Dark Fantasy Normalized - Chapter 76



75 – Dark Elf Katria (2)

“…”

“…”

An uneasy silence filled the basement.

Even the ominous energy that saturated the place seemed to awkwardly watch the tension.

The demon follower, Kella, who had cornered the Lady.

The knight commander, Kaylen, who sought to protect the Lady.

In the midst of their fierce standoff, something that should absolutely not have happened, had happened.

The Lady’s resurrection.

The Lady’s spirit was enjoying a triumphant and complete resurrection, causing the demon follower who had confidently used it as a threat, and the knight commander who had felt threatened by the same threat and burned with hatred, to suddenly look foolish.

The topaz that formed Verbandes’ eyes gleamed without a trace of awareness.

Of course, they were not ordinary.

They quickly regained their composure and once again created a suffocating tension.

Even the ominous energy filling the place seemed to amplify its presence, adding to the tension.

Thwack!

It was a sudden strike that unfolded just like that.

Like sand flowing from the top of a sand dune to the bottom.

The drawn blade lodged itself into the demon follower’s body. The whole process was contained within a single flow.

Before they knew it, the Nightshade Knight Commander was right in front of the demon follower, pressing down on her.

He had plunged a uniquely shaped dagger into her side.

It was already a fatal blow, and with just a little more force, it could rip through her lungs and lead to her annihilation.

Some call the Nightshade Knights by the derogatory name, assassins.

As an expression of awe and resentment towards the unreasonable movements created by their vision.

The form of death, completed without sound or commotion, was simply dry.

The Nightshade Knights’ vision, Sand Stride, had been unleashed.

“…!”

The demon follower had become a being mostly free from the shackles of flesh.

Bodily harm and the pain it brought held little meaning for her.

Yet, her expression held a distinct hint of bewilderment.

A lingering shard of her humanity, not yet fully shed, reminded her of the fear of death.

If she hadn’t received a share of ‘His’ power, she wouldn’t have dared to even look up at this man.

And she would have so easily surrendered her life into his hands.

Before being a demon follower, she was a dark elf; she felt the weight of the Nightshade Knight Commander’s name anew, and with it, a shudder.

What an absurd blow this was.

What absurd power this was.

And she shuddered again.

At herself, able to stand against such a Nightshade Knight Commander on equal footing, or even superior.

To the One who had granted her this power.

And this, after only absorbing a small portion of the power sealed within Verbandes’ eyes.

But if she were to take in the very being sealed within Verbandes-

If she were to recover all the power weakened by the seal-

Haa.

The demon follower’s expression was flushed with anticipation of the future.

“Are you impatient?”

It was the Nightshade Knight Commander, having established his clear superiority through force, and intending to conduct the conversation as an interrogation.

Just as he was about to speak, the demon follower opened her mouth a beat early, seizing the momentum.

With a voice full of exhilaration and ecstasy, instead of pain and fear.

“…!”

The grotesque nature of it momentarily overwhelmed Kairen.

The demon follower, Kella, didn’t miss that gap in his emotions.

Kella’s hand touched Kairen’s sword-holding hand.

First softly, then roughly. Like a snake coiling around its prey before constricting, she pulled on his hand with all her might.

*Thunk!*

And just like that, she plunged the remaining blade into her own body.

“Haa…”

A sigh, like melting ice, escaped Kella’s lips.

It was the thrill of knowing he could withstand the power of someone like Kairen, and the audacity to declare it aloud.

“I understand. You must be impatient.”

Kella’s demeanor shifted.

Having completely shed the guise of a dark elf lurking in the shadows of Kehlin and the Nightshade Knights, she now faced the insignificant mortal before her as an agent of a greater being.

“You still know nothing, do you? Isn’t that right?”

“…”

That a blow delivered with sand-like steps hadn’t resulted in immediate death was somewhat surprising, but it was hardly enough to unsettle the captain of the Nightshade Knights.

From the moment Kairen had arrived in the basement and felt the ominous energy saturating the space, he had been considering every possibility.

He could even now throw off her touch and utterly destroy that defenseless body.

A certain curiosity even stirred within him.

Would she still feel no pain?

Could she still speak so casually?

But the reason he couldn’t was –

As Kella said, because he knew nothing.

What disturbed the placid lake of the Nightshade Knight’s inner self was not the sinister power of a demon worshiper, but the unknown threat to the young lady and young master.

It was also why he had abandoned his principles as a captain of the Nightshade Knights and bodyguard of Katria, and walked into enemy territory so unguarded.

Just now, Kairen had attempted a preemptive strike of sorts, but in reality, it had been far too late.

The battle had begun long ago.

From the moment Kella, that demon worshiper, had approached the defenseless young master.

How many moves had she made in the meantime?

He didn’t know.

What was certain was that the claws of this dreadful and wicked demon worshiper were tightly ensnaring the young master.

And perhaps, even the young lady as well.

Kairen’s momentum faltered, and he adopted a more defensive stance.

Kella smiled contentedly, stroking his chin.

“A wise move. As a reward, I’ll tell you something. Drian. Regarding his true condition. It may appear as though he’s regained consciousness, thanks to whatever our lady did, but don’t take comfort in that. Right now, he is, to a degree, in the same state as I am.”

“No way…!”

Kairen’s expression, losing all composure, was one of shock.

Kella let out a ghastly laugh, fueled by glee.

From noble mtl dot com

“That’s right. He has become a part of Lord Verbandes, just like me. He might seem perfectly fine on the outside, but inside he’s rotting away, feeling the presence of the demon that his own ancestors sealed away, don’t you think?”

***

“Hmm…”

The dark elf sat perched on the windowsill, lost in thought.

Bathed in the very radiance of the sunlight, a figure who once made the hearts of every woman in Kehlin flutter –

it was undeniably Drian of House Sahila, the darling of all.

“Feels like I’m forgetting something…”

He carefully examined his current state.

Trying to figure out the circumstances of how he woke up in this unfamiliar yet kind place.

But ultimately, he could not ascertain anything.

His body felt so pristine, making it impossible to deduce anything.

It was as if the filth that had once clung to him had been washed away completely.

Along with the memories that went with the filth.

“Well, whatever.”

And so, Drian felt perfectly at ease.

He felt hunger and left the bedroom.

The sight of the living room spread before him. And, a lavish spread laid out on the dining table.

Drian soon realized.

That this spread had been freshly prepared every day for him, not knowing when he would awaken.

He felt the warmth of the consideration fill him and he smiled.

Drian was happy.

***

“…”

Upon hearing Kella’s words and imagining Drian’s state, Kaylen’s expression became clouded with anguish.

She pushed even more aggressively into the chasm that had opened within her heart.

Pressing herself against him, she whispered in his ear.

“And, when she discovers that truth. How do you think Lady Katria will react?”

“…”

“True despair always comes after hope. Watch closely.”

She said, showing Kaylen the eyes of Verbandes, sparkling brightly.

“You’ve noticed that the Lady has not been in a good state lately, haven’t you?”

Of course.

Eyes, lifeless and extinguished.

Kieren remembers the young lady’s precarious state clearly.

She was truly at the edge of a cliff.

Just one more step, and she would have crumbled.

“In that state, what would happen if she learned her own brother had become part of a demon?”

“…”

“If she realized that, for the sake of her family, she had to kill her own brother with her own hands, what would become of the young lady?”

The Knight Commander of the Moon’s Eyes wavered.

The demon worshiper spoke, staring directly into those eyes.

“It’ll be tough, but you better admit it. I’m the only one who can save your young lady.”

***

Katria let out a laugh, almost a guffaw.

The expression of resignation, of having given up everything just moments before, vanished without a trace.

She tried to hold it back.

“Four-Hundred Lotus… So that’s what was in the soup back then. Four-Hundred Lotus. It was so delicious, and it was poison?”

But seeing Rishir’s reaction, she couldn’t hold back at all.

His face was so serious, yet he was spouting such nonsense, making Katria’s resignation and resolve seem ridiculous.

And so, Katria couldn’t help but laugh.

And she couldn’t help but doubt her own ears.

“Rishir. Is that really the reaction you should be having in this situation?”

Meltas, seeming to feel the same way, asked with a terribly complex expression.

“Actually, I’m also confused. What should I do in this situation? If I feel betrayed, the Four-Hundred Lotus was too sweet, but if I feel grateful, he did feed it to me under the guise of a poisonous herb.”

“…From a normal human’s perspective, you usually focus on the intention in a case like this.”

“Intention—that’s a good one.”

Rishir’s gaze landed on Katria.

Intention.

It was a careless look, like he was asking for water.

“…”

Katria was speechless.

Originally, she had no intention of revealing her motives.

A defense mechanism born from the anxiety of never being forgiven, and the guilt that he might actually forgive her.

But now, Rischier’s attitude.

It wasn’t an interrogation, nor a reprimand, nor a plea.

Just pure curiosity.

Katria had anticipated every scenario where Rischier would react with contempt and resentment, and she had prepared for it.

But this was entirely unexpected.

And so, Katria’s mouth was moving without her even realizing it.

“So?”

Blurt, blurt.

“Oh. And then?”

Blurt, blurt, blurt.

“Oh my, that happened. And then?”

Blurt, blurt, blurt, blurt.

“…So, that’s what happened.”

“…!”

Oh crap.

By the time she came to her senses, she had confessed everything, leaving nothing out.

Having heard it all, Rischier started muttering, moving his hands back and forth as if calculating an equation.

“I get it. Tia had enough reason to misunderstand. Her younger sibling being sold as a slave, of course she wouldn’t be thinking straight. And as someone who has a cute younger sibling, I can totally understand the feelings. Plus, she tried to fix her mistakes.”

He finally nodded, then said.

“So, shall we just forget it happened?”

“I-“

Katria was at a loss for words, trying to say something.

But she was so dumbfounded, she couldn’t properly form a sentence.

“I, tried to harm you…!?”

In the end, all that came out was a bewildered voice.

Her choked voice popped out loudly.

It sounded similar to the voice she used when playing the role of a bubbly maid.

“It’s alright. Seems like, I have the kind of constitution that doesn’t get hurt by stuff like that.”

“…”

It wasn’t bragging, nor was it boasting.

Just a calm recitation of facts.

Katria, dazed, could only stare blankly at Rissir.

“Rissir… just so you know, that murky truth is one of the rarest and most potent poisons on the entire continent. There’s no cure, and those who drink it face a gruesome end.”

“In what way?”

“It turns the imbiber into a husk, reacting only to specific commands.”

“…Ah. It sounds kind of like that thing.”

“That thing?”

“Well, a friend of mine tried to do something similar to me a while back.”

“…! What happened to that one!?”

“Turns out he’s a good friend, actually.”

“?”

“We cleared up the misunderstanding and we’re pretty close now.”

“…You, truly. What can I say – you’re bold. Too much so.”

“Aw, bold, you say.”

Rissir grinned sheepishly.

This man.

He’s actually embarrassed.

After pulling off all that impossible shit, by a single word, ‘bold’.

“…”

“…”

Katria and Meltas stared at Rissir, slack-jawed.

…It was winter.

***

The thing that had seemed like it would change everything had passed without consequence.

Katria was still reeling from the shock, when it happened.

“Ah, right, Tia.”

Rissir spoke to her, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Ah.”

Katria, as if remembering something herself, answered him.

“It’s Katria.”

“Huh?”

“Actually, my name is Katria.”

Late, but finally, she revealed everything about herself to him.

For the first time, she showed her true self.

At that fact, Tia felt a sense of relief along with joy.

Finally, the thought that she could build a genuine relationship with him.

“…!”

That was when Lisir was overcome with shock.

“Kar…tia…? No, Katria…? You’ve been deceiving me this whole time…?”

“…?”

Katria was flustered.

She’d fed him the Tainted Truth, the Four White Lotus, even an actual demon and he’d laughed it off saying it could happen –

The part where he’s feeling betrayed is now?

“Lisir…? I’m sorry…”

“…Yeah, whatever. It could happen.”

Lisir smiled bitterly.

Katria was about to feel guilty, but for some reason, her pride got in the way and she stopped.

If he was going to make her feel guilty, he should have done it earlier.

“Anyway, what I was going to say – Katria. Should I give it back?”

“Give it back…?”

“The Tainted Truth and the Four White Lotus are already digested, so it’s impossible, but, Verbandes. I think I can give that back.”

“…?”

Katria was faced with severe cognitive dissonance.

He was talking about the possession by a powerful demon like it was a tool he’d borrowed.

“Give it back, what do you mean…? No, but in the first place – are you really okay?”

“Again with the sudden concern? Ah, you’re talking about Verbandes? There’s nothing to worry about. This Verbandes guy is actually-“

Ah. That’s right.

Come to think of it, wasn’t it said that the one who sealed this Verbandes guy was a hero of the Dark Elves?

Besides, it seems Katria is a descendant of that hero.

Rishir nodded.

The truth wasn’t always right.

There was such a thing as a ‘white lie.’

He was willing to utter that white lie, to protect the pride of the dark elves.

“Actually, it’s a tremendously powerful demon. Isn’t that right?”

“…Right?”

“Just thinking about it still makes me dizzy. How vicious that guy was—but I was lucky.”

Rishir pulled a black bead from his hand and handed it to Katria.

“…What’s this?”

“Verbandes.”

“?”

“…Or what used to be?”

“…?”

“Anyway, Verbandes said so. That it was his core.”

Katria, bewildered, took the black bead.

“As for what’s here too, I’ll give it back as soon as I figure out how.”

Rishir said, pointing at his head.

“…Yes!”

A lively reply!

Katria gave up on trying to understand.

Meltas watched her from the side, looking content.

***

Looking at the results, things couldn’t be better.

All the problems were solved, and Drian and Rishir were unharmed.

Now all that was left was to give the benefactor their due reward.

“Kairen!”

Katria returned to Reisha’s mansion with a lively gait.

To share what had happened, that joy, with her escort knight.

“…Kairen?”

He was definitely there.

“My lady.”

With a woman named Kella.

Katria, her eyes taking in the sight of her, fell into thought.

Then, that thought turned to shock. To hostility.

“You’re Drihan’s—”

Through the given clues, Katria realized the whole truth.

At Katria’s reaction, Kella wore a grotesque smile.

“You figured it out right away? So sharp. That’s good. That way I don’t have to explain a thing, or try to persuade you.”

Kella gave Kairen a look.

Then, Kairen spoke.

“My lady. You must listen to me now. You must hand over the Hand of Verbandes to her.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“My lady. I beg you. If things go wrong, I will take full responsibility—”

The demon follower, while not completely stealing the will of the knight commander, succeeded in digging into his confusion.

Her power was severely restricting Kairen’s thoughts.

‘Must protect the young lady and young master. Must protect the young lady and young master. Must protect the young lady and young master. Must protect the young lady and young master. Must protect the young lady and young master.’

What would happen if the Hand of Verbandes fell into the hands of the demon follower?

Kairen’s thoughts, tainted by the darkness, couldn’t reach that far.

What was important to him right now was protecting the young lady and the young master who were in danger.

“Kairen…?”

Katria immediately realized that Kairen’s condition was not normal.

The ominous energy that filled the place seemed to be eroding her mind.

Despair.

Those two letters were clearly branded onto her brain.

“My lady!”

Before Katria could even steel herself, Kairen approached.

His polite hands roughly rummaged through her belongings.

“Kairen! No!”

Despite Katria’s protest, he took the subspace pouch containing most of Katria’s possessions.

“This is all for you, Miss and Young Master!!!”

He dumped the contents of the subspace pouch onto the table.

Clatter.

The topaz bracelet the demon follower craved, the hand of Verbandes, was revealed.

Just as Kella reached out to take the bracelet with a satisfied look,

Thump.

Her gaze fell upon a black bead that had tumbled from the pouch.

“…!”

Her face was washed with shock.

Then, the shock turned to elation.

What the demon follower saw before her eyes now was the crystallized essence of a power that had completely lost its master.

What could be better than freeing a demon’s seal and receiving the entirety of its favor?

Becoming that very being itself.

“Incredible…”

How on earth did they separate the immense power of a demon from itself?

It was an unexpected situation, an unanticipated stroke of luck.

As if possessed, Kella picked up the black bead.

And, without hesitation, she swallowed it.

Hehehehehe.

Hehehehehehe.

Kyahahahahaha!!!

A manic laughter boiled over along with her elation.

The demon follower—

No.

The entity soon to be reborn as a demon writhed in joy.

“Cough…!”

Then, something surged up her throat.

“Uweeeeegh!!!”

A waterfall of dark crimson blood gushed from her mouth.

“Why!?”

Kela writhed.

An excruciating pain dominating her body—

“…?”

No.

In an excruciating *refreshment*.

The haze in Kaylen’s eyes cleared, a light returning.

Kaylen didn’t understand what had happened.

…Light returned to Kela’s eyes too, which had been stained with a sinister aura.

She also didn’t understand what had happened to her.

“…”

Katria understood what had happened.

She closed her eyes tightly and rubbed her brow.

A man’s face surfaced in her mind.

The powerful demonic force, which the great dark elf family, Sahila, had been unable to find a way to destroy and had imprisoned for hundreds of years, had vanished, pointlessly.

“Whoa…”

That was the young lady of Sahila’s impression.

A sigh-like exclamation.