Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 134

I fled with the trainees to a spot quite far from Hameln.

Someone like Pieta should be able to handle twenty of Margarete’s clones without much trouble.

Though someone facing them for the first time might show an opening to their mental attacks, I already warned her about that, so if a mid-ranked hunter doesn’t show any weakness, she should win easily.

However, there’s one problem, Kai…

“Kai… Kai is…”

Gerda, who had been forcibly dragged away, sat there looking dejected.

Though the other trainees were worried about her, there wasn’t much they could do.

“…Gerda.”

“…”

At my call, Gerda only slightly turned her head to look this way.

Her eyes were devoid of light, filled only with emptiness.

“You saw it too, your brother Kai is alive.”

“…But, the mid-ranked hunter…”

Tears welled up in Gerda’s eyes again.

“If Kai dies… if he dies…!”

Gerda clutched the Order’s emblem so roughly it looked like she might tear it off.

I grabbed her hand.

If Kai dies by Pieta’s hand, my plan to protect Gerda would completely fall apart.

No, beyond mere failure, she might actively turn against the Order.

If by any chance Gerda were to become a Beast…

“That won’t happen.”

Absolutely not.

“But just now the mid-ranked hunter…”

Gerda repeated the same words.

She probably thinks Kai will be killed by Pieta.

For Gerda, who was just an ordinary person until recently, a mid-ranked hunter must seem like an unfathomable powerhouse.

That perception isn’t entirely wrong.

Mid-ranked hunters are indeed overwhelmingly stronger compared to lower-ranked hunters.

“Trust me.”

“But why…?”

“Ms. Pieta will probably try to capture Kai alive. You remember those women who appeared near Kai, right?”

“…Ah, now that you mention it!”

Finally Gerda seemed to realize something.

Gerda had seen those clones before.

“Even I can beat that kind of enemy. Ms. Pieta could defeat twenty of those with her eyes closed. It shouldn’t be a difficult fight, so she’ll definitely try to capture someone like Kai…”

“Y-yes, you’re right! Ms. Pieta is strong after all…!”

Though Gerda seemed quite relieved, conversely, saying those words made me more anxious.

What if Pieta really does underestimate the clones and tries to capture Kai?

That would be absolutely impossible, if nothing else.

Kai, who had become one of Snow White’s seven servants, was stronger than a high-tier Beast.

Even if he doesn’t have that much power yet, he must be at least mid-tier level right now.

Even a mid-ranked hunter could fall to a mid-tier Beast if they let their guard down.

“…”

I looked toward Hameln where we had fled from.

How much time had passed?

There was still no sign of her returning…

I crossed my arms, deep in thought.

“What’s wrong?”

Asked the oldest trainee who served as their representative.

“If it’s as you said, Ms. Pieta should return soon. You said you’d defeated enemies like that too.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

And that’s exactly why I’m worried…

What if Pieta misjudges the situation?

What kind of character was Pieta in Blue Paper Moon again?

Just a minor character devoted to Sephira, so she didn’t leave much of an impression…

Hmm… was she confident in her abilities?

No, rather than ability, was it because she received her commission from Sephira?

Anyway, she was quite a confident character…

“…Tch. Hey.”

“Yes.”

“Can you all return to the Order by yourselves?”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re going to Hameln?”

“Just answer the question.”

“Uh, well… we can.”

“Good. In that case… hmm… for now, walk back slowly. If neither I nor Ms. Pieta return after an hour, then run back to the Order at full speed. Just flee straight to headquarters.”

“B-but…”

I glared at him sternly.

“Urk…”

“This isn’t practice anymore – it’s a real situation. I make the field decisions.”

“Y-yes…”

Perhaps due to my ominous demeanor, the other trainees whispered anxiously amongst themselves.

“W-wait! Then I want to go with Brother too!”

Gerda cried out urgently.

Ah, I told her not to call me Brother in front of people…

“You go back too.”

“But I…!”

“You’ll just be in the way.”

“…!?”

“With your current skills you’ll only be a hindrance. Don’t follow me.”

I didn’t want to say such things, but this is an urgent situation.

No, there’s no guarantee that’s the case, but I can’t be optimistic about the situation.

Above all, there’s still no sign of Pieta returning.

“…How…”

My words must have shocked her considerably as Gerda lowered her head.

Her tightly clenched fists were trembling.

Regrettable, but that’s the reality right now.

After having the trainees slowly retreat, I ran toward Hameln.

* * *

Damn it, I didn’t think it would come to this…

I lowered my gun to signal to Margarete that I had no intention to fight right now.

I couldn’t win against these numbers alone anyway.

If I had thoroughly prepared it would be different, but seeing twice as many as before, they must have been hiding to ambush us.

I can’t even gauge how many more clones might remain, and above all if Kai moves, even escaping would be nearly impossible.

“Hehehe…”

“Ahaha…”

The laughter of the Snow Whites carried on the wind.

That winter wind that chilled even my soul squeezed my heart, forcibly drawing out fear.

“…It’s been a while.”

I took a light breath to compose myself and slowly walked toward them.

“Ah yes, it has been a while.”

One of Margarete’s clones also walked forward as representative.

Pieta was… still restrained by other clones with an ice spear held to her neck.

To be honest, I see no way to turn this situation around.

I need to escape with Pieta but… here I have no choice but to try negotiating somehow with improvisation.

“For someone who was so good at escaping, to walk right up to us on your own feet.”

“I was just lucky.”

“It seems that way. And it looks like that luck has run out here.”

“…”

“Well, shall we talk straightforwardly? Surely you didn’t come looking for me wanting to submit?”

Hmm… for Snow White to bring up the main point first.

Either I’m that welcome or… there’s some time limit.

…Definitely the latter – Margarete doesn’t have much time to spare.

“You should know why I came. Release the mid-ranked hunter.”

“Ahahah, you want me to release that woman…?”

Blood continued trickling like a tap from the holes in the flute embedded in Pieta’s side.

Even at a glance, the amount of bleeding looks serious.

If we don’t get emergency treatment soon and get her to the hospital…

…Ah, I see.

Even though Pieta is still now, will she be able to move again after some time passes?

Did she get hit with some paralyzing poison with a time limit?

“Hmm… what should I do.”

The distance between Margarete and me is now less than 5 meters.

Close enough that either of us could close it instantly if we wanted to.

And Margarete… though she’s acting composed on the surface, she must be thinking hard too in reality.

I can sense it a bit now that we’re closer.

“Right. If you release the mid-ranked hunter, I’ll pay a corresponding price.”

“Price? You should know well what I want.”

Margarete grinned as she came even closer.

“Stop.”

I drew my pistol.

“You think that kind of thing can… Huh?”

And pointed it at my own head.

“Make any wrong moves and I’ll shoot.”

“…?”

This is all I can ever do.

I did the same thing with Yorick too.

I can only hope it works well this time too.

“What are you…”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I’m negotiating. Release the mid-ranked hunter. Then I won’t pull this trigger.”

“…Ha, hahaha… Ahahahaha!”

Margarete laughed with her head lowered.

“Ahahahah!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Laughter like a blizzard swept in from all directions.

Those curses that stained the soul with sticky unpleasantness passed by, as if licking my ears.

My heart constricts again but I steeled my mind.

“Really… really…”

When Margarete raised her head again, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“You do such adorable things…? Ah yes. I didn’t see clearly before, but this is why Blanc courts you so desperately.”

Margarete was smiling.

A chilling smile that made me feel like icicles were being driven into my spine just from looking at it.

It felt like winter itself was grinning at me.

“Then… you should know this isn’t just talk.”

I tried not to be overwhelmed by it.

“If I die here, it won’t be good for you either. Blanc won’t sit still.”

“Blanc? I’m planning to tear that horny beast to pieces with my own hands anyway, so such words won’t work. Besides, you don’t like Blanc either, right?”

“If I can use something, that’s enough. And it’s not just Blanc – didn’t you say you wanted to make me one of your servants or whatever? Can you make good use of a corpse with its head smashed in?”

“Huhuhu… ah really. You’re so cute and lovable I can’t stand it…. Yes. I’ll admit it. If your head gets smashed, I’d be quite disappointed too. But that doesn’t mean I can’t use you at all.”

Oh really?

Did I make a pointless move?

No, she did say she’d be disappointed at least, so maybe there’s room for negotiation?

“You mean it won’t work at the level you want. If you want to capture me intact, you’ll have to give up something like a mid-ranked hunter.”

“My, should I take that to mean you’ll come to me if I hand over that woman?”

“That’s…”

Damn it, what should I do?

Think.

Me becoming Snow White’s servant?

My pride would be trampled, my career destroyed, even my soul toyed with…

“…Yes.”

“Oh my. Really?”

Margarete showed a slightly but genuinely surprised expression.

“But let me help that mid-ranked hunter first. After I take her back to her companions, I’ll return here alone.”

“How can I trust those words?”

“…I’m serious.”

“…”

It’s a simple calculation.

Trading a lower-ranked hunter to save a mid-ranked hunter.

Plus if that lower-ranked hunter becomes one of Snow White’s elite seven servants?

I’d surely become the weakest one, weaker than any I’ve seen in Blue Paper Moon.

Comparing to Blue Paper Moon, Snow White’s fighting force would be meaningfully reduced.

If sacrificing just one person like me could bring so many benefits… there’s no reason not to do it.

“You… you must take pride in being a hunter, right? You’ll really become my servant?”

“Yes.”

“…Aren’t you scared?”

“I am.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“Maybe.”

“Why?”

“I already told you why.”

“Just to save one mid-ranked hunter?”

“To save one person.”

“…”

“…”

After a while, I returned to where the trainees were with Pieta.

“Sir!”

“Brother!”

“Take good care of Ms. Pieta.”

“What?”

“Huh? Then what about you, Brother?”

Stop calling me Brother…

“I made… a deal.”