Make Dark Fantasy Great Again
Chapter 71: The Dark Elf’s Repayment

Chapter 71: The Dark Elf’s Repayment

0% “You’re awake?”

“?”

I thought I was, but maybe I’m still dreaming?

That was Risir’s first thought upon waking—an unreal scene unfolded before him.

Swoosh. Sunlight streamed in as the curtains were pulled open by a maid. The subtle pink in her silver hair shimmered in the light.

And her smile....

“Good morning!”

There was a bright, cheerful curve to her lips that seemed to fill the room with energy.

“Oh, good morning indeed!”

Infected by that cheer, Risir responded reflexively. He was so caught up in her enthusiasm that his own voice brimmed with energy!

Then he remembered the question he was going to ask.

“But who are you again?!”

A vivacious maid to greet the morning...

Despite encountering countless fantastical elements since leaving his family, Risir had never experienced anything quite like this.

“Hm?”

The maid tilted her head, a smile still dancing in her eyes.

“What kind of joke is this? It must be a funny one, coming from you...but I’m sorry. I’m not clever enough to understand. If it’s alright, Master, would you explain it to me?”

As he watched her warm, friendly smile brimming with goodwill and the curiosity in her eyes that seemed to say, “I’m so intrigued!”, Risir couldn’t help but think—If every woman in the world reacted this kindly to failed jokes, the ‘wounded men’ category would surely become endangered in no time.

Though nearly undone by the maid’s infectious optimism, he barely managed to pull himself together and speak.

“You just looked so different that I didn’t recognize you for a moment, Miss Tia.”

Even as he said it, he was still unsure.

The dark elf slave, Tia. Just yesterday, when he last saw her, she had seemed worn down by years of servitude; hollow and unsteady, as if her very sense of self had been eroded.

“Does it seem strange?”

Had there been even a hint of pretense in her demeanor, Risir might have thought she was forcing herself. That she was overcompensating to repay the kindness she had received—the rescue of her younger sibling, the promise of freedom.

Yet there was nothing forced about her now. Nothing unsteady. She was utterly at ease and because of that, she looked whole. Was this who she truly was?

Risir couldn’t say. The only thing he knew for certain was that she seemed far better than before. So much so that it felt as if no words or actions could shatter the brightness of her smile.

“I feel it is too drastic a change...but if one thing’s certain, it’s that you look much better. In terms of health, I mean.”

“Really? That’s a relief...To be honest, I was worried you’d find it strange, Lord Risir. But I’m so glad you like it!”

Tia giggled and took his hand.

“Let’s go! I made breakfast already!”

“...By the way, Miss Tia. Where did you get that maid outfit?”

“Doesn’t it suit me?! I was also surprised when I saw my reflection!”

“That wasn’t exactly my question...”

Oh well. No harm done.

Risir decided to accept this new version of Tia.

From that point onward, she fussed over him until he was ready to leave.

“Have a good day, Master!”

She never once lost her bright, spirited smile until the very end.

***Kehlryn, the city of dark elves.

Here, the ruling Sahila family commanded two main forces: the Red Sand Guard, operating openly for the city’s protection, and the Moonshade Order, working in secret for the family’s interests.

Kieran, Knight Captain of the Moonshade Order, never questioned his loyalty. The Sahila family, who’d built a dark elf empire in this remote corner of the continent, deserved reverence. And Katria, their daughter, embodied their pride and nobility.

But he worried. What would become of Lady Katria after this journey?

Drian, the third son of Sahila, had vanished, and Kieran had anticipated difficulties in finding him. Beyond the southern continent lay the human lands, rife with hostility towards dark elves.

But he hadn’t anticipated this level of cruelty.

Young Master Drian...

Despite enduring repeated encounters with human malice without losing herself, Katria changed completely upon learning that Drian had been sold into slavery.

Kieran couldn’t forget her tormenting Reisha, promising to inflict the same suffering Drian had endured. No one from Kehlryn would have recognized her.

Worse still, that was only the beginning.

Katria had approached a human mage who lusted after her, all to find her brother. How much more would she be tainted by this experience?

If it were up to him, he would have acted on his strength without hesitation—if only it guaranteed that he could protect both Drian and Katria.

Unfortunately, the human city was far too vast. If he acted recklessly and caused a disturbance, they might be forced to flee before even retrieving Drian, which was the worst possible outcome.

As nightmarish as their situation was, it was the best they could hope for in the present.

Ultimately, Kieran had no choice but to accept it all with a heavy heart. His own powerlessness, and the change in his lady.

The pure-hearted young woman whom Kehlryn had cherished and revered was gone. In her place stood a pitiable, grotesque creature—one consumed by malice and the poison it bred.

“Kieran! Look! It’s a human maid outfit. What do you think? Doesn’t it suit me perfectly?”

“?”

Who’re you?

Kieran almost spoke the words aloud.

Katria had returned from the Gray Tower as a completely different person. Her eyes were clear, showing not the slightest trace of malice or vehemence. Her presence was light and carefree, untainted by even a hint of darkness.

By no means did she seem consumed by wickedness. If anything, she was the very opposite.

“Hey, you remember, right? Lord Risir?”

“Lord Risir...?”

“Oh! Silly me! I forget there’s no need to keep up the act here.”

Katria burst into laughter, utterly delighted by something only she understood.

Kieran and Reisha, kneeling nearby, could only stare at her in stunned silence.

“Anyway! That’s not important! Do you know what happened after I went with him? I bet you won’t believe it even after you hear, Kieran.”

Surprisingly enough, the story Katria told next gave undeniable weight to the transformation she had undergone.

“You have found the Young Master? Already?”

“Yup! My dear Risir made it his top priority, you see!”

My dear?

Kieran found some of her word choices rather unsettling, but for now, he focused on her tale of a human who had once studied under a dark elf.

As she spoke, the carefree air about Katria gradually gave way to a quiet seriousness.

“You know, I had a sudden thought. I want to be like them—wonderful individuals who bring light into the worlds of others...”

It was a simple yet profound story of a girl corrupted by darkness, redeemed by an encounter with true virtue.

“...Which is why I’m asking you, Kieran. Will you support the things I’m about to do?”

Katria’s expression was a mix of vulnerability and determination.

“I need to right the terrible wrong I committed.”

Katria took back her belongings from Kieran and slipped on a bracelet set with a large topaz. It was the most treasured heirloom of Sahila’s second daughter—the prized possession of a family that had built the dark elf empire.

Verdandes’ Hand. A powerful artifact that had sealed away a great devil of the desert through a contract. It granted its wielder’s desires in the form of a curse.

“My lady! You can’t be—!”

The Verdandes’ Hand represented the Sahila family’s history and power. Its power could influence an entire city.

As a vassal of Sahila, Kieran had a duty to persuade her against using it.

“The Verdandes’ Hand is only to be used for Sahila!”

“It is. This is for Sahila.”

“What are you—”

“Because if I fail to save him, there will be no more Katria of Sahila.”

“...!”

A chill ran down Kieran’s spine—whatever she had imagined, the light in Katria’s cheerful eyes had completely died in that moment.

He had failed his duty.

-Speak your wish!!!

A voice shrieked from the topaz—Verdandes, the bound devil.

Katria touched a strand of golden hair to the gem.

“Can you cure the poison affecting the owner of this hair?”

-Choose another wish!

“Why?”

-He is not afflicted by any poison I might cure!

“...”

Katria squeezed her eyes shut. She had hoped otherwise, but it turned out even Verdandes’ Hand couldn’t neutralize the poison.

Still, it was fine. There was another way. Something within the Gray Tower had already purified her vial of Clouded Truth once before.

So long as she could find it, cleansing the poison consuming Risir would be only a matter of time.

Yes, time. She had to buy him enough of it, no matter the means, before the poison took hold completely.

“Lend him your power.”

And this would buy her the time she needed.

-Such desperation! Such a foolish desire! But I warn you, by our contract! Should I grant him my power, he will fall under my control! Surely this is not what you want?!

Verdandes was a powerful devil. Rescuing a human bound by his power would demand immense risk and effort—but not impossible.

Verdandes’ power would suppress the Clouded Truth, giving her time to find a cure. Then, she’d deal with the devil’s power.

That was her plan.

“No. That is exactly what I want. How long will it take until he’s under your control?”

-A week should suffice!

“I see. That’s enough. Verdandes, I command you to do your duty as per the contract.”

—Gahahahaha!!! Very well! Heir of Sahila, the contract is fulfilled!

The topaz dimmed as the devil’s laughter faded.

“...Alright. Let’s go, Kieran.”

There was no time to waste. Even now, Verdandes’ power had to be relentlessly working to take control of the powerless human mage.

Though their remaining time had stretched from two days to a week, it was still far too short. She had to find whatever had purified the poison in the Gray Tower before it was too late.

***Sir Meltas’ lessons arrived daily without fail, and the topic of the day was practical combat: sparring.

To confess, I was looking forward to it. Could I hold my own against a master mage now?

“Hffgh!!! Huff!!! Hiff!!!”

Not even close. Even with Sir Meltas holding back, I couldn’t touch a single strand of his braided beard.

“That barrier!!! Huff!!! Why is it so...huff!!! Strong?! It’s like...huff!!!”

“Risir. Catch your breath first if you’re tired. Are you intending to suffocate while spouting nonsense?”

I never expected this. No matter what, I thought I could at least break through a barrier conjured with nothing more than a casual flick of his hand.

Yet despite giving it my darndest, my mana was completely depleted. Barely five minutes into the spar at that.

It was a humbling reminder of Sir Meltas’ power, even among the Gray Tower’s master mages.

“Good work, Risir. Let’s stop there.”

“Understood—huff!!!—Sir Mel—huff!!!—thank you for...Eh?”

***

[You have resisted.]

[You have leveled up!]

***“...?”

As a strange sensation washed over me, I stood and turned to Sir Meltas.

“Sir Meltas. My mana’s back.”

“?”

“I’ve no idea why, but it is. Shall we continue then?”

“Are you joking with me now?”

***Wherever that dark elf went, she had a place to stay. And this wasn’t some romanticized notion of sleeping under the stars.

Her brilliantly pragmatic method began by locating the manor of a corrupt city official who’d amassed their wealth through illicit means.

This served two purposes: it eased her conscience and preemptively spared her from a certain dear and adorable someone’s inevitable scolding.

Next came thorough negotiations (mind manipulation) with the manor’s owner. And once all that was finished, voilà! The dark elf who was unwelcome at the city gates became an honored guest in a corrupt official’s lavish home.

A temporary transfer of ownership for a prime piece of real estate was, as she put it, a token of friendship.

This was how the dark elf Pamon managed to stay in human cities without an invitation.

“Mmm~ This bed. So fluffy. This is the life~”

<Didn’t you previously say you’d rather sleep in the forest than rest in a human dwelling?>

“Don’t be mean~ You know how far the forest is, Duran~”

<This is terrible. How could I suffer memory loss as a book? Sorry, but who was it again that gritted their teeth and marched all the way from that far-off forest, insisting they had to reach the city before sundown?>

“Oh my, Duran! Look at the color of this wine~”

<Oh yes, just look at that. Uh-huh.>

In truth, Pamon hadn’t always enjoyed using this method of stay.

-<Pamon, why not get a room in the city instead of standing around here?>

-If I had to rest in a human dwelling, I’d rather spend the night here, listening to the sounds of insects~

She had always reciprocated human contempt, extending it to everything they touched.

But taking on a disciple changed everything.

-But-but-but~ I want to have lots of stories to tell Risir when we meet again~

Wanting to share more experiences with her disciple, Pamon began embracing human culture.

Indeed. All this was to become a worthy master to her disciple!

“My, how can this wine be so deep? What did they do to the grapes? What did they do to the soil? Pruned the vines to the bone and drained every last bit of nutrients, I bet. Horrifying. This dreadful thing must be disposed of immediately.”

<Bringing it to your lips constitutes ‘pleasant consumption.’>

“Care for a sip as well, Duran?”

<I’m a book.>

At that moment, just as Pamon was perfectly living up to her disciple’s expectations of a (hopelessly unfit) master...

“Hm?”

Perched on the bed, savoring her wine, Pamon hopped off and began rummaging through her belongings. After a moment, she returned with a piece of parchment, spreading it out on the bed.

<What is it, Pamon?>

“Well isn’t this a surprise? A message from Sahila—and it’s from the noble lady herself.”

<By noble lady...You mean the second daughter, Katria? Now that’s truly unexpected indeed. If I recall correctly, things between you two were atrocious.>

“What are you talking about, Duran~? I adore Lady Katria so much~”

<Pamon. Astonishing as this may sound, human relationships are mutual. Your affection is meaningless if the other person hates you.>

“Oh no, what do I do~ I just got lectured on human relationships by a book~”

Even as she spoke, Pamon’s eyes followed the words updating in real-time across the parchment.

“Aha~ And I wondered why my dear little lady is reaching out for once.”

<What’s it about?>

“She’s suddenly asking me to teach her how to make the antidote to Clouded Truth.”

<Clouded Truth? And why is she asking you of all people?>

“Probably because my master created the potion?”

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