Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 51: A Misguided Upbringing

Chapter 51: A Misguided Upbringing

Fienne listened in surprise as Risir recounted everything that had happened. He started from the day he failed to meet Fienne as promised.

The skin-diseased adventurer he encountered, Salana, turned out to be a master from an assassins’ guild. What’s more, the shaman she led him to meet was actually a necromancer.

“So I purified them all.”

Then, the tower master mage who happened to be present took an interest in him and gave him a tour of the Gray Tower. While there, he discovered a black mage using mind control on the tower mages.

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“So I purified them all.”

Afterward, he somehow ended up sparring with that tower’s prodigy and won an ancient grimoire, only to find it was an object of malevolent power.

“So I purified that as well. Then I finally made it back to the inn and...I just had a good feeling. So I spent all night focusing and refining my power, and well, here we are.”

“A necromancer? An assassin guild master?”

Fienne blinked in bewilderment. Where was she even supposed to start?

The sheer number of events crammed into such a short time? The casual way he spoke of experiences most people wouldn’t have in a lifetime? The fact that he had made progress in days that should take others decades?

Or how she found herself believing his utterly ridiculous stories without hesitation?

A creeping sense of dread settled over her.

-Oh, this? I woke up and I was 6th rank. Huh.

-A good night’s sleep does wonders for growth.

Would she soon be having stupid conversations like this with him?

Her gaze shifted to Rona.

“...”

The delinquent-looking woman was listening intently, eyes shining with an uncharacteristic glitter.

“Rona? What are you thinking?”

“Uh? Oh, nothing.”

“That’s not what your face said. Don’t be like that and tell me.”

“...”

Rona hesitated. Embarrassed by Risir’s attention, she mumbled a response.

“Well, I just suddenly felt proud.”

“?”

“You know, thinking about how my master is so amazing.”

“...?”

What’s with this woman, uh, demon? Is she done with the whole ‘not-a-girl’ act?

Wasn’t she just born to be female?

And wait—my master? MY master?

“Risir, what have you done to Rona?”

“Nothing in particular?”

“Oh really now? Yet the genderless-until-recently-desire demon is making doe-eyes like a girl experiencing her first love?”

“W-w-what are you talking about!”

Rona jumped to her feet, belatedly reverting to her delinquent demeanor. She explained herself in an awkwardly masculine voice.

“I think you got the wrong idea, so let me tell you! Look, aren’t I a slave? Yeah? So, if I’m gonna be a slave, isn’t it better to have a powerful master? You know what they say, better a manor stable than a shack bedroom and—”

“Uh-huh. Of course. As you say, Rona, it’s a delightful matter that your master is a wonderful man. For you.”

“Exactly what I’m saying! Huh? I mean—hey! I said that’s not it!”

Ignoring Rona’s protests, Fienne toyed with her.

Eventually, the red-faced Rona slammed a pouch onto the breakfast table.

“I-I’ll show you I’m a slave and not some girl!”

“?”

“?”

What kind of nonsensical sentence was that?

The other two were overwhelmed by the alien combination of words.

Ignoring their reactions, Rona handed the pouch, containing money, to Risir.

“Here! Take it!”

“So suddenly? Didn’t I tell you before it was fine?”

“Heheh. I think you’ll change your mind once you see how much is inside.”

“Huh? Oh, wow. You’re right. It’s so much fatter now. What happened?”

“Hehe. What happened, indeed. Some noble asked me for tea. So I poured some and I got a huge tip as a compliment. Then after some talking, I got another tip because the noble was so impressed by my conversation skills!”

“...Rona? You said you worked at a cafe, right?”

“Yeah!”

“By chance, was that generous tipper...a man?”

“Yup. So what?”

Is this really the same seductive devil who used to fleece people left and right?

Fienne sighed in frustration.

“Rona. Let me be clear—you shouldn’t accept that kind of money.”

“Hehe. Well, well, look who’s jealous?”

“I think that’s a bit presumptuous, Rona. If Fienne wanted to, she could buy a castle with tips alone.”

“...”

Risir’s interjection reminded Rona of how beautiful Fienne really was, and she grew somber.

This was the lady in white who had charmed an entire noble house into servitude while a certain devil was busy seducing stray adventurers.

Fienne retorted suspiciously.

“Where did that come from? Are you being sarcastic?”

“No? I’m praising your charms.”

Risir regarded Fienne with clear, unwavering eyes.

“Ugh. If you’re going to do it, at least do it right.”

Despite scowling, she didn’t look entirely displeased.

“Anyway, back on topic. Rona, the reason you shouldn’t accept that kind of money is...Imagine this. One day, this man comes back at the end of your shift and asks you to dinner.”

“But I don’t wanna?”

The delinquent girl’s scathing expression spoke volumes.

“Right? You’d hate to accept, yes? But oh no, you’ve already accepted his money.”

“What, it was just a tip.”

“Who gives that much as a tip? It’s a disguised personal gift. Of course, you’re not obligated to go out with him just because you accepted it. But men who try to buy a woman’s affection with money are mostly morons. If you refuse, he’ll probably pester you with all sorts of excuses. Rona, can you handle that?”

“...”

Rona glared sullenly at the pouch.

“Fine, I’ll return it.”

“You think he’ll just take it back that easily?”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Take it as an advance payment for the cafe’s services.”

“Huh?”

“If you frame it that way, he won’t be able to argue. His type has too much pride for that.”

“...Oh.”

Rona nodded despite herself, while Risir gazed at Fienne with respect.

“As expected...”

“Expected? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Risir quietly glanced at Rona.

“...”

The delinquent lady looked unexpectedly disheartened. Seeing that, Risir remembered something and pulled out his own pouch—the SSS-rank one from the elven princess. He took out a few gold coins and handed them to Rona.

Rona’s eyes grew round.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“You just said it yourself. It’s better to have a powerful master.”

Risir grinned playfully, flipping a coin.

“And isn’t that a good reason?”

“But I’m still your slave...how could I take your money?”

“Consider it an investment. I mean, remember what you said? You wanted to regain your strength, whether through swordsmanship or magic. Just as you’d prefer a more powerful master, isn’t it better to have a stronger slave? So, make use of that. Tell me if you need anything more.”

“...”

As Rona hesitated, Risir pressed the coins into her hand. She stared at them for a moment before clutching them tightly.

“Okay...I won’t disappoint you...”

What is going on?

Watching from the side, Fienne narrowed her eyes. No wonder the demon slave was acting like a lovestruck maiden out of nowhere. What kind of master treated their slave like this? Even a young lord lusting after a maid wouldn’t go this far.

And his obliviousness made it even worse.

“Risir, you—”

But as Fienne was about to say something...

“Here, Fienne. You should also take this.”

Risir offered her some coins as well.

Fienne was about to immediately refuse...but then, she noticed he’d given her one more coin than Rona.

She turned away with a dry cough, feigning disinterest.

“Why are you giving me this? Just so you know, I’m much better off than Rona. Probably better off than you, too.”

“Come on, there’s no need to compare between us.”

“...What are we, anyway?”

Fienne glanced at him sideways, her eyes betraying a hint of subconscious expectation.

“What do you mean? We’re engaged.”

Risir’s playful smile reminded Fienne of their first meeting, and her face crumpled.

“You’re such a tease.”

“Am I worse than the woman who tried to mind control me?”

“Ugh...ugh!”

She was vexed, but what could she do? Nothing at all.

Fienne couldn’t stop angrily flailing her arms and stamping her feet.

Risir thought she resembled a small, white bird flapping its wings.

“Anyway. No! I refuse to be indebted to you!”

“Is that how it feels? Then I’ll have to buy you a present with this.”

“Flowers? What would I do with something so cumbersome?”

“?”

Did I say anything about flowers?

“Anyway. Since you promised a bouquet of lilies and baby’s-breath, I suppose I’ll accept. It would only be a waste to throw it away.”

“?”

Did I say anything about lilies and baby’s-breath?

“What’s with that look? That’s what you said.”

“R-right?”

Risir nodded awkwardly. The progenitor’s mind control had pierced even his power of normalization.

Before long, the food they ordered arrived, filling the table.

Their meal began on a lively note.

***

[There is a unique entity nearby]

[You are affected by the entity]

***

[New skill acquired]

[Skill: Progenitor’s Embrace]

***

■Fienne

Level: 31 > 33

***

[There is a unique entity nearby]

[You are affected by the entity]

***

[Inactive stats are now active]

***

[New trait acquired]

[Skill: Vessel of Purity]

[A new class has been acquired as a result]

***

■Rona

Level: 1(13) > 13

Class: Priest

***

[Your actions have triggered a change]

***

[Your influence has reached a certain threshold]

[Corresponding perks will be awarded]

***

■Risir

Level: 34 > 35

***

[Your body cannot withstand the magic power]

[Your body has reached its limit]

***

[Title : Your body has reached its limit < what is this?]

Post : at level 29 99.99% exp, whenever I gain exp I get this message and my HP drops to almost zero

what’s going on?

: that’s so like my big sis. she’d rather die than admit being 30, using the age system as an excuse...

: I saw somewhere that 0.9999999... is actually 1. So maybe you’re already level 30.

: dats a bit philosophical

: nah it’s mathematical

: Math and philosophy have always been separated by a thin paper difference.

: so can I apply for engineering jobs with my philosophy degree?

: No, because of that thin paper you have.

: okay so u meant that kind of paper...

-[OP]: are you fcking serious? I was so happy to see so many replies but you guys are just shitting around

: Heheheh isn’t this what you wanted when you posted?

-[OP]: wtf bro

: btw I didn’t get that message when I hit 30

: yeah fr what’s with that?

: this little mofo lol he musta chugged elixirs from level 1 in multiplayer lol thinks he can game the system

-[OP]: holy hell how you know?

: obvious lol you don’t get that message unless you’re power-levelling like that

-[OP]: but how did YOU know about that sir?

: uh shit***All of a sudden, Risir started sniffling.

“Uh, excuse me. I don’t know why my nose is running.”

“Oh you, really now. In the middle of a meal with maidens?”

“Why is it maidens? I’ll say it again but I’m—”

Just as Fienne and Rona were about to complain about Risir’s sniffling, their faces paled.

“R-Risir, you—blood. Blood!”

“Blood?”

“You’re bleeding! That’s not snot!”

“Huh?”

Risir touched his upper lip.

He realized his side of the table was soaked in blood.

“Fienne, calm down! If you lick your lips—”

Amidst his nonchalant nonsense, Risir suddenly slumped sideways and collapsed. Fienne and Rona rushed to his side in shock

Remembering the lucky coin dupe(?) incident, Fienne channeled her power to strengthen Risir’s spirit. But unlike last time, his condition didn’t improve; it didn’t seem to be a mental issue.

He hacked up blood.

“Risir! Risir!!! Wake up!”

“I’m awake...but I can’t move...”

Fienne’s face turned ashen.

Rona was just as shocked. Her breath hitched.

What do I do? Get a priest? B-but will it be fine? What if they find out what I am...?’

While she floundered in panic, Risir coughed up more blood.

Without thinking, Rona moved closer and reached out.

She knew, rationally, that there was nothing she could do; it was purely instinctual.

“...Huh?”

Then, her hand glowed with a warm, sunny light, gently enveloping Risir.

“?”

“?”

Ehh?

Forgetting the urgency of the situation, Risir and Fienne dumbly stared at the former desire demon.