Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 117

Hilde’s widely swung Executioner’s Axe blade clashed with the sharp claw-like blades of the high-tier Beast ‘Brahms’.

The collision between the thick, heavy axe and the thin, rusted blade produced an incredibly loud metallic sound and sparks that seemed unbelievable for such different weapons.

“…!”

It’s heavy.

Hilde instantly realized that she was being overwhelmed in terms of raw power.

A muscle pain like being stabbed by an awl shot through her waist and shoulders, but the warmth radiating from the Ring of Deep Grace enveloped and soothed it.

When Brahms swung its other claw in succession, Hilde deflected it with a Parry.

Though the attack missed, Brahms didn’t waver significantly, giving Hilde no opening to exploit.

While she was slightly surprised to face an opponent who wouldn’t falter even after a Parry – her first time experiencing this – there was no time to dwell on such emotions now.

Even after clashing axe against claws several more times, each exchange resulted in a stalemate at best.

Having somewhat grasped Brahms’ pattern, Hilde stepped back slightly while quickly drawing her pistol with one hand and shooting at Brahms’ glowing red eye socket.

“Kiaaaaaah!”

Brahms let out a piercing scream.

One of Eugene’s teachings – there will be enemies you can’t handle in close combat, so never forget about ranged attacks.

Seeing that lesson prove exactly right brought a slight smile to Hilde’s face.

After that, she waited for the right opportunity and shot the remaining eye as well, causing the red light burning in Brahms’ eye sockets to completely vanish.

And as if to replace that light, blood tears began pouring out like an opened faucet.

“Blessed are those who mourn…”

Brahms spoke again.

Simultaneously, the iron cage in its chest opened wide.

“All flesh is like grass…”

The human bodies packed inside that cage crawled out like insects and wrapped around Brahms’ body.

From the victims’ bodies being forcibly transformed came the sounds of breaking bones and dying screams as their last small sparks of life were extinguished.

“Let me show you my end and chaos…”

As Brahms donned the armor made of human bodies, an even more intense red light than before blazed from its previously darkened eye sockets.

At the same time, its presence and pressure grew much stronger, and a faint red mist surrounded the area.

“W-we’re done for!”

“We’re going to die…”

The ordinary Development Department people behind her shuddered with instinctive fear.

Even Hilde could feel through the tingling premonition of death transmitted to her skin that the current Brahms was clearly stronger than her.

But Hilde’s heart didn’t waver in the slightest.

Rather, thinking of her precious person ignited her fighting spirit even more.

If she died here, she wouldn’t be able to keep her promise to meet again.

A bluish moonlight began emanating from Hilde’s axe.

*    *    *

“Denied.”

Crowty shook his head.

“I don’t care.”

But Sephira didn’t back down at all.

“I’ll go alone if I have to.”

Sephira, who had just returned from an outdoor mission, realized the anomaly at the Development Department and rushed here at full speed.

And from the field overall commander Crowty and the six 9th-rank hunters who escaped from death’s door, she learned that Eugene was inside that behemoth.

If so, there was only one thing to do.

“I said I cannot allow it!”

Crowty spoke forcefully.

“…”

Sephira silently glared at him.

The overwhelming presence between the two higher-ranked hunters collided, pressing down on the surrounding air.

“We still don’t know what’s in there! If there are people alive in there! Your rash actions could kill them all!”

“They have no guarantee of survival if we just stand here doing nothing anyway.”

Sephira turned her back as if she had nothing more to say and walked toward Pinocchio.

“3rd-rank hunter Sephira.”

For the first time, Crowty drew his pistol and aimed it.

His target was his colleague, subordinate, and the child he had raised like a daughter.

That action made everyone hold their breath, and even Sephira stopped in her tracks.

“I am the overall commander. If you enter there, I’ll consider it insubordination.”

Crowty’s voice was colder and sharper than ever before.

“I don’t care. Backing down here would be no different than death for me.”

Sephira, as if not wanting to lose to him, placed her hand on her sword hilt.

“Sephira!”

“…”

“To think it would come to this!”

Just as Crowty was about to pull the trigger, his hand holding the pistol trembled.

Most people who saw this thought Crowty was struggling greatly with his decision, but all hunters above mid-rank looked in a certain direction.

“That’s enough.”

White clothes and a white mask.

Viola, the Saintess’s direct guard and a 1st-rank hunter, appeared and spoke.

Several small, fine threads extending from Viola’s outstretched hand were binding Crowty’s pistol.

“What are you doing?”

Crowty asked.

“Even you cannot interfere with my field command authority. You should know that.”

“Of course. But I’m not stopping you with my own authority.”

“…What?”

Understanding Viola’s words, Crowty’s expression went blank as he lowered his hand from the pistol.

“The Saintess has arrived. Everyone, receive Her radiance.”

With Viola’s announcement and the presence they felt, both Crowty and even Sephira started in surprise.

And somehow a small, delicate woman completely covered in white Vale had appeared.

“S-Saintess!”

The head of the Order.

The leader of hunters.

The pinnacle and origin point of Beast hunting.

“2nd-rank hunter Crowty.”

The Saintess spoke.

“Ah… even if it’s the Saintess…”

Almost everyone present held their breath at Crowty’s words.

Viola’s hands trembled with cold anger while even Sephira’s eyes went wide.

Rather, Runius and Latina showed respect for such a Crowty.

“I understand well what your concerns are.”

“Then you must know that my judgment isn’t wrong…!”

Though sweating and gritting his teeth, Crowty tried to maintain his position.

“Crowty Herzen!!!”

Viola exploded in anger at Crowty’s excessive audacity.

Small white flames began burning from the ring on Viola’s finger.

“Enough.”

But with just that single word from the Saintess, that fierce presence instantly vanished and Viola immediately knelt before the Saintess.

“I have no intention of blaming you.”

“Th-then why are you stopping me?”

“3rd-rank hunter Sephira.”

Instead of answering, the Saintess called another hunter’s name.

“…Yes.”

Not expecting to suddenly be called, Sephira answered a beat late.

“The sword.”

“…What?”

“3rd-rank hunter Sephira. The Saintess desires your sword.”

Viola explained to Sephira who couldn’t immediately understand the Saintess’s words.

“…!”

The surroundings stirred.

The Saintess wants the sword.

Which means…

“Ah…”

For a moment forgetting even her worry about Eugene, Sephira unconsciously walked before the Saintess, knelt on one knee, and carefully presented the holy sword Robera with both hands.

And the Saintess, the hunter Belle, took up her old beloved sword.

“Huk…!”

“Ah, ungh…”

Just from that alone, those without sufficient mental fortitude fell into all sorts of emotions.

Fear, pity, ecstasy…

Some indescribable fragrance wafting from the Saintess.

An irresistible voice that mysteriously passed through eardrums to stir the brain.

A form that leaves burn-like marks behind the eyes just from looking at it.

The Saintess captures human souls with her mere existence.

Though it was like a curse with forceful power, no one harbored irreverent doubts toward the Saintess.

Everyone here except for one revered the Saintess.

“You… youuuu!!!”

Between Pinocchio’s split face, another face emerged.

It resembled a human face but the skin was completely pale without any blood, and it had no hair or eyebrows.

Its pupils were red like flowing blood, and one could immediately see they were filled with unfathomable negative emotions like hatred and resentment.

“I curse you! I curse all your kind!! Go to hell, all of you!!!”

Those hate-filled eyes shed transparent tears while screaming curses that seemed like they would rupture eardrums.

“If it weren’t for you bitches none of this would have happened!! If it weren’t for you!! If it weren’t for you!!!!”

The transparent tears had somehow turned black, becoming like viscous tar.

Everywhere those falling drops touched immediately rotted with a terrible stench.

Instinctive fear and revulsion bloomed in the hearts of those who smelled it.

“As Saintess, I command.”

And the Saintess’s voice rang out, instantly dispelling people’s agitation.

Though it was a small voice, her words reached everyone’s ears clearly.

“Everyone except higher-ranked hunters, withdraw.”

“B-but!”

Crowty raised his voice one last time.

“…”

“Ah… understood.”

And with just the Saintess’s steady gaze, Crowty bowed his head and submitted.

As if entranced, everyone here except for a few higher-ranked hunters returned to their positions.

It was an orderly withdrawal as if they had agreed to it from the start.

“I’ll kill you all! I’ll tear you to pieces and kill you! I’ll rip off your limbs and chew them up!”

As Pinocchio’s split face closed, the face inside disappeared again.

At the same time, Pinocchio moved its arms greatly for the first time, trying to strike down at the Saintess.

“I remember you.”

The Saintess’s gentle voice.

And Pinocchio’s descending arm was cut off and fell to the ground.

“Kiaaaagh!”

Pinocchio wailed.

“Your name is Iron Hans. And your current name is Pinocchio.”

“Wrong! Wrong! I’m not that! I am! My real name is…!!”

Pinocchio’s neck was severed.

The falling giant head turned to black ash and scattered before even hitting the ground.

“Deceiver…”

A small voice was heard from within the ash that had poured to the ground and become like mist.

The head that was inside Pinocchio rolled to the Saintess’s feet.

“Fraud…. Trash…. Hypocrite…”

The black tears flowing from Pinocchio’s eyes turned red and spread across the ground.

However, as if hitting some invisible wall, the pool of blood flowed avoiding only where the Saintess stood.

She raised her sword one last time.

“I know…. I know…. The unforgivable sins you’ve committed…. Who you killed….”

The sword pierced the small head of Pinocchio.

“That child was more loose-lipped than expected…”

No one here understood Belle’s final words.

“Now then.”

She held out the sword to Sephira again.

“…Is it over now?”

Sephira asked as she took back Robera.

“What remains depends on them.”

“Them…?”

With those words, the Saintess and Viola vanished again.

“H-hey… something’s strange.”

Latina said.

“That thing… Its head was cut off, but why isn’t it dead?”

Though Pinocchio’s head that had swallowed the Development Department was gone, its body still remained in place.