representing Bondaless and the Guard Corps, has expressed gratitude and sincerity for Lord Risir's achievements in the cultist subjugation. Please, accept this." Risir didn't miss the implication contained in the sentence. 'Representing Bondaless and the Guard Corps...' The moment he accepted that gift, he would implicitly be receiving praise for this achievement from Gadum and the Guard Corps. In that case, Ran would no longer be able to claim credit for the subjugation. 'To try to bribe Ran's people in Ran's own mansion...' Risir thought that he was really pulling such a stunt. His worries deepened further. 'He's really someone I don't want to associate with-' That worry and. 'Really, what if an offer I can't refuse comes out of that?' Just then. The representative opened the box. And the explanation of the contents that followed. "...!" The three big shots simultaneously held their breath. It wasn't something an individual could handle. A treasure that should at minimum be strictly managed at the Magic Tower level. Also, a treasure that could bring benefit to the entire Magic Tower. The three big shots immediately read the intention contained in the treasure. 'Is he thinking of winning the favor of the entire Magic Tower, not just Risir personally...!' An offer that couldn't be refused if it was for the group had been presented to Risir as well. Sure enough. "..." No matter how extraordinary he was, he couldn't help but be flustered by the appearance of the treasure contained in the box. "As expected, you recognize it. Yes, that's right. It's a Superior Spirit Core." *** At the same time. Didoa's research laboratory in the Gray Magic Tower. "Hm?" A young wolf that had been sunbathing on the sofa where sunlight streamed through the window suddenly sat up. Eventually the wolf took human form and- "Cough- Hack! Cough!" Coughed up a bead onto the floor. "Feryn. Are you okay?" The half-demon young lady nearby, Didoa, hurriedly approached and gently patted her back. "It's been a while since you coughed up a core, hasn't it?" "It's been quite a while since I met that guy." "Maybe that's why, the density seems a bit low too. Should this be classified as about an intermediate core?" Didoa opened a drawer. Various beads made sounds as they mixed together in the drawer divided into three compartments. At first, Didoa had been horrified seeing the cores increase day by day, but now she just accepted it. The Magic Tower mages who had been devoted to plague cure research using Feryn's core as a medium couldn't help but be shocked when the 'second core' was provided- 'But when the 'third core' was provided, they began to react differently. -Risir is... -...Ah! Didoa stored the core in the middle compartment and closed the drawer. The numerous beads inside the drawer made a loud noise as they mixed together. *** "...This is a gift from City Councilor Gadum. Are you really going to refuse it?" The representatives who heard Risir's negative answer couldn't help but be perplexed. "Risir, you...!" Valrod was the same. As a mage, he clearly knew the value contained in that treasure. To that, Risir could only smile bitterly. This. Our house spirit regularly coughs this up. Since he couldn't say that, he spoke somewhat evasively. "I think this is the right choice." "...!" "...!" "...!" Shock was clearly revealed on the three big shots' faces. "...Risir, a young mage like you makes me, Valrod, reflect on myself." "?" "You... is that so... Have I been hiding behind the justification of prioritizing the group and turning my eyes away from the greater cause..." "?" "Damn, Risir... if you say that, what does that make me..." "...?" The three big shots suddenly moved to tears and their eyes shining. 'What's this about?' Risir couldn't understand what was happening and could only smile bitterly. "..." Meanwhile, the representative left the room with a displeased expression. *** "He refused my gift?" Gadum couldn't hide his bewilderment. 'That brat mage, doesn't he have any sense? How could he refuse that item-' However, that bewilderment didn't last long. In fact, Gadum already had the next plan in mind. If recruitment didn't work, he just had to move to the next stage. "Summon Kadogan." *** Kadogan, the shaman of the White Scale Tribe. She was the inheritor of 'Spirit Stepping', a secret sorcery passed down through the tribe for generations. Spirit Stepping was a power that could steal a glimpse of the sorcery target's 'karma', and Gadum had used Kadogan's power to discover his political enemies' weaknesses and thereby lead 'negotiations' in the direction he desired. "..." Kadogan was conducting a ritual in the prepared underground chamber, scattering beast blood in all directions. The completed sorcery circle. Kadogan went to its center and chanted the name of the sorcery target. "Risir..." In her hand was a part of Risir's body (hair) that had been sent by an informant Gadum had planted in Ran's mansion. She concentrated her mind for a moment, then chewed and swallowed that hair. *** "...!" Kadogan. She came to her senses in the thick negative energy that chilled even her bones. 'This place is-' She put more strength into her eyes to identify the space surrounded by thick fog. Then, something approaching from beyond the fog began to be visible. It was an army of the dead. 'Ne, necromancer...!' That terrible and evil being was advancing leading an army of the dead. Then, the necromancer's body passed through the shaman's body. "...!" In that instant. The shaman succeeded in glimpsing the emotion reflected in the necromancer's murky eyes. Those were absolutely not the eyes of one advancing. Soon after the fog lifted, and the shaman belatedly discovered. Something was standing in the place the necromancer had been heading toward. The shaman quickly understood the situation, but it took considerable time to accept that situation. Necromancer. Fleeing. Connecting those two concepts was not an easy thing. This was only part of the karma that man had accumulated. *** "Gasp...!' Spirit Stepping was not completed. The shaman awakened her own consciousness while Spirit Stepping was in progress. She no longer had the confidence to steal glimpses of his karma. The shaman's eyes were shaking violently. "Gadum, that crazy bastard, what has he touched...!" The shaman hurriedly began packing her belongings. It wasn't too late even now. The shaman knew for certain where she should stand. *** [Kadogan has left the party] ***