Make Dark Fantasy Great Again
Chapter 67: The Deputy Tower Lord

Chapter 67: The Deputy Tower Lord

0% Hesitation lingered at the edge of her lips.

Will I really be able to do this? Could you please reconsider?

But the words never left her mouth. Her master surely had a reason for this decision.

And so, the puppet resolved to play the role her master desired.

***Since arriving at the Gray Tower, Demia felt more like she was existing than living.

No matter how much she studied, the administrative tasks remained daunting. No matter how much she worked, the intense workload never decreased. And throughout it all, her freedom and autonomy were thoroughly restricted.

At times, she resented her master for burdening her with all this responsibility. But each time, Demia wrestled her feelings back under control.

-Master wouldn’t have given me this task without a good reason. If there’s a problem, it’s because I haven’t tried hard enough.

Demia simply endured, holding fast to a desperate hope—that one day, it would all be over. That the Gray Tower would stabilize, just as her master intended, and she could rest to her heart’s content.

And at last...that moment seemed tantalizingly close, almost within her grasp.

Of course, she knew the truth. She wasn’t perfect, not even close. She wasn’t even adequate. But what could she do? This was her limit.

She could neither work any harder nor do any better.

If she managed to get a good night’s sleep, she woke up plagued by inexplicable guilt. If she stood still for too long, lost in exhaustion, the walls seemed to press in on her.

Sometimes, tears would well up without warning.

Clumsily, yet with painstaking effort, she had stitched her position together piece by piece. And Demia was quite satisfied with what she had achieved.

But he had ruined everything.

Risir...

She intended to resent him with every fiber of her being. Yet for some reason...

“You summoned me?”

All those negative feelings seemed to evaporate the moment she saw him. It was as if something warm and comforting was easing her exhaustion.

Was it because he currently held the undivided attention of Bondalles’ trading company leaders?

She didn’t know. But if one thing was certain, it was that his help might finally put an end to her nightmare of a reality.

I’m here in Master’s place...I must never appear weak...

With her usual mantra echoing in her mind, Demia composed herself and began speaking calmly.

“Yes, I did. I presume you know who I am?”

Her ageless features retained a youthful bloom. Yet, the exhaustion etched into her face and the dark circles under her eyes lent her an air of weary authority.

The Deputy Tower Lord sat ramrod straight, looking down at her guest.

“Of course. Aren’t you the Deputy Tower Lord?”

“And do you know why I summoned you today?”

“...Is it about the matter I resolved recently?”

“Indeed. Polda seemed very impressed by your work.”

Demia handed Risir a prepared document.

“She has expressed interest in providing long-term support. Double the previous amount, in fact.”

Risir’s eyes widened as he scanned the figures.

If it’s not too much trouble, could I have an ice cream?

“As expected of the leader of a mid-sized trading company. Quite generous.”

“They aren’t always so forthcoming.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Merchants know when to hold their purse strings and when to loosen them. Such a display of goodwill means you’ve demonstrated significant value.”

“...”

Risir nodded. To Demia, he appeared deeply moved by her praise.

It was a moment straight out of the book How to Manage Subordinates.

He must have a favorable impression of me now.

Judging that she’d laid sufficient groundwork(?), Demia addressed the main issue.

“But I digress. I summoned you to discuss an extension of that previous matter. Perhaps word of Polda’s case has spread amongst the merchants, as numerous trading company leaders seem to have taken a liking to you. They’ve pledged support to the Gray Tower while requesting an audience with you. I trust you understand their intentions?”

“Do they also have issues with that Carl fellow?”

“Not only that. They seem to believe your influence reaches across the entire northern backstreets.”

“...”

“Anything come to mind?”

After a moment of deep thought, Risir chuckled softly, then gave a cautious nod.

“Is that so? Then...”

Demia hesitated. How could she persuade him to offer his assistance willingly?

-Why would the Tower Lord entrust this to someone like her...

-How troublesome. If only she weren’t the deputy...

It was a habitual thought, but managing subordinates as the Tower Lord’s proxy was far from easy. No matter how much effort she invested, there were always murmurs of discontent.

A constant reminder that without the title of deputy lord, she was nothing.

“Then...”

A sudden pang of anxiety hit her.

Come to think of it, he’s an honorary mage.

Risir wasn’t officially part of the Gray Tower. In other words, he had no obligation to show even superficial deference.

What if I make a mistake and he refuses to help?

Disappointed merchants. Retracted patronage. Her goal receding even further into the distance. The worst-case scenario painted itself in her mind.

The anxiety intensified, her lips feeling heavy.

Him too...He must know I opposed his honorary mage appointment...I bet he looks down on me inside...

Demia felt unusually insecure. The mask she always wore felt especially thin and brittle today.

Afraid of exposing her pitiful true self, she focused her entire mind on steadying her expression—even her voice.

“I-I would like to offer you a chance to assist the tower...”

But despite her efforts, her voice came out sounding weak and pathetic. The phrasing was even worse.

Oh no!

Seized by panic, she tried to salvage the mistake fast.

But Risir interjected with a knowing smile, as if humoring a joke.

“Oh wow, such a precious opportunity. In that case, I gratefully accept.”

His reaction was strange, as if he held no preconceived notions about how a Deputy Tower Lord was expected to behave.

Demia was completely thrown. None of the complex texts she’d studied had prepared her for this.

“R-right...consider yourself honored...”

So, she simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind before anxiously searching Risir’s face.

How did he perceive her in this moment?

Once again, he smiled, as if simply amused...and Demia found herself smiling back.

A genuine smile, devoid of the gravitas expected of a deputy tower lord.

***[Today’s Diary] [Weather: Cloudy]

I hate rainy days.

I like the sound of raindrops tapping against the window, but that’s it. Everything else? Hate it.

This tower is stupidly big, so when it rains, it gets all cold and creepy.

Like, what if a ghost pops out?! (Actually, they say there’s a place in the tower where ghosts appear! [SCREAMING DOODLE])

Especially at night!

When the masters and the staff go home, when all the students leave, and I’m the only one left!!!

At that time, every single light in the tower goes out, and I have to sit here in this huge office, all alone, with just a candle!

Like, seriously?!

This is CRAZY scary okay?!

When the wind rattled the window earlier, I got so scared I almost turned into a ghost myself.

On nights like this, I really miss Master.

I wonder if she’s doing okay? She’s not out there in the rain, is she?

I hope she comes back soon.

If Master were here, we could even go check out that ghost place together.

***[Today’s Diary] [Weather: Sunny]

So, I was walking down the hall today, and I swear I misheard something.

The students were talking about this thing called Rainbow Cake. I couldn’t believe it!

Apparently, it’s a dessert from some new cafe.

But why is it called Rainbow Cake? Because it’s as big as a rainbow? Or shaped like one? Or what, is it actually rainbow-colored?!

Oh my gosh, I’m SO curious.

If it is rainbow, how do they even bring out the color?

Make red with strawberries.

Orange with grapefruits.

Yellow...yellow with...oranges? (Not tangerines! Oranges and tangerines are different!)

Okay, moving on, here’s the real problem.

Green. How would they make green?

Apple?

They wouldn’t use leaves, right?

Oh, right! There’s green tea!

...Then what about blue?

And indigo?

And purple?

This is just my opinion, but maybe they should just leave those out.

I don’t reckon those colors will be appetizing...

But if they leave them out, is it even a real rainbow?

This is so hard.

Maybe it’s not rainbow-colored after all. Maybe it’s just shaped like a rainbow?

Guess I’ll have to try it to find out. < Absolutely not! Now is the time to save, not spend! As the one responsible for the tower, I gotta set an example!

Right?

Ugh. I hate this.

This position is way too much for me.

I still don’t get it. Why did Master entrust me with a job like this? < Because she believes in me! ★★★

Right.

Master believes in me, and that’s why she gave me this job.

So I can’t give up.

Keep it up as usual, me!

***[Bucket List]

1. Sleep in all day

2. Read one of those romance novels

3. Visit a cafe

4. Try Rainbow Cake ★★★

5. Go ghost hunting with Master (Master’s stronger than ghosts so there’s nothing to worry about!)

6. Learn how to do makeup

7. Dating??? < Not sure about this one yet

...

...

...

37. I don’t care anymore, just let this all be over.

***

[Title : Who Demia Again???]

Post : so I found this thing called Demia’s Diary lying around in the tower and read it.

bruh... shits girly af

was literally smiling like a proud dad while reading

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