24 - Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Dark Fantasy Normalization Chapter 24 > BookBunny - Web Novel Archive Marek and his group willingly exerted themselves for the well-favored noble, Risir. Because setting up the tent was rather troublesome, it was rare to see it go up unless the weather was cataclysmic enough to freeze one's face off while sleeping! Yet they set up such a tent willingly for Risir. "Should I set one up for you two as well?" Unlike when they eagerly offered anything to Risir without a word, they asked in a bothersome tone, which bruised Fienne and Aaron's pride, making them refuse the offer. Thus, there was only one tent at their camping site, which could be considered an extravagant luxury. "..." Fienne found herself, unintentionally, the lucky beneficiary of such luxury. Thanks to Risir volunteering for the night watch, Fienne was given the tent. When Risir offered her the tent, Fienne nurtured quite the expectation. It was due to Marek's group and Risir, who made a fuss as though the tent was a grand mansion. Those expectations were thoroughly betrayed. "Annoying." Fienne grumbled, sitting up abruptly. The makeshift bed of old quilts overlapped, was delivering the sacred energy of the earth quite directly. In other words, tiny stones not yet cleared out were pricking her all over. The loyal sleeping bag, which had valiantly assumed the role of a pillow beyond its origins, was tossed aside for its stench akin to that of a rag. Fienne had to grudgingly admit that was a mistake. "My head hurts..." A confined space. The rag-like stench from the sleeping bag subtly filled the tent. If she was going to discard it, she should have thrown it outside the tent rather than into its corner. Then again, perhaps that would not have made any significant difference. Though the sleeping bag was the worst, every component making up the tent carried an element of that unpleasant stench. Expecting a reversal in the shabby exterior of the tent was unwise. What to do then? Sleep on the bare ground like the others? "Is that even possible...?" Fienne was special. Not because she felt and acted special, which led others to acknowledge it, but because others simply perceived and treated her as such. Since she first recognized that uniqueness, Fienne had lived receiving special treatment. Need a long journey? A mere gesture was sufficient. Merchants leading grand processions would eagerly include Fienne in their ranks. Offering the best seat, the best meals, and the best sleeping arrangements. Feeling gratitude and happiness in just being able to offer Fienne their kindness. That was the life Fienne had enjoyed until now. But sleeping outdoors? It was unimaginable for Fienne. In fact, the entire journey was just that. "Does the cart rattle this much?" "My bottom hurts. Can't I at least have a cushion?" "What do you mean there's no such thing? It's just a cushion!" "What did you say? This is dinner?" "Isn't this horse feed?" "Where can I bathe?" "Why are you asking me that." "You don't bathe?" "Not until we reach the destination?" Adding to this, the dreadful sleeping arrangements that marked the end of the day. "Ah, really!" She furiously tangled her long white hair. "Why do I have to endure this?" It was all because of that man. Even now, thinking about it brought on a wave of indignation. She approached a mere illegitimate child deliberately to seize Bendel and expand her followers, only to find he possessed an unexplainable power that nullifies the force of the true ancestors. This was beyond unfair. In her normal life, such humiliation and treatment were unimaginable. She didn't even want to imagine it. If she could turn back time. If she could, she wouldn't have even approached Risir— that man. No. No, that wouldn’t suffice. She vividly remembered it. The moment of that humiliation. When the power of the true ancestors was nullified. Thinking her power had been completely taken, she abandoned all pride to regain it. She willingly offered her presence, which, despite being coveted by all, had never been granted to anyone. What she received in return was being treated like a child. "What did I do wrong...? Is it that strange to close your eyes and pucker your lips? Isn't that what everyone does? Why should I be treated like a child!!!" Fienne flailed her delicate arms and legs, rolling on the ground. In some circles, this act is defined by the specialized term: "blanket kick." After a violent session of attacking the quilt, Fienne mumbled in frustration. "I really hate him..." She was sincere. She hated his abysmal taste for not recognizing her uniqueness. She hated how he treated her like a child without rhyme or reason. As she recalled Risir’s flaws, a particular memory surfaced in Fienne's mind. The memory of Risir reaching out to help her up, pulling a handkerchief from his chest to wipe away the dust and her tears. "..." Her flickering eyes now held a different kind of emotion. Despite knowing she was a true ancestor, knowing she had lost her true ancestor's power, he wore the same face as before. It was a thought that occasionally troubled Fienne. What if, one day, the power of the true ancestors that came to her suddenly were to disappear just as unexpectedly. Before, she couldn’t even imagine it. But now, when she imagines it, the first person that comes to mind is Risir— that man. And then she finds herself unwittingly thinking— Even if I become someone truly undeserving of any worth, would that person—at least—treat me the same? "Annoying..." That’s why Fienne couldn’t stop thinking about him. Because he was constantly on her mind, she couldn't fall asleep. "…" Then, her gaze shifted outside the tent, and her demeanor changed. From that of a vibrant young girl to a ruthless true ancestor. Fienne slowly got up and exited the tent, heading towards Marek's group and the coachman. They were engaged in a fierce fight near the bonfire. "Ahhh!!! Let go!!!" "Huh- huh- huh-" Z2dKbDJFSCtSbEo3WFlpUEN0eDQxWSt3TEMzV2UrSWpiWU00TVVyTFhsQlZWanAyRFhNQjhVeTZTekZXeitXTg The frenzied way they clutched at each other's bodies was perfectly animalistic. "That inferior being. She's finally gone and caused trouble," Fienne murmured, recalling a figure named Leon. She exuded a chilling aura, quite unlike the girl who had been thinking of a man just moments before. "…" "…" Marek's group had already stopped all actions and were now watching Fienne. "The white girl..." "Guard... Risir's guard..." They began to approach Fienne. Drooling from their mouths. Crawling on all fours. Panting with heating lust. They were nothing short of beasts. Fienne's expression twisted in disdain. She extended her arm. In that moment, as if to be swallowed by an overpowering force no human weak enough to be controlled by a succubus could withstand— "Oh." Fienne retracted her arm with a look of realization. Yet the beast continued, and Marek attacked Fienne. "Female, female...! The pure white girl!!!" With bloodshot eyes, Marek looked down at Fienne, trying to tear her clothes. Fienne gently placed her hand on Marek's head. "...!" The beast's eyes widened— and light returned to them. The girl repeated this process several times. The beasts reverted to humans. The humans returned to their places, again seeking sleep. They wouldn’t remember having become beasts. Nor the things done as beasts. All thanks to the grace of a higher being innately gifted in mental magic. "Hehe..." The true ancestor chuckled contentedly. Returning to her guise as a young girl before she knew it. The girl made her way to where that man stood guard. She was concerned about how he would react when he heard about what had just happened. *** ────────── [Your actions have had an impact] • The target has acquired a new skill. • Target: Fienne • Skill: Mercy of the True Ancestor [Blessing (High)] ────────── ────────── [Your influence has reached a certain level] [A corresponding perk will be provided] ────────── ────────── ■Risir Level: 13 ────────── *** "...What’s happening here?" Fienne arrived at the location where Risir was on watch. She momentarily forgot her original purpose due to the sight that unfurled before her. "That woman there—though it doesn’t look it—is Aaron, for now." The Aaron Fienne remembered was a man hidden behind a thin veneer of deceit, ensnaring humans with dark power. "...A woman?" Yet the figure Risir pointed to was unmistakably female. Even without clothes, the body's outlines and the wary, fearful look toward Risir left no doubt of the gender. "Kyaa...!” Aaron's scream shattered their conversation. It was due to the unpleasant sensation from her fingertips brushing against her chest. "No!!!" Seeing her body, Aaron screamed in agony. "Grotesque—Give me back my body!!! Return my power, you monster!!!" Seeing shades of her past self in Aaron, Fienne spoke in a weary tone. "Don’t tell me, you’ve done something again with that normalization power?" "...I’m not entirely sure, but it seems that’s what happened." Risir explained to Fienne the chain of events including Aaron's true identity. "I suspected something was off, but as a succubus—" Fienne verified Aaron’s appearance once more, tilting her head. "Is she really a succubus?" "She was, indeed." "Past tense?" "But now, as you see, she’s like that. For whatever reason, it looks like she's turned from a succubus to a normal state." "A non-succubus state. What a ridiculous expression." "Then how would you describe it?" "..." Fienne closely observed Aaron once more, then murmured. "Just like an ordinary... human." "No!!! I am, I am—I'm not some ordinary human!!!" "Aaron." Calm and gentle was Risir’s tone. Unconsciously influenced, Aaron ceased her rampage and listened intently to his voice. "Let’s start by getting dressed. You’re no longer an unblemished being formed solely by your will but have become an animal driven by desire, so now you have something to cover." "... Arghhh!!! You crazy person!!! Just when I thought you were making sense—you mean to say I have to listen to this lunatic!!!" Aaron wept plaintively. Fienne found watching her reminiscent of her own past self distasteful. *** Aaron hesitantly donned the coat Risir handed her. Turning from her, Fienne asked Risir, "What do you plan to do?" "What about Aaron? Demon? Criminal? First, should we report to a nearby town's office or an adventurers' guild?" "No!!!" Aaron cried out urgently. "If they find out I was a succubus, they'll try to kill me...!" "Well, you should have behaved better. Why live a life that leads to death?" Risir had already heard about the campsite's events from Fienne. His gaze toward Aaron turned colder than before. "Please, just let me go... I'll do anything..." "..." Risir pondered as he looked at Aaron. How she interpreted his look, Aaron drew herself tighter. As if trying to conceal herself from Risir. "I'll do anything, but nothing dirty!" "...Perplexing. If someone overhears, they might think I came here at night, asking you to do something pleasant. Why suddenly acting coy?" Naked? Doing something pleasant? Fienne muttered from the side, then spoke in a chilly tone. "Shall we just kill her?" "Fienne. What’s got you suddenly angry now?" "Angry? Me? Not at all. I was just stating the obvious. If we hand her over to the city, she'll definitely be executed, right? So, it’s less troublesome to kill her here than taking her to the city." "According to that logic, what if you capture a true ancestor?" "...This again?" "Just joking. You're certainly different from her, Fienne. Despite having great power, you never harmed anyone." "…" Hmph. Fienne snorted, turning her head away. "You're right. Someone like you wouldn't kill an unarmed opponent." "Why are you suddenly in a good mood?" "What are you talking about? Anyway, let me handle this. Aaron, you’re now Rona." "...What do you mean by that?" Aaron—now Rona—looked up at Fienne with a terrified expression. "You just said it, right? You'll do anything if we let you go." "And why is that..." "So, from now on, you are Risir's slave. It’s the most common method for those who have nothing to pay off their debts." "No-..." Rona was unable to refute. "What about my opinion?" "Why would anyone care about your opinion? If you don’t need her, just sell her to someone else." "What—" Risir was stunned by Fienne's words, but when Rona fell silent as though acknowledging the legitimacy of that statement, he couldn’t utter a word. Indeed, becoming a slave was the most common method for those with nothing to settle their debts. "That's terrifying..." "What did I do?" "Not you, Fienne. This world..." "?" *** Huh? Risir, why did Aaron suddenly become a woman? She went from a succubus to a human. By the way, Aaron is mine now. Risir didn’t have the confidence to neatly finish a conversation like that with Marek’s group. In the end, before daybreak, Risir resumed their journey, leaving the group behind. Time passed, and as dawn broke— "Oh, a carriage." A carriage stopped across the road came into their view. It wasn’t a cheap, roofless one led by a simple driver, but a high-end carriage with proper roof and decoration, lacking any emblem of a family or faction. It seemed they were preparing to depart post-encampment, as the surroundings were bustling. Let’s just ask if we can hitch a ride. Risir’s group approached the carriage with light steps. Then, a man emerged from the carriage and approached them with heavy steps. In that moment— Risir and Fienne felt a shiver and stopped in their tracks. The man halted as well. "…" "…" A standoff at roughly twenty steps apart. Risir and Fienne exchanged a look. That was enough. A mutual understanding. Approaching this man any further would be dangerous. Risir prepared to make their purpose known, expecting rejection. "Lord Dares!!!" A voice, urgent, came from inside the carriage at that moment. "The young lady’s condition has improved...!" "...What?" The tense atmosphere relaxed. ────────── [A peculiar presence exists nearby] [You are influenced by the presence] ────────── ────────── [The effectiveness of the status ailment decreases] [Status Ailment: Black Curse] ───────── ───────── [Title: There's a new quest about destiny] Content: How to break the Black Curse < - : Does it really need to be broken? - : Philosophical, huh - : Are you saying the black one is a curse? - : They have dreams too... - : I'm curious, is there a White Blessing? - : Not joking, it does exist - : Damn, sounds like a game - : It’s not much, check [link] -[Author] : Is it really not much? I found a whole dissertation -[Author] : Why the hell are there so many prerequisites -[Author] : It says to bring a level 50+ priest and warlock character simultaneously, 'anyone' -[Author] : Might as well ask for any random Chinese Premier and U.S. President