Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 39: Henya Ye Mastien (1)

Many believed Henya Ye Mastien might be destined to become the greatest mage the Gray Tower had ever known.

As the youngest master mage in the history of the Tower, her journey as a mage had been one of radiant triumphs. No failures, no setbacks. Every challenge, every conflict, ended the same way: with her proven right.

It was inevitable, then, that the genius mage came to place absolute faith in herself...and in doing so, she forgot how to doubt.

Indeed, there was a time when many believed Henya Ye Mastien might be destined to become the greatest mage the Gray Tower had ever known.

***

▶Fate 64: Enlightenment

***

[Title : wtf is with this drunk crawling near the Bondalles mage tower]

Post : heard she’ll answer any question in exchange for any random liquor, so thought she some kinda beggar sect person

but then she goes talking about some 6th rank magic tf lol

funny thing is after I let her rave on I actually unlocked a new 6th-rank spell

who is she even?

do mage towers have stupid high standards for drunks too?

: its a spoiler still wanna know?

[OP] : Aha so she’s an originally successful character whose life was ruined by this trashy game’s unfair bs?

: bruh lol

: fr all these ruined characters used to be successful before getting screwed over

: The sin of being born in a shitty game world... gotta accept it right?

: feels like looking at myself working 80 hours a week for the sin of being born in Hell-Korea

[OP] : so who she?

[OP] : some kinda fancy mage tower before?

: girl used to be the youngest master mage of the Gray Tower

[OP] : ?

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

: ya also a child of high nobility

[OP] : isn’t high nobility just below royalty in this game?

[OP] : why is someone like that begging for drinks on the streets?

: The reason the tower cut ties with her is also why her family disowned her

[OP] : ugh lol is it black magic again?

: nah not that

: she was researching lost ancient magic but then had a mana overload and became a wreck

[OP] : ?? whys that a reason to cut ties?

: coz her family and the tower tried to stop her, it was obvious this would happen

: they basically held a knife to her throat telling her to stop, but she went “I can do it, if it’s me...!” and blew herself up

[OP] : so she was just a retard lmao

: not a total retard though coz she did prove herself a lot

: fr when u look at her past, she gives vibes like greatest genius in history who can defy even gods

: it’s real considering how ppl still giving her shoutouts as like “the one who could have become the greatest mage in tower history” even after ending up like that

: [Photo] she was a super hottie too

[OP] : you saying this hoe looking like forgotten scraps used to be that blonde ponytail beauty?

***

[Title : fcking hell this Enlightenment Fate ending is next-level uncomfortable]

Post : got a quest about helping Henya rehabilitate her magic, so I thinking shed successfully make a comeback as a mage but damn

right after she regains magic

girl went and offed herself

did I choose wrong option?

should I have went [You are the youngest master mage in the history of the Gray Tower.] instead of

[You might have become the greatest mage in the history of the Gray Tower.]?

: yeah nah she suicides either way

: but she does go with a happy smile if u pick the other option

[OP] : the fuck going with a smile is even worse yo

[OP] : is there no way saving her?

: Shall we develop time magic?

: should be enough to just go back in time and give her a good asswhooping before she becomes the greatest genius in history who defies even gods

***“You haven’t drunk the elixir yet...?”

Henya stared blankly at Risir for a moment before smirking and crossing her arms with an air of arrogance. She had interpreted Risir’s behavior as ‘making excuses out of embarrassment after being caught taking an elixir before their duel’.

“Right. So you do realize your actions aren’t exactly honorable.”

“Is that how it is...?”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to explain yourself. Actually, I’m rather glad you took the elixir. Want to know why?”

Henya paused dramatically, exuding self-importance.

“...”

From the moment they first met, this know-it-all young missy had been exhausting to deal with.

Feeling a sudden thirst, Risir took a mouthful of tea.

“Here.”

Didoa refilled his teacup without missing a beat, her expressionless eyes subtly sparkling as if she were waiting for something.

“Thank you?”

Didoa happily returned to standby mode, inwardly cheering at having achieved yet another natural conversation.

Risir felt drained on both fronts. He decided it was better to humor Henya and send her on her way quickly.

“Why would you be pleased that I took an elixir, oh I’m dying to know.”

Henya briefly scowled at his forced attitude but quickly regained her composure, replying in a smug tone.

“Actually, I was feeling guilty.”

“Guilty? That’s unexpected.”

Henya wagged her finger left and right, matching each motion with a smug “Nuh-uh-uh.”

“Unexpected? Hardly. Isn’t it something you must already know? After all, you were so hurried to obtain and drink an elixir before our duel.”

“...So basically...You felt bad after challenging someone much weaker than you, but seeing me secretly take an elixir made you feel better?”

“Correct. But...to be honest, I’m still not entirely at ease.”

Henya assessed Risir’s magic power. When she first saw him, he had just entered the 4th rank. Now, he had barely surpassed its entry level.

It was an impressive feat, given he had taken an elixir, but he was still far from catching up to Henya, who was preparing to enter the final stage of the 4th rank.

“I mean, even after going through the trouble of taking an elixir, you’re still not as good as I am. Right?”

“Since you brought it up, should we just go ahead and declare you the winner of the duel?”

“Well, I do know that a mage’s strength isn’t determined solely by magic power. But you see—”

Mana began gathering above Henya’s palm—not pure mana, but mana imbued with her essence.

This was assimilation, the ability to fully make mana one’s own and control it. It formed the foundation of unique mystic arts and magic, a power only mages of the 4th rank could wield.

Watching Henya’s display of assimilation, Didoa gave an approving remark.

“Splendid assimilation. I heard you’d just started learning it, yet you’ve already become so proficient?”

Henya shot Risir a smug look, as if to say, Hear that?

“I clearly remember. When I saw you at the magic shop, you had just reached the entry level of the 4th rank. So let me ask, do you know how to use assimilation?”

“I’ve only just heard about the concept.”

“See? And yet you want to duel me?”

“...”

Risir squinted at the assimilated mana.

Why does that feel so familiar?

Henya, drawing her own conclusions from his reaction, spoke as if chiding him.

“What were you thinking when you accepted my challenge?”

“But isn’t it just a friendly duel?”

“It is, yes...but surely you haven’t forgotten? The loser has to grant one request from the winner, no matter what it is.”

“Of course I remember. Just wait. I’ll definitely use that to turn my life around.”

“Turn your life around?”

Henya felt an inexplicable chill.

“What do you intend to even—well, no matter. You won’t be able to make that request anyway.”

“Oh, we shall see about that. By the way, it’s a late question, but what brings you here now? Surely you didn’t come all this way just to berate me for taking an elixir.”

“Ah, about that. Let’s say I’m giving you one last chance.”

“One last chance?”

“A handicap.”

Henya paused to disperse her assimilated mana.

“You just need to ask, and I could exclude assimilation from our duel. You might think it’s no big deal since you don’t know much about it, but you should consider it carefully. The level of magic changes drastically depending on mana assimilation.”

After a moment’s thought, Risir recalled the assimilation he had just witnessed and felt, then answered.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline.”

“What?”

“If I accept such a handicap, I might hesitate to make my request when I win.”

“...Ha!”

Henya sneered, finding it truly laughable.

“Is that so? Then I don’t need to hold back either, yes?”

“How about we both give it our all, using any means necessary, so there are no regrets later?”

“That sounds good.”

“Alright, you’ve agreed.”

“?”

Risir took out a vial and handed it to Didoa.

“Master Didoa, I’m wondering if we could start now.”

“Shall we?”

“Huh? Start what?”

Feeling an inexplicable unease, Henya pretended to be uninterested and interjected.

Didoa replied in her usual emotionless tone.

“Elixir consumption.”

“...Pardon?”

Henya’s pretense fell apart. Flustered, she looked back and forth between the elixir in Didoa’s hand and Risir. Then she cried out in disbelief.

“You’re drinking another one?!”

Risir burst into laughter.

“Another? Do I look like such a rich kid to you?”

As Risir said, consuming elixirs back-to-back was a luxury even royalty would find difficult to indulge in.

“I mean, that’s not even the issue! Taking two elixirs in succession? Your body won’t be able to handle it! Master Didoa, shouldn’t you stop him?!”

Didoa asked Risir with a deadly serious expression.

“Risir, have you consumed an elixir recently?”

“I haven’t. Not recently, or ever in my entire life.”

“There you have it, Miss Henya.”

“No, no, Master Didoa? Weren’t you the one who helped that guy drink one?”

“I’m about to help him now.”

“???”

Henya kept glancing back and forth between Risir and the elixir vial in Didoa’s hand. Her expression was gradually crumbling, along with her sense of reality.

“No—no—no—”

While Henya repeated the same word like a broken record, Didoa carefully examined the elixir before bustling around the lab to gather various reagents.

After mixing them on the spot, she called out to Risir.

“Could you take off your top for a moment?”

“Huh? Al-alright.”

Risir complied and was soon half-naked as instructed.

“Somehow I feel bad making you undress alone. Embarrassing, right? Should I undress too?”

“It’s fine. Really.”

“Risir is so kind. Okay, may I touch you for a bit?”

Didoa asked carefully, extending her hands marked with magical sigils.

“Of course.”

Soon, various reagents were applied to different parts of Risir’s body.

During the process, Didoa explained the reagents to him. His expression grew more complicated as he listened.

“Er, Master Didoa? Just asking, but aren’t these reagents quite valuable?”

“It’s fine.”

“...So they are valuable? Is this normal when assisting with elixir consumption?”

“No, it’s an additional process. Not absolutely necessary, but nice to have.”

“So, I’m basically consuming expensive reagents I don’t really need?”

“I’m doing this because I want to, so don’t worry about it.”

“...Thank you, Master Didoa. I don’t know how to repay this kindness...”

“If you really want to repay me, you could call me casually instead of Master Didoa.”

“...Didoa?”

Didoa nodded happily with her usual expressionless face, inwardly cheering at feeling like she’d grown closer to Risir.

Finally, after completing all the preparations, Didoa opened the elixir vial and handed it to Risir.

“Bear this in mind. After drinking the elixir, you must follow my instructions completely.”

“Understood.”

“Did I sound too harsh just now? Sorry if I offended you.”

“...You don’t need to worry about me. Please speak freely.”

“Mhm, thank you. As I’ve mentioned several times, that elixir is exceptionally high-grade, which means it contains an enormous amount of power. This kind of elixir inevitably causes excruciating pain during the absorption process. I’m just giving you a heads-up, but you won’t be able to endure that pain completely.”

“Then what should I do?”

“You still have to endure as much as possible. While you’re at it, try to control the elixir’s energy. Aim for 50%. Absorb at least 50% of the elixir’s energy. That alone would be incredible. Don’t be afraid, I’m right here with you. Understand?”

“I understand.”

Risir exchanged a glance with Didoa before drinking the elixir.

He braced himself for the immense side effects—whether his heart would race wildly, his blood would boil, or his guts would twist with pain.

***

[You have resisted]

***“...About the pain, Master Didoa. When is it supposed to hit again?”

After waiting endlessly for side effects that never came, Risir asked Didoa, looking like a patient awaiting the sting of an injection.

“...”

“Master Didoa?”

Didoa’s emotionless eyes trembled as she replied in a dazed voice.

“I think it’s over.”

“What? Over? But nothing happened? Did something go wrong? How much—what percentage of the elixir did I absorb?”

Risir sounded flustered, but Didoa was even more bewildered.

“All of it...”

“Sorry?”

“I think...you absorbed all of it.”

“...Didn’t you say earlier that absorbing even 50% would be amazing?”

“...Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?”

“...For now, I don’t think so.”

Didoa nodded.

“I don’t know what happened, but congratulations. It looks like you’ve achieved great success.”

Henya, who had watched the entire process from the side, muttered in blank shock.

“What the...”

Risir was now on the verge of reaching the 5th rank.

***The next day, the afternoon of the duel arrived. Risir and Henya met in the mage tower’s inner courtyard, as promised.

Henya had to persuade herself countless times just to make it here.

It’s alright. His magic power did increase excessively...But that doesn’t change the fact he’s just reached the 4th rank and knows nothing about assimilation, right?

I can do this. I can win. Magic power alone means nothing. I just need to beat him in mana manipulation and magical prowess.

Henya nodded, finally steeling her resolve. Her eyes were filled with her usual confidence—an absolute confidence bordering on arrogance.

A man watching from afar called out.

“Are both sides ready?”

He was Master Ladros, acting as an impartial third-party judge for the duel.

Risir and Henya exchanged a look and nodded.

“Then, begin.”

Henya immediately summoned her power, fiercely intent on enhancing all her mana with assimilation.

“...Wait!”

Henya’s momentum faltered as she cried out, staring at Risir.

“You—what is that?!”

“?”

Aspect magic went beyond simply assimilating mana with one’s essence. It used the principle of aspect shaping to freely transform the nature of mana through the assimilated essence.

Aspect shaping was most definitely the next stage beyond assimilation, and generally required reaching the 5th rank to even grasp its concept.

...An abnormal wind was swirling around Risir.

It was an unmistakable display of aspect magic.

***

▷Fate 64: ‘Enlightenment’ has been deactivated.

***