Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 133

“What… what is that exactly? A Beast?”

Pieta said.

“…It’s that woman who appeared in Cranion and Lasso Village.”

I carefully shared the information while loading my rifle.

After all, the name Snow White Margarete wasn’t known yet.

“That is…? I heard she makes clones using humans, but still…”

Pieta examined each of Margarete’s clones one by one.

“They don’t seem particularly threatening, but there are too many. Plus that boy in the middle…”

Pieta glanced briefly at Gerda.

“I heard Gerda’s younger brother went missing – so it was kidnapping.”

This surprised me too.

I was certain he had been devoured by a Beast at Lasso Village, but was he just taken by Margarete who came back looking for prey?

She must have torn the man next to him to pieces to make us think he died too.

She’s quite meticulous in some ways…

“Gerda. Come this way.”

I called out to Gerda who was still sitting on the ground.

“Ah… but… Kai…”

Gerda responded to my call, showing she had regained some of her senses, but she still seemed confused because of Kai.

Can’t blame her.

It would be wrong to expect composure from an inexperienced child when her brother suddenly appears like this, in such a way.

“…Tch.”

In an instant, Pieta dashed forward and grabbed Gerda, pushing her back.

It must have been a push enhanced with magical power, as Gerda’s body flew easily all the way over here.

I caught the flying Gerda.

“All of you, run.”

Pieta drew her twin swords.

Unlike Gerda’s standard-issue silver short sword, these were two specially crafted rapiers made with all the skill Workshop 1’s craftsmen could muster.

Like Gerda she was a dual wielder, and it would have been good reference to see her fighting style, but the situation wasn’t good.

“I can handle those creepy women over there by myself. But… that boy in the middle is an unknown. I can’t gauge his abilities.”

“H-he’s my brother! You can’t hurt him!”

“The enemy uses mental attacks through eye contact and ice magic. Be careful.”

I said while holding Gerda down.

The clones’ mental attacks are extremely tricky.

Even a mid-ranked hunter could fall helplessly if not careful.

“I see. So that’s how she could gather so many fanatics. What a nasty woman.”

“And… it would be better not to fight that boy. You should just stall for time and retreat…”

If Kai has the same power as Snow White’s servants that I know of, he’s the enemy we should be most careful of.

“Though I can’t gauge his ability… he doesn’t feel overwhelmingly strong. I might be able to handle it somehow.”

“Yawn, are you done talking?”

One of the clones stepped forward while yawning.

As if whatever we did would be meaningless.

“Hey, ugly one.”

Pieta pointed her rapier at her.

“…What?”

Margarete’s face twisted.

“I mean you, you. How shameless to make so many copies of that hideous face?”

“…”

Oh… Though it’s clearly meant to draw attention to herself, that’s some sharp wordplay.

“You… lowly and vulgar human…”

The provocation seems to have worked perfectly on Margarete.

“I’ll kill you!!”

“Retreat!”

I tried to escape with the trainees in that moment.

“But…!”

As expected Gerda tried to stay, but I forcibly grabbed her and escaped.

Even though Gerda was an incredible genius who grew stronger quickly, I could still easily take her away at this point.

“I really hope she fights moderately and comes back safely…”

As I fled, I could only hope Pieta would return safely.

*    *    *

Pieta rapidly moved her two thin, long rapiers to intercept all of the countless ice spears flying toward her.

When she saw several clones behind the ones who had launched the spears have their eyes turn purple, she remembered Eugene’s words and slightly turned her whole body sideways while diving into the side of the enemy formation.

More ice spears flew at Pieta as she made a wide detour, but she dodged all attacks quickly and lightly like a whirlwind.

“Is that all you’ve got? Your aim is as terrible as your face!”

“How dare you…!!”

When several clones waved their hands, a giant sheet of ice formed under Pieta’s feet and frost began creeping up her boots.

Sensing instinctive danger, Pieta used [Acceleration] to instantly escape the ice sheet, and moments later a small blizzard swept through where she had been.

Though she wasn’t sure of that blizzard’s exact effects, she would have been caught if she stayed still.

Using [Acceleration] faster than Eugene’s, Pieta immediately arrived in front of the group of clones and thrust her right rapier.

“Ugh!”

“Aagh!”

“Guh…!”

In the blink of an eye she stabbed three of them, and a subtle yet sharp energy coated the rapier’s blade.

This was the ability of the right rapier ‘Michelangelo’ – after three consecutive attacks it temporarily strengthens the weapon for additional damage, with the duration extending each time a triple strike succeeds.

Though she normally used it to gauge enemy defenses by mixing weak and strong attacks, Snow White’s clones were completely pierced even before the enhancement.

In that case, the other side would be more useful.

“This…!”

“Die!”

While continuously dodging the clones’ successive attacks, Pieta dove into their formation again and thrust her left rapier three times in succession.

Once again the Snow White clones were easily pierced through, and in return a subtle yet sturdy barrier formed around Pieta’s entire body.

This was the defensive ability of the left sword ‘Langrosaiyo’ – like its sister sword Michelangelo, successful consecutive strikes create a new barrier.

Though it doesn’t stack to become stronger, it’s an extremely useful ability for facing multiple opponents and was the reason for Pieta’s confidence.

“What? What? This is really nothing! Is this really all you’ve got?! I’m totally disappointed!”

Having completely grasped the clones’ combat abilities, Pieta shouted confidently.

Only one – the pretty boy whose combat ability couldn’t even be estimated – had remained standing in the same spot from the start.

He looked completely disinterested, as if the fight didn’t even exist.

No, those things probably don’t even have emotions since they have mind control abilities.

…In that case, isn’t he weaker than expected?

Such thoughts gradually bloomed in Pieta’s mind.

If he could be completely mind controlled by such pathetic ones, he probably isn’t that impressive…?

“Hmm…”

To confirm, Pieta used [Acceleration] again to rush at Kai.

She extended Michelangelo, the offensive weapon, forward but didn’t intend to actually attack, planning to just graze past.

And the rapier’s tip carelessly grazed the boy’s arm, drawing a small spray of blood and leaving a scratch.

Even as Pieta instantly passed before him, Kai didn’t spare her a glance.

“…Just decoration, huh. What awful taste.”

To bring such a powerless yet beautiful boy to a battlefield like this.

They must be insane, or quite confident in their numbers.

But it was all pointless… that’s what Pieta thought.

“The world really is in decline.”

Pieta shook Kai’s blood off her blade.

Most of the battle tension and worry had disappeared now.

She was more concerned about the blood on her sword.

Lady Sephira wouldn’t have gotten even a drop of blood on her blade even if she cut someone in half, let alone just grazed them.

The impression from directly witnessing Sephira’s hunting back then still vividly remained in her mind.

That strength, that beauty…

“Tch…!”

Compared to her, the red-eyed woman clicking her tongue with a frustrated expression up ahead may have a pretty face, but was inferior to Sephira in every way.

“Sigh… shall we finish this quickly and head back.”

Pieta raised her rapiers again and charged at the clones.

The twin rapiers instantly pierced and killed the remaining 14 clones.

Their pathetic resistance couldn’t even graze a fold of Pieta’s clothes.

And finally, only Kai remained, still standing blankly while holding his flute.

“What should I do with the kid…”

Pieta lowered her weapons and approached Kai.

What should be done with this boy who looked just like the talented new recruit Gerda’s brother.

“Hmm… they really do look alike.”

Pieta looked more closely at Kai’s face.

Suddenly Kai’s face tilted to the side.

“Huh?”

No, not just his face but his whole body… why… was the ground rising?

Pieta collapsed with a thud.

The flute Kai had been holding was somehow embedded in her side, with fresh hot blood trickling like tap water from the instrument’s holes.

“…Heheh.”

Laughter came from somewhere but she couldn’t even turn her head.

Poison… was there poison coated on the tip of the instrument…?

“Hehehe… ahahaha!”

The laughter turned into loud mockery.

“Hahaha!”

“Ahahaha!”

The laughter grew even more than before, as if the whole world had become filled with ridicule.

“Ahah… that was really fun.”

New clones emerged from the other houses in Hameln.

Their numbers were several times greater than before.

“Ah…”

Pieta tried to move but could only manage a faint breath.

“Oh, don’t worry. For a mid-ranked hunter like you, it should only paralyze for about 30 minutes. Since it’s poison I obtained with some difficulty after all. Though I hadn’t prepared it for catching you… but I’m not at a complete loss since I got to see something entertaining.”

One of Margarete’s clones approached Pieta and kicked her stomach.

“Ugh…!!”

When kicked, blood suddenly gushed from the flute embedded in her side.

“This is why it would be wasteful to kill all humans. It’s better to keep a few humans like you around to act as jesters. After I devour the whole world that is… but I can’t let you live after all.”

Margarete said while steadily trampling Pieta’s head as she lay unable to resist.

“Because you made me waste the poison I had prepared for catching him, I’m a bit displeased. And above all… what did you call me earlier?”

The force of the trampling gradually increased as malice and anger filled it.

“You called me ugly?! You! Stupid! Pathetic! Human trash!”

The feet trampling Pieta increased from one to two, two to three, and eventually to dozens.

“Ah, ugh…”

Pieta could only helplessly let out groans of pain.

This was the price for ignoring unclear variables, blinded by the illusion of overwhelming superiority.

The result left for such a fool was obvious.

“For these 30 minutes while the drug works, I’ll make you suffer enough to regret being born. Look forward to it.”

One of Margarete’s clones created an ice spear and placed its tip against Pieta’s cheek.

“Now then… let’s see who’s really ugly…”

The ice spear slowly dug into flesh, drawing drops of blood.

Tears of despair welled up in Pieta’s eyes.

And just as everything was about to fall to the ground, a gunshot rang out and a silver bullet flew in, shattering the spear to pieces.

Dozens of gazes turned simultaneously toward one spot.

“…”

Margarete’s clones smiled eerily as they watched Eugene lower his gun.