Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 3: Dark Elf

***“Was this really necessary?”

A young man asked his father, who gazed intently at the horse before him.

The creature was slowly dying from a sword wound.

“This horse was stolen by dark elves. We don’t know what kind of curse it might be under.”

“...”

The young man eventually nodded. His father’s words certainly had merit.

***“W-what? You—you see me?”

The dark elf woman exaggeratedly pointed her finger back and forth between the bastard and herself.

Meanwhile, someone sighed deeply.

<Pamon. What are you doing?>

“No way! Did I seriously make this kind of mistake?”

The woman briefly touched the back of her hand and then nodded, full of confidence.

“Of course. That can’t be.”

“...”

“...”

Then she cast an awkward glance at me.

“That can’t be... right?”

“...”

The awkward mood was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching from behind the bookshelf. It was the librarian.

He looked around before fixing a stare at me.

“Please maintain silence in the library.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just talking with this person h—”

“...?”

This person here?

The old librarian looked in the direction where the woman was standing, but his gaze wandered through empty space.

Perfect.

The woman immediately approached the librarian and started clicking her fingers in front of his face.

“...”

The librarian didn’t mind. Or more precisely, he didn’t notice at all.

The old fellow eyed me pitifully, shaking his head, and went away.

“Wha?”

“See, see? What did I tell you! What did I tell you~~~”

The woman raised her voice excitedly.

Woah, now that’s coming right from the diaphragm. Forget silence, it’s a formal challenge. A formal duel challenge to the librarian.

But again, the librarian showed no reaction. At this point, even an ignorant bastard like me couldn’t help but sense something was off.

Maybe...she’s not the strange one? Is it me?

“How did you do that?”

As I stood still with a befittingly foolish expression, the woman asked a question.

“What do you mean?”

“What you’re doing right now.”

“Right now?”

What I’m doing? Huh? Surely she’s not talking about my past life awareness.

Nothing came to mind. In fact, I wanted to be asking something myself: why can’t the librarian see you, and only I can?

“I’m asking just in case. This conversation we’re having now, is it related to magic? If so, I have nothing much to say. After all, I’m totally ignorant in that regard.”

“...”

Hmmmm.

The woman crossed her arms and began to observe me in earnest, her head tilting left and right. She seemed utterly perplexed.

<Why don’t you raise it up a notch?>

Suddenly, I heard that other voice again.

“What if this child gets hurt?”

<Who cares? Just some noble brat. I know you hate nobles too.>

Hold up, this is starting to sound a bit ominous. I’ll have you know, I’m Bendel bastard alright? You hurt me and the Bendels are gonna—

Damn, they’d probably like that.

“That’s true. But this child is a bit unusual, you know?”

<He does seem an oddball.>

“Right, right? I wasn’t alone in feeling he’s special. I knew it.”

Clap clap clap clap clap.

The woman gave an adorable little round of clapping, and the atmosphere suddenly changed.

Now it wasn’t just because of her cute behavior that didn’t match her tall stature. I felt her attitude toward me had changed. From an interesting observation subject, I’d become an interesting person.

“May I sit next to you?”

The woman pointed to the seat beside me.

It was just a request to sit together, yet for some reason her eyes glittered fervently. As if she had made an outrageous request and was watching for the reaction.

I wondered, why insist on sitting next to me? Not that I really minded, but...

I nodded without much thought.

“Oh my.”

I didn’t know why, but the woman was extremely delighted.

“Oof.”

The woman cheerily stuck her hands to her sides and sat down next to me.

Now, my window seat was just cozy enough for one person. Meaning it was a bit cramped for two.

“Should we sit elsewhere?”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t want to disturb your reading.”

“...”

My eyes strayed. I didn’t know where to look.

<It seems you’ve already disturbed him plenty?>

Fortunately, that voice made the retort I was about to make.

Regardless...

I asked again.

“You must be uncomfortable... If it’s alright with you, maybe we should...”

“No? It’s fine. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s more interesting. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a normal conversation with someone else.”

“Is... that so?”

Normal? What is normal?

Where are we born and where are we going? Why is an eagle’s beak yellow?

“Well, well, well. What should I ask first—oh right! Look at me. I haven’t introduced myself yet. Sorry. As I just said, it’s been so long since I’ve had such a normal conversation with another person. Mhm. Mhm. Very long indeed. So, even I act a bit too vulgar, I hope you won’t be offended.”

“Vulgar? I just thought you were a very lively and special person.”

“Dear me~ Oh dear oh dear oh deary~ How can you speak so beautifully? Hm? And you have such pretty eyes too.”

The woman stroked my head, looking as if she were dying of adoration.

Let me correct myself. Maybe I looked more like a cute puppy than an interesting person.

“I’m Pamon. A scholar and researcher.”

Pamon took out a book from her bosom.

“And this is Duran. As you can see, it’s a talking book that likes to interject, nag, and nitpick. I made it, yet I don’t know why it’s like this.”

Apparently, the source of that other voice was this book called Duran.

A talking book? And you made it yourself? I’m not even surprised anymore.

“I’m Risir.”

“Risir? Risir... Risir... Mm. I like it. Even your name’s pretty. Now then, Risir. First of all, can you tell me this?”

Pamon tapped the book in my hand.

“This book. Why are you reading it?”

“Huh?”

<Say it, Risir! Say it’s to exterminate all of catkind!>

The crazy talking book interjected with crazy nonsense.

“Why would I exterminate... all of catkind?”

<Why else would you read something like that?>

“Just... out of curiosity?”

<Why are you curious about cats?>

“Uh... aren’t they cute?”

<Good heavens. This one’s not normal eithe—>

Clap clap clap clap clap clap.

A happy looking Pamon interrupted Duran with a bubbly applause.

“So you know, Risir! You too understand the charm of kitties!”

Pamon proceeded to unleash a passionate speech about the charm of cats.

***<Pamon, take it easy. Unless you really want to see Risir change career to a cat hunter.>

“Huh? Ah! Sorry, Risir! I got too excited and only talked about myself, didn’t I?”

Pamon was stroking my hand that she had placed on her lap, as if kneading a cat’s paw.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

When did she even take my hand?

“Thanks to you, I don’t think I need to read this book anymore.”

“Well, Risir. Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”

Finally.

I blurted out the question I had been carefully holding onto.

“You know how earlier, the librarian couldn’t perceive you?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Why was that?”

“Me too! I got a question too!”

Swip!

Pamon suddenly pulled my arm.

Tap.

She started observing me. We were literally close enough to touch noses.

“Why doesn’t my cognitive disruption magic work on you? Maybe, just maybe. Have you ever learned magic on your own?”

Sniff sniff.

Why’s she smelling me?

“No?”

“Then, do you perhaps have some kind of artifact?”

“My family doesn’t love me enough to give me something so precious, you see.”

“Then is it constitutional?”

Pamon started kneading my face.

“Consdidusonal?”

“Mhm. A trait you’re born with. Risir. If it’s okay, can I try an experiment?”

“I thought we had shared enough emotional bonding.”

“Right!? Sorry! I guess this isn’t right after all, Duran. What if Risir gets hurt?”

“Mmph—“

What is this? A scent like a mix of herbal medicine and perfume? Rough silk? Softness?

Ah. She’s hugging me.

<You’re killing your curiosity because you don’t want to hurt someone? I’m starting to get a bit scared.>

“Just asking, but what were you planning to do with that experiment?”

“Well. Let’s see—”

“Were you planning to do so much that you need to think about it?”

“I’m sorry~~~ Risir might not understand, but you know! You’re incredibly unusual! So much that I’m holding back a lot right now, you know?”

“...Thank you?”

“Oh right! But Risir. What was that you said earlier? About your family not loving you enough?”

“Yes. My personal circumstances are quite complicated.”

“In what way?”

“I’m... an illegitimate child. My mother passed away giving birth to me, and my father resents me for it.”

“Oh no.”

<Oh no.>

Pamon put down my hand and moved back a bit.

“I’m sorry, Risir. I was too forward.”

<If anything, he’s the one who’s too forward. The boy basically flashed his naked body out of nowhere. Don’t reveal everything so suddenly like that. Are you trying to burden us?>

“Well, anyway. Do I really have such an unusual constitution?”

Look at him changing the subject. He’s not normal either.

Ignoring the crazy book’s grumbling, I started pondering.

It’s an unexpected gain. Who’d have thought that I had a unique constitution, one that even someone as extraordinary as her found worthy of interest?

Cognitive disruption doesn’t work on me? Then do I have something like magic resistance?

Yeah, I mean everybody has a talent in them somewhere.

Good job, bastard. You’ve finally proved your use. Now then, is there some way to use this?

A new job selection window flickered in my mind.

How exciting.

“By the way, Risir.”

“Ah. Yes, go ahead.”

“I’m asking just in case, but which family do you belong to?”

“Oh. It doesn’t really mean much, but I was born and raised in Bendel.”

<Bendel? Yikes.>

The book sighed meaningfully. Too meaningful to ignore.

<Hey Pamon. Did you hear that? This fella says he’s from the Bendel family.>

“Is that so? What a coincidence.”

Goddamn. This really seems like big trouble.

Pamon was looking at me with a completely different face than before.

“Alright. I’ve decided, Risir, my disciple.”

“Sorry?”

“From today on, you’re my disciple.”

“Eh?”

***

▷Fate 5: ‘The Promised Price’ has been deactivated.

Corresponding perks will be awarded

***“Come again?”

An unexpected intruder barged in out of nowhere, declaring: Give me what is most valuable in Bendel.

The patriarch of Bendel touched the pommel of the sword at his waist.

The intruder appeared defenseless to his eyes. He was confident he could cut their body in half with a single draw of his sword.

That ugly, cursed body. How dare a dark elf leave footprints in Bendel’s dwelling? Not content with that, look at how she acts as if she were the master of the family.

There could be no moment more meaningless for dialogue than this.

“Did you not promise?”

“Promise? Us? With you filthy mongrels?”

The intruder didn’t even bat an eye at the blatant contempt.

“I suppose your great ancestor didn’t tell you anything?”

“I warn you, do not speak her name with that filthy tongue.”

“Do you know? How Radola Bendel, the pride of your family, achieved such feats? How she accomplished them?”

Just as the patriarch’s sword was about to reveal its blade, thick vines suddenly sprouted from the floor and entangled his limbs.

“Bendel, your family promised my master. That when the castle built with the power borrowed from my master reached its highest point, Bendel would give up the greatest treasure it holds.”

“Urgh—You filthy witch—...!”

“Tell me, Bendel. What is the most precious thing you have?”

Bendel did not answer...so the witch sought the answer herself.

She approached the window and looked down. Hayeren City, the heart of Bendel territory, came into full view.

The witch imagined the city covered in greenery. She wasn’t entirely pleased with it, but it couldn’t be helped.

A promise was a promise, after all.