28 - Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

**Dark Fantasy Chapter 28: Burying in Books - Web Novel Archives** "First things first. Let's continue our conversation in the carriage. Haven't we already wasted enough of your precious time?" "Ah, then, I'll accept your kind offer—" "Wait a moment, Sir Dares? May I have a word with Risir alone?" "There's no reason why not. Feel free to have your conversation." "Fienne?" No more words—just follow me. She took hold of Risir's sleeve and led him away, guiding him beneath a tree far from the carriage. "Fienne, what's the matter?" "Just covering all bases. I need to ask—are you really satisfied with just getting a lift in their carriage?" "...Satisfied with a lift? Isn't that enough?" "Ha, I knew it." With an air of exasperation, Fienne let out a deliberate sigh. "Hey, you fool." "Yes, ma'am." "Why don't you recount what you just did?" "What I did? Helping to suppress the dark wizard?" Whish! Her finger shot toward Risir like she was pointing directly at him. "Nope. What you did wasn't just 'helping' with the suppression of the dark wizard." "If Fienne says so, I guess that's how it is?" "Ugh! Just listen! You didn't just help suppress the dark wizard; you 'led' the suppression. Actually, that's understating it. You practically did it alone." "..." Risir sheepishly scratched the back of his head—whish! Once again, she pointed her finger at him. "But that reaction! I know what it is. Shall I say what it is?" "Let's hear it." "Oh, it's no big deal—" She exaggeratedly mimicked Risir's tone of voice for added effect. "Is this Fienne’s servant? Am I under her mind control and just don't know it?" "Ahem. You’re so dense. I could read your thoughts without any of that nonsense, you know?" "Living right inside my heart, are you?" "Don’t say such creepy things. I’d never live in such a grotesque place, not even for a moment." Although her words were dismissive and her expression showed clear distaste, something in her tone sounded upbeat. "I guess I have no choice. Since you're so clueless, I'll—spell out what you've done." First, she raised a slender finger. "You found the dark wizard hiding among them." Second, she raised her middle finger. "And, you protected them from that dark wizard. After capturing the dark wizard, you handed over their identity to them." Tap! Tap! Her fingertip touched Risir's arm. "Do you know what's crucial here?" "Saving those people's lives...?" "Nope. That's something anyone with power could do. Your mentor would have done the same if he were here. But finding the hidden dark wizard? Disrupting the wizard's spells and curses?" Tap! "You heard what that healer said, right? Despite using all sorts of strategies over the past few months, they couldn't make any progress. What does this mean?" Tap! "It's something only you could do. In other words, you have set them an immeasurable debt." "…" In truth, Risir was well aware of just how special his abilities were. The aid they provided these people was extraordinary. And yet, he couldn’t openly express it— Because it was a power he simply came into possession of. Calling it innate might fit better, but to Risir, it felt like a free gift. He was a bastard who had spent his whole life struggling to acquire what he was not born with. No matter how much he tried and sacrificed, recognition was elusive. Yet related to this power, even his slightest efforts were met with overwhelming acknowledgment. Risir compared the feeling it invoked to— Like when solving basic math problems, people around him screamed in awe. Or like when offering a simple cup of vending machine coffee, they responded with tearful gratitude. To take pride in this felt petty, as if he’d become an unworthy person incapable of shaking off such feelings. Fortunately, this was an ideal opportunity. Seizing it, he requested advice from Fienne about his struggles. Fienne was someone who had enjoyed 'innate uniqueness' far longer than Risir ever had. "You're agonizing over something like that—hmm, that's so typical of you." Fienne chuckled lightly. What she said next was so straightforward it shattered complexity entirely. "Don't overthink it—just enjoy." "Enjoy it?" "If special beings like us can't embrace the uniqueness we’re born with, who will?" "…" "Even the dim-witted nobles flaunt their supposed uniqueness." As Fienne spoke, her demeanor shifted to that of pure lineage, a being that oversees those below. "I guarantee, we're many times more special than nobles. No, what they claim as ‘special’ is an illusion, whereas the uniqueness we’re born with is genuine. So, enjoy it with confidence. Those of us who are special should grow accustomed to receiving special treatment from others." Risir contemplated if he had chosen the wrong person to seek advice from. This seemed more like indulging born uniqueness rather than merely embracing it. Yet it was exactly for that reason that it was helpful. She removed all space for complexity to linger. Rona, listening nearby, nodded in agreement. "I think I understand what she's saying." "Huh?" Fienne blinked at her, a truly astonished look passing over her face. 'How on earth do you know that?' "..." Feeling somewhat slighted, Rona retreated to a corner to sulk. Risir gathered his thoughts. Fienne allowed him a moment before speaking again. "Well, then. You understand what I mean, right?" "I understand, but... sigh..." "That's about right. What can one expect from someone as ordinary as you?" "Didn't you just say I was special?" "According to my standards. Well, anyway, don't worry too much? I’m here with you, aren’t I?" What is she planning? Unable to hold back, Risir commented on Fienne's unabashedly self-assured demeanor. "It's all predetermined, isn't it? I'm simply claiming your rights on your behalf because you, who are ordinary, feeble, pathetic, and incapable of doing anything without me, need it? It's a crucial task. Just consider the value of the 'relic' you gave up for them—" "Fienne. For the record, it wasn't a real relic, just something I made up temporarily." "I had a feeling that was the case. I'm not even surprised anymore." "...You had a feeling? Weren't you just talking about the value of the relic?" "It doesn't matter what we gave them. What's important is what they received from us." "...!" Risir experienced a moment of profound realization. 'Her way of thinking is different!' *** Inside the moving carriage. As Todina and Dares engaged in light conversation with Risir and Fienne, the atmosphere grew warm. Fienne casually brought up a topic. "By the way, Risir, what happened to that thing?" "That thing?" "You know, your lucky coin." "Ah, the lucky coin—" Although Risir replied somewhat awkwardly, they didn't notice. "..." "..." "..." YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0VzM1SkJ1eW1wTXlFenVSdTJDQVRWTmNvNHQvcVZCaUpQTTdiNFhiZ3Rzbw "..." The mood among the Dares group turned heavy. Thanks to Fienne’s words, they couldn’t help but recall the destruction of the lucky coin by the dark wizard Gusra. And the value contained within that lucky coin. "It's fine. No need to worry." "How can you say that? It was such an important item." "An important item?" Taken aback, Todina inquired. Fienne responded with a cheerful smile. "Yes. Actually, that lucky coin was a gift from Risir's mentor." It wasn't a lie. Part of Risir's travel funds was indeed supported by Pamon. "Risir...! To sacrifice such a precious item for our sake—" Todina’s eyes brimmed with a blend of gratitude and guilt. "Dares told me. My illness improved thanks to that coin, didn't he, Dares?" Dares nodded. With a sincere demeanor, he addressed Risir. "Risir, as I said before, thank you very much. I swear an oath in the name of Durayeg and my magic to repay this favor." Todina mirrored Dares’s sentiment. Their reaction reminded Risir of Fienne's earlier words. -'Do you know how capricious nobility can be?' They profess that honor and pride are of utmost importance, yet when disadvantaged, they easily discard both. Especially when dealing with those of lower status, this nature is glaring. Therefore, when discussing agreements with nobles involving vested interests, clear evidence of those agreements was essential. Risir and Fienne exchanged glances. -'It's concerning how they don't mention anything apart from giving us a ride.' In observing the reactions of the Dares couple, they realized they weren’t like the regrettable ones who changed their words following the whims of situations. "By the way—Risir, what brings you to Bondales?" At that moment, Dares earnestly inquired. "I'm hoping to broaden my magical knowledge. Additionally, I’m looking for new opportunities." "Opportunities? You mean employment?" "Yes. I don't have any foundations at the moment, so I suppose it’s about finding a place to settle down, establishing a base, and then gradually expanding my magical insight. After all, I got into magic to find a way to make a living—" "...Ha! You started practicing magic to make a living." "Is that too light-hearted?" "Not at all! How could a matter of livelihood and future be taken lightly?" Listening to Risir's story seemed to evoke a memory for Dares, who immediately retrieved a notebook and pen from his pocket. Pressing the notepad against the carriage wall, he began to write. Scribble. Dares tore a page from the notebook and handed it to Risir. "What's this?" "Although inviting you to the family estate to formally express our gratitude would be more appropriate, any carriage reaching the family estate is bound to cause an uproar. After all, a dark wizard intervened in a significant event like a marriage between two houses. If involved, you might find yourself detained for a considerable time, possibly over a month. Even if you were treated as a guest." To Risir's understanding, the Durayeg territory was remote from Bondales. "Indeed, that could be problematic." "So, for now, we'll express our gratitude in this simplified form." His apologetic demeanor and mention of it being a 'simplified' show of gratitude led Risir and Fienne to lower any expectations. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the worst-case scenario. If a noble of Dares's stature had wholly refused to acknowledge them, Risir and Fienne would have had no recourse. Choosing to see merit in simply receiving any acknowledgment, the two looked over the contents of the document. "The Codal Merchant Guild specializes in magical items in Bondales. Present this when you visit Codal, and you will receive tangible goods matching the specified amount." The content was straightforward. But the amount— 'Is this for real?' Risir's jaw dropped. 'Yes, this is the kind of sincerity we should expect.' In contrast, Fienne nodded in satisfaction. At that moment, Fienne's gaze lingered elsewhere. "..." To Topin, who remained silent, staring out the window since they had boarded the carriage. In truth, Topin was Fienne’s real target. She hadn’t forgotten how this self-important noble had dismissed Risir as a bastard. A mischievous grin formed on Fienne's lips. Deliberately, she read aloud the details of the document. In doing so, she praised the generosity of Durayeg and pricked Topin’s pride. While Durayeg properly expressed gratitude, what was a certain someone else doing— "...!" Topin flinched involuntarily. His gaze slowly turned toward Risir and then dropped at an angle. "It seems I... owe you a debt... I must express my gratitude..." The stern nobleman's face flushed a deep red, almost bursting. Fienne watched his reaction with the delight of reclaiming her honor, taking note of Risir's response. Risir seemed amused, observing Fienne's antics with a bemused expression. "...!" Fienne quickly put on a composed face and turned away from him. She didn't forget to add a dismissive snort for good measure. *** Several days after the journey began, having veered far from their original destination, Dares's carriage insisted on taking them right to the outskirts of Bondales. "Risir. I look forward to the day we meet again." "May you stay well, Risir." "...Ahem. Stay safe." After parting with Dares's group, we immediately set about entering Bondales. The checkpoint at the gate was part of an overwhelming line that seemed to weigh heavily on everyone's chests, filling them with impatience. The endless wait. At its end was Bondales, awash in the hues of the setting sun. We didn't have the luxury to linger and enjoy the sight. "Bath..." "Heave... heave..." Fienne, her shoulders drooping, and Rona, melting into her sweat, looked at me with desperation. Alright, let's first shake off the travel fatigue. We set out to find a place to stay. "Let's go there." Maybe she was excited at the prospect of a decent bed for the first time in a while. Fienne pointed to an inn with a somewhat excited demeanor. She'd managed to single out what seemed to be the most upscale inn in the vicinity. "With enough money to stay a night there, we could stay two nights at a less expensive inn. And with money for two nights at a nice inn, we could—" "Ah, enough already." Fienne interrupted, visibly annoyed. She seemed to sulk for a moment, then— "Risir, then how about this?" "Hmm?" "I thought of a way to save on lodging costs." "What is it?" "You mentioned it, didn’t you? Wouldn't one night there equal two at a slightly lower-tier inn?" "I did." "Based on what you said, I came up with an idea: let's rent just one room and share it. That would cut the cost in half, wouldn't it?" Speaking as if she'd come up with an incredible plan, Fienne subtly avoided meeting my gaze.