29 - Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

**Dark Fantasy Normalization - Chapter 29** "What nonsense is this?" Risir chuckled sardonically at Fienne's suggestion. But then, with a faint "Hmm?" he found himself lost in thought. "Could it possibly not be a bad idea?" "...Pardon?" Fienne, who had been watching Risir with a brazen expression like she had just made a terrible joke, showed signs of embarrassment. "Are you serious? You actually want to share a room with me?" "To save money, right?" "..." The lack of self-awareness was overwhelming. Fienne's reaction was ambiguous, despite the expected answer having been given. In the meantime, Risir's gaze shifted to Rona. "So, about the room... Oh, hold on. What do we do with Rona? What do people usually do with slaves in this situation? Should we leave her in the stable?" "...The stable?" Risir paused for a few seconds, observing Rona's reaction before responding. "Of course, I'm just joking." "If that was a joke, what was with the awkward silence?" "I was just wondering what other slave owners might do. I've never raised a slave before." "Raised...? I'm not a dog! What are you—" "If the situation were reversed, what would you have done, Rona?" "...If I were the owner, I think I'd have rented another room!" "Aha. And then you'd add that to her debt and exploit her even more ruthlessly? A mix of reward and punishment? I get the idea." "...I really shouldn't have gotten that idea." Ahem. Fienne cleared her throat, interjecting. "Rona's got a point. Sharing a room with a slave is outlandish. Let's do as Rona suggested and get her a separate room." Fienne spoke as if she were simply following Rona's advice. "Hmm? So what happened to the plan of saving on lodging by sticking together?" "..." Fienne coyly avoided Risir's gaze, maintaining her brazen expression. "Looks like there's no choice. Rona, you'll have to sleep in the stable tonight." "..." Rona's expression twisted. When Risir joked about it, it seemed like a jest, but when she said it, it felt unsettlingly sincere. "Come on, Fienne. Don't be like that. Rona's been working hard. Honestly, I saw a new side to her. I didn't expect her to put in so much effort. Rona deserves to sleep in a good inn like us." Risir patted Rona’s back nonchalantly, leaving her with mixed feelings as her shirt clung to her with sweat. "Eek...!" Rona recoiled, covering herself with her arms, distancing from Risir. "J-just to be clear! If you're expecting anything weird from me, forget it— I'm not into that sort of thing!" "Rona. Or rather, Eron. Who doesn't know that by now? Besides, just in case you forget, Rona, being rejected after trying to seduce me in your birthday suit doesn't change anything." "That's...!" "Enough. Let’s stop bickering and head inside. We’re all tired, right? Let's rent a room and freshen up. They say each room has its own bathroom. Wow. This is even better than the rooms I stayed in at the mansion. Funny how things work out for an illegitimate child." Risir entered the inn with a light step. "..." "..." Fienne and Rona simply watched his departing figure. They should have achieved their initial purpose, but... Why this indescribable sense of humiliation? Ultimately, the two women decided on separate rooms. "Really? Yeah, it was strange anyway. Three men and women sharing a room. Do what's comfortable. It’s on the house today since the bastard's gone mad." They shivered once more at Risir's nonchalant acceptance, lacking any sense of regret. *** "Wait! Rona! Fienne! I've changed my mind! Spend the night with me in the same bed!" I almost shouted those words as I paid the room fees. Despite expecting a certain level of expense due to the inn's apparent luxury, the actual fee exceeded all my expectations. The purse I had painstakingly filled over the year with various odd jobs during my independence as an illegitimate child was enlightening me about the virtue of non-possession. The purse was light. My heart was heavy. And it wasn’t just the room’s fee that was the issue. After bathing, I had dinner with Fienne and Rona at a nearby restaurant, only to find that cost substantial as well. Moreover, the disappointing quality of the meal despite its high price left me even more agitated. Near the two-week mark of my independence, this was a sobering revelation of what living independently really meant. "Just breathing seems to cost money..." Alas, I realized late why illegitimate children clung so desperately to their status. While living as Bendel's illegitimate child, residing comfortably in a mansion at the city's heart seemed natural, enjoying everything related to it (albeit with restrictions)—I had been unaware. The city life itself was an immense privilege. It was worth enduring the stigma of being an illegitimate child to preserve it. I pondered. How much money would I need to maintain the quality of life I had experienced in Bendel here in Bondales? "Ugh—" Severe dizziness gripped me from the lack of external funding. The realization was that the money I saved as an illegitimate child wouldn’t last even a week. Was my earning capacity too insignificant, or did Bondales, a highly commercialized metropolis, simply have exorbitant prices? Likely both. At this rate, I might be forced to move to the city outskirts. My life's genre would shift from Fantasy World (Hope Edition) to Fantasy World (Despair Edition). The innkeeper in such a place would likely stare at me like I was insane if I asked where the bath was. If I inquired about the ingredients in the stew, I'd be regarded as insane again. And if I complained about the smell or the presence of rats and bugs in the room, I'd get the same look. Such an environment was intolerable for someone with my modern sensibilities and refined tastes. Of course, even if I could endure it, I had no intention of living such a life. My departure wasn't simply an act of escape. A better life. If my goal was merely to escape the contempt directed at an illegitimate child, I wouldn't have left the family in the first place. I wanted a life that was better. Better than the life I led as Bendel's illegitimate offspring. Better than the lives of those who looked down upon me in Bendel. If possible, even better than the life I had in my previous modern world. Most importantly, I now possessed the means to achieve that. The power of purification and magic. After finishing the meal and returning to the inn, I sat on the bed and calmed my breathing. Clearing my mind, preparing to focus. An upscale inn complete with a private bathroom and fine dining. Today's extravagance wasn’t just to commemorate the start of life in a new city. From Hayen to Bondales. For the first time, I experienced a long journey. It was far more arduous than I had anticipated. Though I tried to squeeze in magic training intermittently, my focus constantly wavered. Such regrets. Thus, all of this was to alleviate that regret. Resting perfectly, flawless condition, I plan to consolidate all the realizations and accomplishments gained from this journey. 'Originally, I should rest properly and sleep; however—' For some reason, even that seems a waste now. It's because I would have to leave this inn tomorrow morning. 'Money leaves you just by breathing.' The moderate anxiety I currently feel proved to be an excellent stimulus. "..." As I organized my thoughts, my breathing stabilized significantly. With that, I immediately rid myself of all distractions. Concentrate. Focus on the magic coursing through my body. On its flow. On the sensation of feeling that flow. How should I describe this state? Setting up? Anyhow, preparation was complete. "Alright." The first thing I did was take out a coin from my pocket. A lucky coin. I intended to replicate it. According to Fienne’s explanation, it was a part of enchantment, a magic that attributes certain properties to objects. —A technique one certainly wouldn’t expect to be handled at the mere third rank. At the time, Fienne was incredulous and demandingly asked for an explanation. How did I manage to do it? I wish I knew. How did I even do it? It was a product of my subconscious. The purpose of this replication is to bring that technique from the realm of the subconscious into the conscious realm. Complete mastery through systemization. "Ha." A chuckle involuntarily escaped. Systemization, indeed. Pulling out such a grand term, it's laughable indeed. Where is the systemization in locking myself in a room, devoid of expert guidance or reference materials, relying solely on intuition to haphazardly play with magical senses? Imagine traditional magicians, if they knew, shaking their beards in anger. That's not magic! they'd declare. But what choice do I have? How could an illegitimate child like me have a mentor or reference books for magic? —My disciple~ —I am a book. "..." For a moment, I thought I heard a strange voice, but it must have been my imagination. I rolled the coin around in my hand for a while. Recollecting the sensations felt in the carriage. That excessively methodical action didn’t disappoint me. "There it is." A sudden flash of feeling struck. I didn’t let go of that sensation. I held onto it. Even as the sky outside the window changed color and I felt something trickling down from my nose. *** Early morning. Upon waking, Fienne stared absentmindedly at the ceiling and thought. Wouldn't he come to wake me if I just lay here quietly? And, seeing me asleep, what if he gets strange ideas? "Shameless..." Mumbling to herself, Fienne squirmed deeper into the covers. However, the disaster(?) didn't unfold even after waiting for a long time. Eventually, she reluctantly got out of bed and headed to Risir's room. "Risir. We should get going soon, right? When are you coming out?" No answer came from beyond the door. "Risir? Why aren't you answering? I'm coming in, alright?" Upon entering Risir's room, Fienne was confronted with an unusual sight. "Risir!?" Risir's jawline. His shirt. Pants. The bed. All soaked in blood. Fienne’s small body jumped in shock. She quickly approached Risir. "Risir. Risir! Are you okay!?" Risir did not answer. He could not answer. He was concentrating all his nerves trying to seize the flickering sensation before his eyes. "...Whew." After scrutinizing Risir’s condition with a grave expression, a sigh of relief escaped Fienne’s lips. Her face then contorted in frustration. "Honestly. You’re hopeless." With a hint of exasperation in her voice, she reached out toward him. Fienne's power wrapped gently around Risir. His complexion visibly brightened. She stood there silently, observing his state from nearby. *** How much time had passed since then? "It's done. Oh? Fienne?" Exiting his state of concentration, Risir noticed Fienne standing in front of him. She was looking down on him, arms crossed. "Did you sleep well?" She asked in a sarcastic tone, a smirk playing on her lips. "Am I still dreaming? Seeing an angel means it must be." “Seems like you had a good rest. You’re spouting nonsense as naturally as breathing. So—care to explain what’s happening here?" "...I initially intended to master enchantment, but then had a great idea and went overboard." "A great idea?" Fienne noticed belatedly. Countless coins scattered around Risir. Realizing each of them was no ordinary coin, a sound of astonishment escaped from Fienne’s lips. *** A woman with half her face grotesquely decayed appeared. Awakened by the sunlight streaming in through the window, she started her day by frowning deeply. It was as if she was preemptively bracing herself for the dreadful experiences the day might unfold for her. The woman rose from the bed and immediately reached for her hand mirror. In her other hand, she clasped a soft cloth. This was the first part of her morning routine. Wiping away the fluid that had accumulated on her face overnight. Her expression was a blend of resignation and weariness. "Sigh." She let out a deep sigh before reflecting her face in the hand mirror. Just as she was about to bring the cloth to her face— "...?" Her hand froze. She stayed motionless in that position for quite some time. From beyond the door, the voice of another person drifted in. "Risir? Why aren't you answering? I'm coming in, alright?" It was nothing that concerned her.