Dark Fantasy Normalized - Chapter 75



74 – Dark Elf Katria

Keiren was dead.

Therefore, Katria couldn’t look back.

She squeezed her eyes shut and started to run.

This cursed city of cursed humans. Bondales.

The scenery of its back alleys rushed past.

For some reason, the landscape of her homeland, Kehlin, overlapped it.

It was tiresome.

And yet, she missed it.

That thought suddenly struck her.

Why was she even here?

How had things turned out like this?

Her younger brother, who vanished one day without a trace.

And the lighthearted letter he’d sent.

It was supposed to be the start of a journey, exciting and full of joy—

but now, at the end of that journey, she had nothing left.

Her precious brother and the respected Keiren.

And even her original self.

“Ah…!”

Then, the surrounding scenery and her thoughts came to a halt.

Something had tripped her, making her fall.

Thud.

And then, something slashed at her ankle.

“Kyaaah!!!”

The dark elf’s piercing scream filled the filthy back alley of the humans.

Katria scrambled on the ground and flipped herself over.

That was how she saw the face of her attacker.

“…!”

Contrary to expectation, standing there was not a human, but a dark elf.

They extended swords, not hands, toward the fallen Katria, and spoke.

“Lady. Hand over the hands of Verbandes.”

Katria realized.

Why she was here.

How she’d ended up like this.

…How foolish she’d been, blindly hating humans.

***

[Title: Questions while grinding the Katria dark elf fate quest]

Content: So why the hell did her brother leave the nice Kehlin to go to the human world?

He didn’t do it to become a slave after realizing his identity, did he?

– : His girlfriend seduced him.

-[OP]: “Ugh… I get so turned on when you’re collared and chained and whipped…” did he hear something like that?

– : You son of a b*tch

– : He heard, “Ah~ I get so turned on when you help me release demons~” apparently. ㅇㅇ

– : The demon worshipper Kelara approached him to release the demon that the Sahila family sealed.

-[OP]: What does making her a slave have to do with releasing a demon?

Do demons get a power boost from seeing male dark elf slaves?

Fucking terrible review

– : To explain simply

Demon seal ＜ this surprisingly requires maintenance.

Katria is in charge of that maintenance.

=Katria’s mind is linked to the seal.

-[OP]: Ah, fuck, lmao

-[OP]: Don’t tell me that?

-[OP]: Katria’s mind breaks = demon seal breaks

So they kidnapped her brother to fuck with her?

– : Yeah, and also to retrieve the demon seal stone Part.2 that her brother has.

-[OP]: Wait, is that why Katria has been targeted by humans so much?

– : Yeah, about half of that was the work of those demon-worshipping goons.

– [Author] : About half?

– : Kella’s like, “Huh? Those guys aren’t my minions?”

– : Just a total fucking mess

***

[Title: Wow, this fate quest is seriously absurd]

Content: [The one you killed was actually an innocent victim lol] felt kinda old news, but then

they just dumped a triple shot of pure capsaicin on top of it

[The one you killed was actually an innocent victim lol You helped the b*stard who ruined their life lol Now, that b*stard you helped is gonna go kill tons of people lol You’re screwed lol lol] is seriously going too far

If you sold “I’m dead donkatsu” like this, it’d be “The boss is dead” for real

– : They had to show Katria’s final moments, which I had totally forgotten about, when I entered the Kehlin area?! Seriously, that’s insane.

– : “Thank you. Because you killed my escort knight Kaylen, I could kidnap Katria alone without losses, torture her, then unleash a demon and fuck up Kehlin ooo”

– [Author] : Wait, what the fuck? Aren’t those crazy dark punks just attacking innocent people?

– : Innocent people = the slavers who picked up someone’s little sibling and sold them off in the black market cause they were so happy to do it, and the scumbags who drugged them, played with them, then threw them away.

– : Crazy dark punk = just got revenge on the guys who messed with their sibling

– [Author] : KREEaaaK

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It was like a cloud covering the sky.

A yellow cloud made of sandstorm swallowed Kehlin.

And then a bolt of thunder.

A roar echoed through the entire city on the back of the storm.

-Kneel before the mountain of sand that blocks the sun, you worms.

-The true master of this desert has returned.

The sand and chaos left behind by the storm covered the whole city.

The desert night had arrived.

[Area: Kehlin]

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“Ugh.”

Lishir frowned.

From noble mtl dot com

Melthas looked at him with concern.

“What’s the matter, Rishir!”

“It’s… a bit noisy.”

“Is that the voice of a demon!? That’s terrible. I warn you, never listen to their voices! That existence… it’s not something a mere mortal body can withstand. If you’re careless, you’ll be consumed by madness! Also, it will try to deceive you by any means! So, absolutely! When you talk to it, consult with me first! Tell me what was said, and let’s discuss how to deal with it!”

“That’s a huge problem. So, can I tell you everything that it’s said to me so far, Meltaas?”

“Listen!”

-Can you hear me!? Finally!? My voice!?

“Hm?”

-Good! You insignificant worm! Bow your head before the sand mountain that obscures the sun. Answer the call of your new master!

“Hm…!”

-Did I not say answer! Hurry!!!

“Hm?”

-If you don’t answer me right now, I’ll have you eternally eaten away by the sand winds!

-You will experience the pain of your skin and entrails wearing away while you’re still alive!

“Hm…!”

-…Fine! Then just listen!

“Hm?”

-Release me from here right now!

-If you don’t, everything you love will be buried and eroded by the sand!

“Hm…!”

-No, no! I misspoke!

“Hm?”

-If you release me, I will bestow upon you infinite power and glory!

-Hurry!

-Please!!!

-Kaaahhh!!!

-You damned worm!!!

-What the hell are you doing to me!!!

-Stop- please stop!!!

“…”

“That’s the conversation I just had. Surely, showing such weakness is just an attempt to trick me, right?”

“…Poor thing.”

“What?! Has that thing already done something to him?!”

“Not you, the demon.”

“?”

“Another name for demons is deceiver. They feel immense joy in toying with mortals as they please.”

“So, you’re saying it’s all an act?”

“At the same time, they are incredibly arrogant beings. Even when faced with imminent annihilation, they would never bow their heads to mortals.”

“Huh? Then what about this guy?”

“Hmm…”

Meltas fell into thought.

“I suspect it’s because of your power—the power of normalization.”

“Are you saying my purification power is inflicting a pain so great that even an arrogant demon is forced to bow its head—are you saying that?”

“It’s unheard of.”

“I knew it, right?”

“But you’re a Risher.”

“?”

“So, I’ll just say it’s entirely possible.”

“What on earth do you think I am?”

“I think you’re a Risher. Sadly, no stronger expression comes to mind.”

With that, Meltas became lost in thought.

A demon strong enough to have a name, trapped inside a human body and suffering instead.

As already stated, the three letters, ‘Risher,’ were enough to explain the situation.

But, conversely, without the three letters ‘Risher,’ the situation couldn’t be explained either.

Meltas, as a scholar, tried his best to draw a reasonable conclusion.

“Perhaps the contents of the documents were exaggerated.”

“The documents?”

“It happens sometimes. There are cases where accomplishments are exaggerated to elevate a family’s prestige.”

“Ah! I understand. A powerful demon who ruled the desert for centuries. Just hearing about it, it sounds like it controlled an entire city, but in reality, it might just be a mischievous brat who claimed a hill and stopped people from passing through!”

“Indeed. A blind spot in the records, you could say.”

The two looked at each other and nodded in satisfaction.

– Rishir!

– Rishir!?

– RISHIR!!!

– …Rishir!!!

Escaping the barbaric thought patterns of a primitive language system, I pursued rational thinking, and a sweet feeling of being an intellectual washed over me.

“Anyway, what in the world is going on here?”

Then. Maid Tia, sleeping on the sofa, stirred.

“An evil spirit that should be in the far south desert, why is it inside your body? This situation can’t be explained, not even by the three letters ‘Rishir.’ Do you have any idea why?”

“Hmm… Shall we ask the person in question?”

The person in question.

Rishir was referring to Verbandes.

But, there was another person in question who reacted to those words—

“…I can explain.”

“Hm?”

A third party’s voice cut in.

Maid Tia, who had regained her senses, was looking at them.

“Oh, Tia. You’re awake. Are you alright?”

“…”

***

Catria staggered towards Rishir.

Just as she was about to gently touch Rishir’s face—

“…!”

She was startled, quickly pulling her hand back.

As if she couldn’t accept that her filth was touching Rishir, a precious treasure.

Catria’s expression as she looked at Rishir was very complex.

Within the narrow canvas of her expression, numerous emotions were violently intermingling.

“Are you alright? Speaking of which, you yourself-“

“Huh?”

“Are you… are you really alright…?”

No. I feel a little bloated.

Guess I ate too many of those Didoa brand sandwiches earlier.

But, hey, I kept her smile, so I’m satisfied.

Rishir almost blurted out some nonsense, a habit of his, but saw Katria’s expression and his face turned serious.

He carefully considered her intent, then answered cautiously.

“Yeah. I don’t know what you’re worried about, but, as far as I feel, I’m fine right now.”

“…”

Katria’s refined face twisted in different ways, moment by moment.

It looked like she was holding back tears, and at the same time, holding back laughter.

Her trembling lips twitched repeatedly.

Thank you.

I’m sorry.

Which of the two should she say?

“…I did it.”

That was Katria’s choice.

She revealed everything she had done to Rishir.

Feeding him the tainted truth.

Feeding him the four-hundred-lotus.

Possessing him with a demon.

And that was all.

How they were treated in the human world, what they had endured.

And what kind of prejudice it instilled in her towards humans.

How she applied that prejudice to Rishir and misunderstood him.

What efforts she made to correct the mistake born from her misunderstanding.

Katria didn’t even mention what could be called her inner workings.

“…Why?”

“Does that matter?”

Katria responded to Rishir’s question with a brazen smile.

‘He’s safe…’

Shamelessly, she didn’t intend to ask for more.

Because she didn’t want to interfere with his ensuing scorn.

“Intent, reason—what does any of it mean? In the end, all that remains is the result. And the result is, I tried to hurt you.”

“…”

“So, what are you going to do now?”

Katria thought she was looking forward to it.

For him to cast her a look of contempt—

To slap her cheek and point a finger—

To demand she pay for her crimes and shackle her in chains—

She thought she was purely satisfied with her current position, where she could pay for her sins.

However, the reality was different.

She was actually terrified of his contemptuous gaze.

Terrified of being remembered as a horrible person in his memory.

If her heart had its way, she would employ any and all means to fix her relationship with him.

“What is it. Are you just going to stand there? Just like when you were caught off guard by me, not knowing anything?”

Yet, outwardly, she wore a deceitful smile, provoking his contempt.

It was a sort of defense mechanism stemming from the thought that being forgiven by him was absolutely impossible.

And so, Katria, resigned, waited for Ryshir’s coming humiliation.

***

The past few days.

While Katria was busy saving Ryshir from the mage tower, Kairyn, the leader of the Moonshadow Knights, was searching through Bondales with the slaver, Leysha, in order to uncover the truth behind the incident.

“It’s here…”

“The mansion’s courtyard?”

“Yes… When I came out in the morning, Lord Drian was here… Unconscious…”

The circumstances thus far.

It’s certain.

This incident isn’t just the result of Sahila’s third son, Drian’s, deviation.

There must have been a third party with impure intentions involved.

Kairyn secured one clue after another, with the cooperation of the slaver Leysha.

Then one day.

A letter arrived at Leysha’s mansion.

-If you want to save Drian, go to the location listed.

It was an abandoned house, tucked away in a back alley.

In the basement of that derelict place, a dark elf shrouded in a robe greeted Kayren.

Kayren knew her.

A woman named Kella. She was the daughter of a high-ranking Sahila noble family, the one with whom the third son, Drian, often consorted.

…Or so it seemed.

His intuition was screaming a warning.

‘That thing’ wasn’t Kella.

An ominous energy, beyond even his 7th circle mastery, filled the space.

Kella’s vermilion lips stretched into a sneer.

It was a disturbing smile, like an imitation of a human one.

“Congratulations. You’ve successfully retrieved Drian.”

“…”

It was an irritating way to phrase it.

Now, it was certain she was the source of it all.

Kayren wanted to slit her throat right then and there.

But, that unknown power felt unsettling.

That unknowable composure felt unsettling.

As if interpreting Kayren’s mood, Kella’s smile deepened.

“You’re wise. If you kill me now, you won’t be able to save the two Sahila you serve.”

Two Sahila.

It meant not only Drian, but Katria was also touched by that foul hand.

“Do you see this?”

Kella pulled back the sleeve of her robe, revealing a topaz bracelet on her wrist.

It was the Sahila treasure, the Eye of Verbandes, which the third son, Drian, had taken from the vault before leaving Kehllin.

If Verbandes’ Hand was a prison for demons, then the Eye of Verbandes was an artifact that acted as the key, another prison to contain that prison.

“…!”

Kayren’s eyes widened as he examined the state of the Eye of Verbandes.

The topaz was cloudy. So opaque you couldn’t see through it.

It meant that Katria’s mental state, as she bore the seal, was nearing its limit.

“Even after getting Drian back, seeing this, I guess you figured it out. That Drian’s condition isn’t normal.”

“What have you done to my young master?”

“Well now?”

Kela held back a sinister laugh.

“Let’s just say, he won’t be regaining consciousness until *I* allow it.”

***

A guest chamber in the Mage Tower, prepared for esteemed visitors.

There, a dark elf who had been sleeping for days on end awoke.

He propped himself up, stretching with all his might.

“Ughh~”

A truly sweet sleep.

Drian, regaining his senses in an unfamiliar place, was simply in a good mood.

***

“If you fail to rescue Drian, the esteemed Lady Sahila, envied by all dark elves, will cross a river from which there is no return.”

Kela spoke, deliberately making eye contact with Verbandes.

“So, Keiren. Surely the Knight Commander of the Nightshadow Knights will readily agree to my request, wouldn’t you?”

A moment before Keiren’s expression could shatter from the blatant mockery hidden beneath the veneer of courtesy…

“?”

Keiren’s expression, while looking into Verbandes’s eyes, turned peculiar.

Kela, wondering what was wrong, checked Verbandes’s eyes herself.

“?”

Sparkling.

As if the previous turbid appearance was a lie, a perfectly clear topaz regained its brilliance, shining in the darkness.

At this very moment.

Katria’s heart found complete peace.

Neither of them knew why.

***

Finally, Lishir opened her mouth.

And, Katria couldn’t believe her ears.

“What did you just say…”

She let out an involuntary chuckle.

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▷DESTINY 17 : Loathsome Race – Deactivated.

Special benefits awarded.

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