Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 6: The Witch of the Western Forest

***She was a woman who could smile as vibrantly as a field of wildflowers, radiating a purity so flawless she seemed untouched by even the faintest trace of imperfection. She had appeared so kind, as if she could embrace all the mistakes and flaws of others.

There was always a warm curve to her lips—even now, as a hero pulled her head out of a sack soaked with blood.

The citizens cheered, for the Witch of the Western Forest was dead.

***As darkness began to fall, the master and disciple parted ways, promising to meet again on the morrow.

Pamon left the Bendel manor and headed straight into the streets. Her footsteps, bouncing to a fluttering rhythm, were not just light but cheerful. The hem of her purple robe swayed in tune with her steps.

<Really now.>

Duran clicked his tongue at Pamon’s behavior. It’s a book, but it clicked its tongue anyway.

<Have you already gotten used to it?>

“Hm? To what?”

<This city. You were so disgusted when you first came here.>

“Was I?”

-Oh my, Duran. Don’t you smell something strange?

-But I’m a book.

“Was I really~”

-Duran, can you see that sculpture over there? How hideous... What’s so pretty about it that they proudly display it? I don’t get human aesthetics.

-By general standards, while its artistic value might be low, I don’t think it’s visually unpleasant. Especially compared to those things you have hanging all over your hut.

“I don’t remember~”

-Ugh~ The ground feels strange~

-Is that so? I think it’s a fairly well-paved road.

-My mistake. I should have worn shoes with higher heels.

-You can just get new ones while you’re here. I saw plenty being sold around here.

-No way~ They’re probably hideous things made from leather brutally stripped by savage hunters. You want me to wear such things~?

“...Ahem~”

-It’s suffocating. Why are there so many humans?

-Because it’s a city.

-Don’t they feel cramped living all bunched up in such a small place? Aren’t they just like long-legged spiders gathered in a narrow cave?

-Didn’t you call those horrible things cute before? Now you’re comparing them to humans you’re disgusted with?

-What I mean is~ humans live together like this without even being close to each other, like those spiders. It’s why they’re always gossiping, fighting and...

“...”

-Hey Pamon. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the library?

-Mhm. That’s why we came, right?

-What. If you’re going to the library, shouldn’t you go to that main building we visited earlier?

-Duran. You might not know, but the interesting reads are usually hidden in places like this.

-Then why did you sigh when you saw people lined up at the main building?

-I was out of breath from walking too long, I guess?

-Then why did you sigh after looking around at the books here?

-...Oh my~ Look at this one, Duran. The author claims to be an herb expert yet nothing written is correct~ How amusing~

-Look at this dust. Call this a library? No it’s a warehouse. You’re really something. Staying cooped up here because you don’t want to meet humans.

Trying to play dumb in front of a book?

Duran reminded her of their previous conversations one by one with memory befitting its appearance.

Pamon fidgeted sheepishly all the while, but then...

“Ah~”

She clapped excitedly when Duran mentioned the library annex.

“Right! That book, the one Risir was reading. I almost forgot. When I have time, I should go borrow that book~ A book about cats. I guess the city really is something. They have all sorts of things, don’t they?”

Duran snorted incredulously.

It didn’t have a nose, being a book, but it snorted anyway.

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<So. What will you do?>

“Hm?”

<Tonight. What are your plans? Didn’t you say you were going to stay in that warehouse?>

“Warehouse~ That’s rude to your friends, Duran.”

<Friends my foot.>

“And come to think of it, that doesn’t seem right. Since I’ve come out of the forest after so long, shouldn’t I enjoy the city’s culture?”

<Weren’t you just complaining about every little thing earlier?>

“You know how forest people can be a bit rough around the edges~”

<Looks like you’ve become a city person already?>

“You know. Dark elves are a race of adaptation. Isn’t that how we survived in that harsh forest?”

<Good for you.>

Ta-tap.

Pamon’s constant, rhythmical footsteps finally stopped.

“Ah, here we are.”

Before parting, the last topic Pamon discussed with Risir was about Hayeren.

Suddenly, and for reasons unknown, she grew interested in Hayeren and asked her disciple various things about this city.

-In your opinion, Risir, what’s the most impressive place in this place?

At first, the conversation proceeded mostly in that manner. ‘Risir’ was always included at the front of her questions.

In your opinion, Risir... How do you, Risir, think about...

The disciple answered sincerely, hoping his master would have a good time. Watching him, the master felt a spark of competitiveness stir in her.

-Then, what about places like this? The kind you haven’t been to yet, but have interest in.

As his master, she wanted to experience places her disciple hadn’t experienced yet, and then share what she saw and felt.

Pamon figured it was a splendid way to tour the city, sharing experiences with her disciple who was a local.

“Ah~ If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve packed more clothes. Risir will probably think, ‘Oh, seeing my master wear the same outfit for a week, she must be in poor straits~ Her social status must not be that high~’”

<Really? That kid’s quite perceptive.>

They had arrived at the place Risir mentioned as somewhere he hadn’t been to yet, but had interest in.

“A café. So this is what’s trendy among humans these days?”

When Risir first heard about the city’s café, he thought of a shop with a mermaid sign selling bitter water made from roasted beans. But what Pamon saw was quite different from his imagination.

In the city, a café was a place for socializing, where those with some education, etiquette, and status gathered to discuss and build friendships.

“I see a lot of children around Risir’s age?”

Just as Pamon was about to enter the café...

Thump!

She was pushed to the side. A woman bumped into Pamon’s shoulder as she passed by.

“Oh my. Excuse me.”

The noblewoman, known as Lady Moila in the area, turned around as if to apologize, but then...

“What’s this? A dark elf?”

Gazing into Pamon’s eyes, she smiled sadistically.

Moila’s companions came to surround Pamon.

-What’s with them? How can they see you?

-I lifted the cognitive disruption magic.

-What? Why did you do that?

-Well, I guess I wanted a vivid experience.

-This feels a little too vivid.

Their voices, masked by magic, couldn’t be heard by anyone else.

After finishing their conversation, Pamon gracefully bowed her head to Moila.

“I’m sorry. I must have been lost in thought for a moment.”

Pfft.

The response was an unrestrained sneer.

“A dark elf pretending to be noble?”

Moila cast a scrutinizing eye over Pamon’s robe.

“What’s this? Girls, have a look here. Have you ever seen fabric like this?”

“Is it from the East? I did hear Eastern goods are fashionable in the imperial capital these days.”

“Quite elegant. This one must be very rich indeed, whoever she is.”

“Indeed.”

Moila brought her face close to Pamon, speaking in a low voice.

“I wonder where a mere dark elf obtained something so precious. Hm?”

“Don’t be like that. She may have bought it with her hard-earned money. Thievery can be quite profitable, after all.”

“Or perhaps she fleeced some country noble? Using those frightful spells and curses no doubt.”

Regardless, Pamon retained her lively smile.

“If you’re done talking, I’ll be on my way.”

As Pamon took a step, Moila blocked her path.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m interested in the shop behind you.”

“Oh really? But what a shame. This isn’t a place for lowly creatures like you to enter.”

Moila signaled to her escorting bodyguard, Garon. He approached Pamon and spoke in a firm, dry tone while emphasizing the sword at his belt.

“Hey, dark elf. Show me your pass.”

The hostile atmosphere drew attention from the surroundings.

Moila gracefully apologized to the onlookers.

“I’m sorry for the disturbance, everyone. Please bear with us, as the matter will be resolved quickly.”

At Moila’s signal, Garon nodded.

“I’ll hand her over to the guard.”

But just as he was about to roughly grab Pamon’s arm.

“...”

The light disappeared from his pupils, and he abruptly froze on the spot.

“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. By any chance, is there anyone here from the Bendel family?”

Pamon spoke to the crowd.

“What? Bendel?”

“How dare you mention their name with that filthy mouth?”

“Ah. Thank you for your polite response?”

As soon as Pamon finished speaking, Garon sprang into action.

Slap!

A sharp, violent sound rang out. And it did not stop.

“Ahhhh!!! Garon!! What are you doing!”

“What are you—Ack!!! You h-hit me?! You hit me?!”

Garon’s hand moved with precision, leaving huge handprints on the cheeks of the noble group one by one.

“This is Lady Moila’s order...”

“What!? How dare you—”

“N-no! Garon, are you crazy?! What are you saying!!!”

A spectacle unfolded. The daughters of aristocracy started screaming at each other, slapping faces, and pulling hair.

The area in front of the café turned chaotic in an instant.

“Why is it so noisy outside?”

“Moila and Rodan seem to be having a scrap?”

“...Let’s go!”

Passersby on the street and café customers all came out to watch this rare sight.

The dark elf had already been cleanly forgotten from their memories. Once again cloaked in cognitive disruption magic, she pushed through the crowd and entered the café.

A cup was left unattended on the counter, with no staff to serve it and no customer to receive it as everyone had gone out to watch the fight.

The dark elf placed a gold coin on the counter and picked up the cup.

“Mmm~”

Taking a seat by the window and trying a sip, she made a satisfied sound.

<Well, Pamon? How does that product of urban culture taste?>

“Not bad? Actually, it’s honestly quite good. I wonder what kind of tea this is? It’s black and bitter, but has a unique flavor.”

Duran scoffed dryly at Pamon’s nonchalant response.

In the book’s view, its owner was in an extremely abnormal state. Knowing her, she should have felt great disappointment and disgust at what she just experienced.

Those rude, vulgar humans would have paid a hefty price. A price far greater than losing friendships, honor, and suffering shame by fighting gracelessly in the middle of the street.

Yet here she was, enjoying human places and culture with pure enjoyment on her face.

<The sun must be rising from the west tomorrow.>

“Right? I hope tomorrow comes quickly~ I bet my disciple is looking forward to it just like me.”

<This is driving me nuts.>

***

▷ Fate 5: ‘The Witch of the Western Forest’ has been deactivated.

***