Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 28: Lucky Charm (4)

“First, let us talk in the carriage. I’ve already wasted enough of your precious time.”

“Oh. Then I’ll accept your kind offer and—”

“Just a moment. Sir Dares? May I have a word with Risir alone?”

“I see no reason why not. Please, talk freely.”

“Fienne?”

Fienne urged him to follow her without a fuss, grabbing Risir’s sleeve and leading him to a faraway tree.

“What’s this about?”

“I’m asking just in case. You don’t plan to be content with just hitching a ride in their carriage, are you?”

“...Content with hitching a ride? Isn’t that enough?”

“Haa. I knew it.”

Fienne let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Listen, Mr. Idiot.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Can you tell me what you just did?”

“What I did? Helped take down a black mage?”

Fwip! Fienne thrust her index finger at Risir.

“No? You didn’t just help.”

“Well if you say so, Fienne.”

“Ugh! Just listen! You didn’t help defeat the black mage, you led the whole thing. No, what am I saying? You practically did it all by yourself.”

“...”

As Risir hesitantly scratched the back of his head, Fienne fiercely pointed her finger at him again.

“Yet, the way you react! I know what it means. Shall I tell you?”

“Shall I listen?”

Fienne did a silly imitation of Risir.

“Well, it’s not that big of a deal...”

“Am I your thrall now? Putting me under mind control after all that praise?”

“Hmph, how foolish. I can read your thoughts without doing such a thing, okay?”

“Well aren’t you totally living in my mind.”

“Don’t be gross. I have no intention of living in such a grotesque place.”

Despite the disgust on her face, Fienne’s next words sounded somewhat excited.

“Can’t be helped. In place of you, the idiot, I! Will point out what you’ve exactly accomplished. First of all...”

Fienne raised her slender, white index finger.

“You found the black mage hiding among them.”

She raised her middle finger next.

“And you protected them from that black mage. Moreover, you captured the black mage alive and handed him over.”

Poke! Poke! She jabbed Risir’s forearm with her index.

“Do you know what’s key here?”

“That I saved their lives...?”

“No? Anyone with power could have done that. Even your master, if she were here. But finding that hidden black mage? Breaking through his dark magic and curses?”

Poke!

“Didn’t you also hear what that healer said? They’ve tried everything for months but achieved nothing. What do you think this means?”

Poke!

“It was something only you could do. In other words, you’ve put them in a debt they can’t measure.”

“...”

In all honesty, Risir knew. How special his power was, and how special a help it had been to them. But the reason he couldn’t show it was...because it was a power he got for free.

Calling it an innate power might be a more fitting expression, but at least to Risir, that’s how it felt. Because he was a bastard child who spent his whole life striving to gain what he wasn’t born with.

It had been so easy to go unrecognized, regardless of the effort and sacrifices he made. Yet with this power, even the slightest effort brought tremendous recognition.

Risir likened this treatment to people screaming in awe upon completing a simple equation of addition and subtraction. Like people weeping in gratitude upon treating them to vending machine coffee.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling of being a petty person if he tried to take credit.

As it was a good opportunity, Risir took this moment to ask Fienne for advice about his anguish. After all, she was more experienced when it came to enjoying her ‘innate specialness’.

“Of all the things to worry about...Well, I suppose it’s a very fitting concern for you.”

After bursting out in giggles, Fienne gave her answer. It was clear-cut to the point of being disappointingly anticlimactic.

“Don’t overthink it, just enjoy it.”

“Enjoy it?”

“If special people like us can’t accept the unique qualities we’re born with, who will?”

“...”

“Especially when even imbecilic nobles flaunt how special they are.”

Before he knew it, Fienne was speaking as the Progenitor, a lord who ruled over her subjects.

“I guarantee you, we are far more special than trifling nobility. In fact, their so-called privilege is nothing but an illusion, while the gifts we are born with are truly exceptional. So, embrace it with pride. Those as extraordinary as us must learn to accept the special treatment we deserve.”

Risir wondered if he had chosen the wrong person to ask for advice. Surely this went beyond simply enjoying an innate gift?

Still, the way she put it did help. It eliminated any room for complicated thinking.

Listening in from the side, Rona nodded in agreement.

“I think I get it.”

“?”

Fienne blinked in genuine surprise, as if asking: How would you know?

“...”

Feeling hurt, Rona retreated to a corner and curled in on herself.

Meanwhile, Risir gathered his thoughts. Fienne gave him a minute before continuing to speak.

“Now then, I trust you’ve understood what I’m trying to say, yes?”

“I did, but, hmm...”

“Oh of course. What can I expect from a commoner like you?”

“You just said I was special.”

“By general standards, yes. But well, don’t worry too much. After all, don’t you have me by your side?”

Seeing Fienne’s smug attitude, Risir couldn’t help but ask what she was up to.

“Isn’t it obvious? On your behalf—the ordinary, weak, pathetic man who is helpless without me—I’m going to assert your rights, okay? It’s a crucial matter. You know, the worth of the ‘holy relic’ you gave up for them alone is—”

“By the way, Fienne, that wasn’t a real holy relic. It was just something I made as a temporary measure.”

“Oh, well of course. I knew it. I’m not even surprised anymore.”

“...You knew? Weren’t you going on about the holy relic’s worth or something?”

“What we gave doesn’t matter. What’s important is what they think they received from us.”

“...!”

Risir was struck with great realization.

Her way of thinking is just different!

***The carriage was on the move.

Todina and Dares were chatting with Risir and Fienne, who sat opposite them.

As the mood lightened among them, Fienne smoothly shifted the conversation.

“Come to think of it, Risir. What happened to that?”

“That?”

“You know, that lucky coin you treasured.”

“Ah. My lucky coin...”

Risir’s response was somewhat awkward, but the others didn’t notice.

A heavy silence descended as the air around Dares’ group grew thick. Fienne had reminded them all of the lucky coin destroyed by the black mage Gusra—and the value it held.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

“How can you say that? It was so important to you.”

“Important?”

Startled, Todina echoed Fienne.

Fienne replied nonchalantly with a gentle smile.

“Yes. Actually, that lucky coin was given to Risir by his mentor.”

It wasn’t a lie, as Pamon had provided part of Risir’s travel funds.

“Sir Risir...! You used something so precious for my sake...!”

Todina’s eyes welled up with gratitude and guilt.

“Dares told me, that my chronic illness was cured thanks to that coin. Right, Dares?”

Dares nodded, speaking to Risir with a solemn attitude.

“Risir. I will say it again, but thank you so much. I will repay this debt. I swear on the name of Durayeg and my magic.”

Todina’s reaction was the same as Dares’. Seeing that, Risir recalled what Fienne told him.

-Do you even know how self-centered nobles can be?

Nobles claimed honor and pride to be their highest values, yet when confronted with adversity, they would abandon both without a second thought. Especially when it came to dealing with those of lower status.

As a result, when it came to promises involving powerful nobles and personal gain, it was crucial to secure unshakeable confirmation.

Risir and Fienne’s exchanged a look.

-I’m concerned they haven’t mentioned anything beyond offering a ride.

Seeing Dares and Todina’s reactions, they became convinced that this noble couple, at least, differed from the pitiful riff-raff who changed their words to suit the situation or their whims.

“By the way, Risir. What business do you have in Bondalles?”

As their pondering ended, Dares brought up another topic with a serious attitude.

“I was hoping to broaden my magical knowledge, and also look for new opportunities while I’m at it.”

“Opportunities? You mean job opportunities?”

“Yes, since I currently have no stability in life to speak of. I suppose I’ll need to find a place to stay and establish myself, then slowly expand my magical knowledge. Truthfully, I only started pursuing magic to find a way to make a living.”

“...Ha! Pursuing magic to make a living? That’s a surprise.”

“Did I sound too frivolous?”

“Not at all! How could matters of livelihood and future be considered frivolous?”

Then, as if recalling something, Dares immediately took out a notebook and pen from his breast pocket. He began writing something against the wall.

Rip. Dares handed Risir a page torn from the notebook.

“What’s this?”

“By all rights, we should formally invite you to our house and express gratitude with due ceremony...But once this carriage arrives home, there will be quite a commotion.

“The interference of a black mage in the significant marriage between two houses is a grave matter, and getting involved will cost you a great deal of time. You could be tied up for over a month, even if we were to treat you as a guest.”

As far as Risir knew, the Durayeg territory was located far from Bondalles.

“That could indeed be troublesome.”

“So, for now, I must express my gratitude in this informal manner.”

His apologetic attitude and use of the word ‘informal’ made Risir and Fienne lower their expectations slightly, but it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.

If someone of Dares’ high rank had completely brushed them off, they would have been left with no options. Instead, they chose to focus on the fact that they had received compensation and proceeded to check the contents of the paper.

“In Bondalles, the Kodal merchant association specializes in magical items. Take that note, and you’ll be able to receive goods equivalent to the amount stated.”

The writing itself was ordinary, but the amount...

Is this correct?

Risir’s jaw dropped, realizing what Dares meant by informal. That man was the type to gift his parents bundles of cash on Parents’ Day.

Meanwhile, Fienne’s gaze turned elsewhere.

“...”

She looked at Topin, who had been staring out the window silently since boarding the carriage.

In truth, the healer was Fienne’s true target. She hadn’t forgotten how he had dismissed Risir as a bastard, acting like a pompous noble.

A mischievous smile played on Fienne’s lips as she deliberately read aloud the compensation amount written on the note. She praised Durayeg’s generosity while provoking Topin’s pride.

“Durayeg shows proper gratitude for kindness, but I wonder what a certain fellow noble is doing over there...”

“...!”

Topin flinched, turning slowly turned toward Risir. He tilted his head ever so slightly in a bow.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“I...owe you...my...gratitude...”

The uncompromising noble turned beet red.

Delighted as if her honor had been restored, Fienne checked Risir’s reaction, only to see he had been watching her with amusement.

“...!”

Fienne quickly composed herself and turned away. She didn’t forget to humph indignantly.

***Several days passed since the journey began.

Dares’ carriage had strayed far from its original destination, as he insisted on taking us right up to Bondalles.

“I look forward to the day we meet again, Risir.”

“Lord Risir, please take care.”

“...Ahem. Farewell.”

After parting with Dares’ group, we immediately began the process of entering Bondalles, joining the suffocatingly long line at the main gate checkpoint.

At last, after what felt like an endless wait, we glimpsed Bondalles bathed in a sunset glow. But there was no time to truly appreciate it.

“Bath...”

“Huff...huff...”

Fienne’s shoulders were slumped with fatigue, while Rona was melting in sweat, both of them looking at me with desperate eyes.

Deciding to recover from the journey first, we immediately set out to find lodging.

“Let’s go there.”

Fienne seemed thrilled at the prospect of sleeping in a proper bed after so long. She pointed to an inn with slight excitement.

Somehow, the girl had managed to immediately spot what looked like the most luxurious inn in the area.

“With the money for one night at such a high-end inn, I think we could stay two nights somewhere else nice. And with the money for two nights at a nice inn, we could stay at a regular place for—”

“Oh, shut it.”

Fienne cut me off with a look of disgust. But just when I thought she was about to sulk...

“Then how about this, Risir? I’ve thought of a way to save on lodging costs.”

“...You’re talking about saving?”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? For the price of one night there, we could stay two nights at a slightly cheaper inn.”

“I did.”

“Hearing that made me think—what if we rent just one room and share it? Wouldn’t that cut the lodging cost in half?”

After presenting the idea as if it were a brilliant solution, Fienne subtly avoided my gaze.