Dark Fantasy Normalized-Chapter 99: The Incomprehensible Man (4)

[Title: WTF Why Is the Gadum Boss Fight So Damn Lame]

Content: Guard captain’s level is 55? LOL you f***ing trash

Are you messing with me?

Come here and smash your head on the ground.

: Guard soldiers: “Yes, sir.”

[Author] : Wait, hold on LOL

[Author] : What is this gangbang s**t 😂😂😂

[Author] : I’m fighting the guard captain and then they all come running and dogpile me like what the hell

How many of these bastards are there, seriously

: Someone did the total level calc for the guards, it came out to 856

: That’s technically stronger than all the archdemons combined

[Author] : So wtf am I supposed to do now LMAO

: Don’t go straight for Dogal and Gadum. Go hunt them down one-by-one around the city. Classic divide and conquer.

: Even then you’ll get swarmed in groups of 3–4 minimum

: Tbh this was the most bullsh*t part of Bondales for me fr

***

“Here! Jjuinni, take this!”

Waking up in the morning to find a girl sitting on his chest, coughing something up and offering it to him as a gift—

Lisir summarized the situation in those terms as he quietly savored a subtle sense of disillusionment.

My life... is smoothly transitioning into legendary territory.

That such things now happened without issue—

And that he, too, accepted them just as naturally.

What Berbandes had spat out with an “Ah~” was a chunk of yellow ore.

It resembled a spirit core, like the kind spat out by half-spirits.

Thanks to that, Lisir was just barely able to follow along with this absurd reality.

Wait, is she coughing up hairballs like Perin?

No, hang on. Wasn’t that only possible because Perin had a physical body as a half-spirit?

Normal spirits treat their cores like hearts...

Lisir looked at Berbandes with a grave expression.

She wasn’t about to smile faintly and disappear with a “Goodbye, Jjuinni...” or anything... right?

“Jjuinni!”

Thankfully, the sand girl was full of energy.

And not just energetic.

Her brows drew a sharp little angle between her eyes in an adorably intense scowl.

Berbandes. Was angry.

She shoved the spirit core (presumed) toward Lisir.

“Take it!!!”

Lisir realized—too late—that he had just committed the number one sin when receiving a gift.

Hesitating.

It was a disaster brought about by the fact that the gift hadn’t come from a pocket, but her mouth.

Of course, her giving it that way probably ranked high on the list of “Things You Shouldn’t Do When Giving a Gift,” but Lisir chose not to mention that.

“Ah, r-right! Berbande...ssu! Thanks!”

Lisir hurriedly accepted the spirit core (presumed) she offered.

“!!!”

Even so, the little furrow in her brow didn’t smooth out, and Lisir grew increasingly frantic.

“Oh I’m so happy!!! I’ll make great use of it!!!”

“What’s ‘make great use’ mean!?”

“Huh? Uh... it means I’m really, really excited!!!”

“That excited!?”

“Aaaaaahhh!!!”

“Then I’ll give it super-make-use-fully!!!”

“It’s... super useful!!!”

“From now on, Jjuinni and I are the super-useful squad!”

“Useful useful!!!”

The frenzied gift-giving ritual came to an end after some time.

“Jjuinni! I’m off now!”

“Ah—wait! If you leave like that, what am I supposed to do?!”

“No! I’m sleepy! I’m gonna sleep!”

“Ohh... so that’s what you meant by leaving— ...You’re sure? There’s nothing wrong with me keeping this gift, right?”

“Yup! Super useful!”

“Uh—oh! Right! Useful useful!”

Berbandes’s form began to dissolve.

Lisir quickly dove into his inner world to check on her.

Snore snore.

Berbandes had conjured a bed and bedding from sand, shaped just like Lisir’s—though downsized to match her body—and buried herself in it.

Only then did Lisir let out a breath of relief.

He found it oddly funny.

That someone who had once been a demon could now take such a form and stir such emotions in him.

So looks really are everything, huh. Anyway—

Lisir looked again at the spirit stone (presumed) Berbandes had given him.

What is this, exactly? What principle is it even based on—

“Hey.”

“...!”

A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Lisir jumped and turned to look behind him—where the voice had come from.

Clarna stood there, arms crossed.

“What are you zoning out for. Pick up your sword.”

“Ah, not right now.”

“Then get lost.”

“Isn’t this my inner world?”

“...So if you’re not here to train, what are you doing?”

“I came to check on Berbandes.”

“...”

The subtle anticipation on Clarna’s face gave way to irritation.

Which was quickly replaced with disbelief.

“You treat ‘that thing’ like some kind of child.”

“?”

Lisir looked at Clarna with a puzzled expression.

As if to say, Then what else is she if not a child?

“Never mind... Not gonna bother arguing. So—what’s that?”

“This? A spirit core Berbandes gave me.”

“...A spirit core?”

Clarna looked over at the slumbering Berbandes and her face said so many thoughts, so little time.

Should she be shocked that that thing gave someone a spirit core?

Or shocked that Lisir accepted such a thing like it was perfectly normal?

“Ugh...”

The woman once known as a murderous demon, who had so often driven others to madness with her actions and logic, now found herself—inadvertently—on the receiving end of the same treatment.

“Ah, Clarna. Think you can identify what this is?”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve spent my whole life swinging a sword.”

“Right. Murder and crime—your specialties, weren’t they?”

“...Can’t you just say swordsmanship instead?”

“Even if it’s swordsmanship, it’s a different specialization, isn’t it?”

“Uuuugh...”

Berbandes was fine.

Leaving Clarna to stew in her own confusion, Lisir exited the inner world.

“Guess I’ll ask Lord Meltas about it after this whole ordeal ends.”

He packed up the spirit stone (identity uncertain) and climbed out of bed.

Still... what exactly was all that chaos about yesterday? Well, probably nothing serious.

Rustle. Rustle.

Grains of sand fell from his body with each step.

Lisir didn’t think anything of it.

***

None of the city nobles staying at the annex had been able to return to their rooms and rest peacefully.

Not after that madman Gadum loosed his guard force on the place.

Especially not alone.

They gathered in the annex hall with their guards and attendants, prepared for whatever might come.

Ran saw an opportunity.

Gadum’s “friends” were gathered in one place—without Gadum.

And they were full of distrust, unease, and resentment toward him.

There would never be a better time to win them over.

Ran spent the night speaking to each of them one by one.

To the “friends”—and even the “close friends.”

Those “close friends” had accepted Gadum’s filthy favors and willingly partaken in his vile business.

Under normal circumstances, Ran would never have gone near them.

But if I combine the secret ledger Lisir gave me... with the support of the city nobles... and even their testimonies—

I can drive Gadum out of the city council for good.

The other councilors were cowardly and self-serving.

But if her plan succeeded, they would no longer be able to turn a blind eye to Gadum.

They would have no choice but to sever their ties with him—

To avoid letting Gadum’s fire spread to themselves.

Perfect...

Ran thought, defining the current trajectory in those terms.

Though even now, one thing gnawed at her.

Gadum’s scheme had worked.

He had left a lasting impression on the nobles.

That he wouldn’t hesitate to sic his private army on his guests—even with a city councilor like Ran present.

If I so much as show signs of turning on him, who knows what kind of retaliation he’ll unleash...!

Gadum had successfully planted that fear in their minds.

No doubt, it had been his exact intention.

Ran. Sorry, but—could we speak privately for a moment?

Even Morren’s group—who had almost fully leaned toward Ran—were beginning to back off.

Ran deliberated.

What was the move to break through this deadlock?

...This is as far as I can go.

That was the conclusion she reached.

She had a plan to persuade the nobles.

A plan to bring Gadum down.

A plan to sway the other councilors.

But she lacked one thing.

A decisive move to truly win over their hearts.

Without that single final piece—

All she could do was watch Gadum get his way.

Watch as Bondales continued to rot.

That was how it had been—until that mysterious man appeared.

He had been someone who, had he wished it, could have become Gadum’s closest confidant and lived a life of wealth and luxury.

But he had chosen his convictions over filthy fortune.

Unlike those who had nothing but ideals, he possessed the power to uphold honor and justice.

Lisir...

Could he, even in this grim moment, prove it again?

Could he sway their hearts?

“Everyone! The city guard is on the move!”

“...!”

“At the very break of dawn—”

“Heavens, surely they don’t actually intend to invoke investigatory powers against us!?”

“No matter the extent of their authority, this is—”

Ran’s rational mind was speaking.

Telling her it was impossible.

The annex was under complete lockdown by the city guard.

What could someone holed up in a room possibly do?

“Come to think of it—Lisir! What happened to him!? Didn’t he say so yesterday! That nothing would happen! That if things went wrong, he’d take full responsibility!”

“My god, did you actually believe him!?”

“Is there any reason not to!?”

“Get ahold of yourself! What reason would he have to take responsibility for us!?”

“Relying on a young mage like that—do you have no pride!?”

“More importantly, what could he possibly do in this situation!? Bring troops from the Gray Tower or something!?”

The other city nobles were no different in their thinking.

Reasonably speaking, it was close to impossible for a mere honorary mage to turn the current situation around.

But—

Lisir...

Ran knew from experience.

How foolish it was to try to understand that man with logic alone.

So she believed.

That before long, he would appear with a solution.

“Everyone, please stay calm! Let’s have faith and wait!”

“...”

“...”

Unsurprisingly, Ran’s plea—rooted in her peculiar (perhaps malformed) faith—did not reach the city nobles.

Their expressions began to twist with bitterness and resentment as they looked at her.

If only she hadn’t dragged us into this...

The “close friends” in particular expressed their hostility openly.

“Lord Morren, the guard—!”

“Damn it, now what!?”

Just then, Morren’s escort came running with urgent news.

And just as the mood was about to fully collapse into despair—

“They’re withdrawing!”

“...?”

Morren and the nobles scrambled to the windows in disbelief.

The guards really were pulling out.

What had seemed like a tense mobilization had been a coordinated retreat.

“What in the world is going on...?”

All eyes turned to Ran.

Surely only she could explain what was happening—

“...?”

“...?”

Contrary to expectation, Ran’s reaction was no different from theirs.

She too was plastered to the window, wearing a dazed expression.

“Didn’t you say we should have faith and wait...?”

A middle-aged noble asked dryly, his tone dripping with disbelief.

“...”

No. Even I didn’t think it would be like this.

Ran had stationed an attendant near Lisir’s room, in case he called for assistance.

According to the report, his door had not opened even once since they’d left it.

Then how...?

Gadum was unhinged right now.

The guard lockdown of the annex had been proof of that.

What sort of method could persuade someone like Gadum?

Ran couldn’t think of one.

Especially if the constraint was from within the room.

“...”

They were confused.

“You’re all here, I see.”

Lisir’s voice rang out.

“Hk!”

A few of them flinched like they’d seen a ghost.

“Oh—wait. Don’t tell me you all stayed here overnight? Because of that ‘commotion’ I mentioned yesterday?”

Lisir looked over their faces as he asked.

“What in the world happened—”

Suddenly, they remembered what he had said the day before.

"It may seem loud on the surface, but it’s probably nothing serious."

That version of Lisir, calmly dismissing the incident.

Morren, speaking on behalf of the stunned nobles, said blankly:

“Nothing... happened...”

“Excuse me?”

“Just like you said. It looked bad on the surface, but it was really nothing at all...”

Lisir chuckled softly.

“I thought so.”

His expression was deeply unreadable.

They couldn’t even begin to guess what was going through his mind.

Though honestly... why’s the mood so weird? Why’s everyone quiet? Were they in the middle of some important conversation or something?

Don’t worry. I can read the room just fine.

Smiling gently, Lisir said:

“If nothing’s wrong, then I’ll take my leave—go get a bit of fresh air.”

“...!”

The moment they understood what that gesture truly meant, the nobles immediately {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} swarmed to Ran.

***

“This doesn’t make sense... Something’s wrong...”

Gadum muttered as he swept up the sand scattered around his room.

He was doing it himself, not asking a servant.

Because he didn’t trust anyone enough to let them in.

— Lord Gadum! What’s going on!?

The voice of Dogal, the captain of the guard, rang from outside.

Gadum’s first act was to summon every guard in the mansion.

He spoke through the locked door.

“When I woke up, I found signs someone had entered my room during the night! It has to be those bastards from the annex!”

— That’s impossible!

Dogal began explaining just how rigorous their nighttime security had been.

His reasoning was sound and backed by evidence.

“...”

Even Gadum—paranoid for his life—couldn’t find an excuse to dispute it.

“...I see.”

No.

In truth, Gadum could have disputed it.

But he chose not to.

He wanted someone to convince him.

That this was all just paranoia.

That an enemy capable of killing him at any time was nothing more than fantasy.

Whoever “he” was—

He could only resort to such childish pranks because he didn’t have the guts to face him directly.

“...Good...”

Only after convincing himself of that was Gadum able to leave the room.

He immediately gathered Dogal and dozens of guards and headed for the annex.

To prove that the fear currently tormenting him was just a figment of his imagination.

Let’s see if you dare show your face before this many men.

That bastard was still probably holed up in the annex.

Pathetically hiding among others.

Gadum repeated the image in his head—

Of his enemy’s pitiful, cowardly figure.

“...!”

And just like that, his proud, steady footsteps came to a halt.

Lisir.

He was leisurely walking through the annex gardens.

Alone.

In stark contrast to Gadum, who stood flanked by a small army.

Thump!

And yet—it was Gadum who instinctively took a step back.

"Your actions never surprise me."

A voice echoed in his head, seemingly drawn from Lisir’s calm presence.

“...?”

Then, Lisir’s gaze shifted toward the guards.

And he looked genuinely confused.

What the hell is this? The guard? What are they doing here?

As if he was only just noticing them now.

Absurd.

After all that happened yesterday—there was no way he only noticed now.

Which meant—

He was mocking them.

"And what if they’re here? In the end, they couldn’t even stop my little break-in."

“No—no, that’s not it...!”

Gadum shouted, desperate to deny the implications unraveling around him.

“...!”

Then his eyes landed squarely on Lisir’s chest.

And he shrieked:

“T-That! What is that! What does that mean!?”

He was pointing at the sand dusted across Lisir’s chest.

“Oh? Ah.”

Lisir looked down at himself and chuckled.

Must’ve gotten there when Berbandes was sitting on me.

He said casually:

“Ah, pardon me. Bit of a mess. Pay it no mind.”

He brushed the sand away with an idle wave of his hand.

“H-Heuh...!”

Realizing what that action implied, Gadum’s legs gave out and he collapsed where he stood.

“G-Get out! All of you! Get out of my estate!!!”

He immediately issued an expulsion order to all guests in the annex.

***

[Gadum has left the party.]

It was time to prepare to leave the city as soon as possible.

─────

▷ Destiny 10: The Briber – Deactivated.

Associated benefits will be granted.

─────

─────

■ Lisir

Level: 55

─────

[You have reached a specific level.]

[Associated benefits will be granted.]