Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 130

The very next day after completing Gerda’s admission procedures and aptitude test, I was summoned before Crowty.

“You… try to keep things moderate.”

Crowty massaged his temples while pushing a document across his desk.

It was the report containing Gerda’s aptitude test results, which showed she had exceptional aptitude as expected.

“Where exactly did you find a child like this?”

“…She’s my cousin sister.”

“You expect me to believe that? How could you have such a relative?”

Having gone through the Heresy Inquisition Department several times already, they must all know my personal information by now.

They must know well that I don’t have any such cousin sister.

“You know you’ve been giving off an extremely suspicious vibe lately, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Sigh….”

Crowty crossed his arms and tilted his head back in thought.

I know all too well that I’m suspicious, perhaps excessively so.

But I can’t exactly talk about Blue Paper Moon and Snow White, so for now I have no choice but to deny everything.

“…Well, truthfully from our position, having someone like her join isn’t a bad thing. We’d welcome her with open arms, rather. But what gives me a headache is you. Keep drawing attention to yourself like this and nothing good will come of it.”

Crowty was right.

Following Sephira and Hilde, this would be the first time in Order history that exceptional talents have joined in such quick succession.

Though the shock is positive, the problem is that I’m deeply connected to all three of them.

If I had ambitions to climb higher, this kind of attention might be good, but not for me.

“I can tell you have circumstances… but I wish you’d be honest with me. It would make it easier for me to respond appropriately.”

“She’s a child who lost her only family, her brother, to a Beast… in Lasso Village.”

“Ah.”

Crowty’s expression turned bitter.

“Since we can’t find her brother for her, she came to become stronger so she can find him herself.”

“…I understand that. But you didn’t necessarily need to become her guardian.”

That’s… just my cheap attempt at atonement.

My sin of bringing her here with lies about being able to find Kai.

I told those lies to help as much as I could.

“…”

“That wound on your leg, she gave it to you, didn’t she?”

Someone of Crowty’s position would have figured out what Gerda did and how I responded.

Reading people’s psychology is a nobleman’s specialty after all.

“You really are ridiculously kind to a fault…. But be careful. You can’t keep bringing in children like this – once or twice is fine, but not every time.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

“Well, this time we should be thankful since she has exceptional aptitude. And having even a nominal guardian is much better. Anyway, this will do for now. I’ll handle the follow-up. We’ll need someone to train Gerda separately… wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

“…Would you consider doing that job again?”

“That job? …Ah, you can’t mean.”

“Yes. Training Gerda like you did with Hilde.”

“No. That’s… there must be plenty of real experts better than me.”

“You’re plenty expert enough yourself. If anything, this seems to suit you better than being a hunter.”

“That can’t be.”

“Did you know Hilde constantly praises you to others, going on about her senior?”

That kid Hilde doing unnecessary things….

“And even in the recent trainee evaluations, the ones you were in charge of scored better on average.”

That is something to be proud of.

Honestly, it made me incredibly happy.

“So there were even some suggesting we change your position to full-time instructor. What was it… Marquis Bluebeard said so too.”

The Marquis….

I wonder if he and Jarkoff are still in the Heresy Inquisition Department.

The fact that the Marquis betrayed us is still being thoroughly concealed.

But someone of Crowty’s position would probably know.

“And to be honest… I agree with that opinion too.”

“What?!”

Even Crowty?!

“Taking capable personnel from the field isn’t an easy decision. But we have a severe absolute shortage of manpower. We need ten average people more than one capable person at this point.”

That’s… unavoidable I suppose.

“In that sense, we’re also considering promoting you to 7th-rank hunter.”

“…?”

What?

Seventh rank?

“Um… hasn’t the 7th-rank hunter position been vacant for 10 years?”

“It has.”

“And the last 7th-rank hunter was you, Sir Crowty.”

“That’s right.”

7th-rank hunter.

Since mid-ranked hunters start from 6th rank, even 7th rank still falls within the lower-ranked hunter domain.

But the weight carried by the name ‘7th rank’ is heavier than most mid-ranked hunters.

The 7th-rank hunter holds the crucial position of being responsible for the rank and training of lower-ranked hunters, who make up the largest numbers in the Order.

It’s not a position you can take just by being strong – it’s been left vacant for 10 years since Crowty stepped down, with him handling those duties concurrently.

“How could I possibly do something like that?”

“…”

Crowty stared at me steadily.

Well… I suppose my recent actions have been carrying too many extraordinary qualifiers.

But that’s that, and this is this.

Even outstanding seniors from 7 years ago couldn’t think about the 7th-rank hunter position.

How could someone like me possibly be qualified for 7th rank?

“Well, it’s not being decided right away. It’s just talk for now. Focus on your current work. Anyway, back to what we were discussing earlier, it would be good for you to take charge of Gerda. If you prove yourself again this time, 7th rank might not be so far off.”

“No, really, I’m not interested in that position.”

“…Positions are like that sometimes. Even if you’re not interested, sometimes you end up in them anyway.”

“…”

Come to think of it, didn’t Crowty also try to stay at 7th rank until the end?

But there were rumors that his talents and background were too overwhelming, so the Saintess personally ordered it and he couldn’t refuse.

Though it wasn’t mentioned in Blue Paper Moon’s settings, it was probably quite possible.

“…Sir Crowty.”

“Yes?”

“Why did you want to remain a lower-ranked hunter?”

“I… like this work. I’m sick of things like face and honor.”

The second son of a duke’s family.

A position where he could marry a real princess if he wanted, and if there were political reasons, he could even aim for the throne.

His words felt weightier, perhaps because they came from someone who originally held a position where even having this conversation wouldn’t have been permitted.

“At least I feel more alive now than when I lived as a noble. That’s the only reason.”

I wonder how many people realize how much help it is having someone like Crowty care about lower-ranked hunters.

Though everyone must feel grateful, thanks to knowledge from my past life, I could vaguely grasp Crowty’s efforts and wanted to applaud him.

“Anyway, stop changing the subject. You’re taking charge of Gerda.”

“Ah….”

Was I found out.

* * *

“…What are you thinking?”

After Eugene left, the assistant asked Crowty.

“What am I thinking about?”

“About Eugene. Weren’t you the one who first brought up the 7th-rank hunter position?”

“He’s a good kid.”

“Even if you promote Eugene to 7th-rank hunter, you don’t plan to hand over the lower-ranked hunter duties, do you?”

“You know me a bit too well, that’s the problem.”

“Of course I do. I’ve been with you since you were 7 years old after all…”

“Ah, I know. I know. You probably know me better than I know myself.”

“Of course.”

“So think about it yourself.”

“Hmm… this might be a bit presumptuous.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Perhaps… are you seeing yourself in Eugene?”

“Me in that kid?”

“Yes. Of course, there are big differences in background and talent. But… you’re definitely similar. To how you were when you were a lower-ranked hunter. Though his strength may be weak, his mindset and determination… those things are very similar. Even the atmosphere feels somewhat alike.”

“…Tch.”

“So I was right. I knew you still had your heart set on the 7th rank position, so it wasn’t a difficult guess.”

“You really do know me too well.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, never mind that… anyway, about this child called Gerda….”

“Yes. She’s just an ordinary child who lived in Lasso Village with no connections. Ah, come to think of it, Eugene’s treatment of Gerda is quite similar to when you raised Sephira like a daugh-“

“That’s enough of that talk. Let’s be serious now, we need to think about how to handle this Gerda child.”

“Isn’t she a reliable asset? Following Sephira and Hilde, now Gerda too. This is the first time in Order history that exceptional talents have joined in succession like this.”

“True. But… it makes me uneasy. Things in this world don’t usually go this smoothly.”

“Isn’t that too pessimistic? Sometimes things just work out well due to luck.”

“It’s my job to always assume the worst. And… I have a bad feeling.”

“A feeling…?”

“Yes. I mentioned that dangerous ones have started moving up above. That pink-haired woman Eugene discovered is probably… a threat on par with Red Hood.”

“…For Eugene to meet both her and Blanc at the same time and return unharmed, just how…”

“That’s what puzzles me most too. That Eugene kid… there’s definitely something there. This many coincidences? Especially in such chaotic times? Rather… it makes more sense to think he’s been hiding something all along, and is only now starting to move properly.”

“But the Heresy Inquisition Department investigated several times and found nothing.”

“He probably has some knowledge or technique, blessing that we don’t know about. We have no way of knowing how he got such things but…”

“…Should we torture him?”

“Are you crazy?”

“…”

“…I don’t want to use such methods. There’s an old fairy tale like this. The story of the goose that laid golden eggs. Eugene is doing well on his own. It’s better if those above don’t interfere unnecessarily.”

“But not everyone will think that way.”

“That’s why I have to do my best. It’s also my duty to protect the field hunters from behind.”

“Things will get even harder. You’re already not getting proper sleep… we really need to recruit more administrative staff.”

“Where would we find such personnel….”

“But if this continues, you might seriously collapse from fatigue. If that happens, it would negatively impact the entire Order. So you need to take more rest.”

“…I’ll try.”