Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 147

During the remaining week, I poured everything I had learned as a hunter into training the recruits to the best of my ability.

Shooting, throwing, survival, camouflage, magical power…. Not just those skills, but also the mindset a hunter should have – I taught them everything I could.

But it’s still not enough.

Far, far from enough.

The entry requirements were lowered compared to previous classes so their average talent is a level lower, and on top of that the training period was shortened by several months.

They can all hit targets when shooting.

But excluding Gerda, only one person can get a perfect score out of ten shots.

It’s the same with throwing daggers.

Their stamina is much better than ordinary people but still inadequate by hunter standards.

And magical power, the most important thing… again excluding Gerda, less than half meet the standard level for hunters.

Crowty told me I was doing well.

But….

But how can anyone survive like this…?

“Brother?”

“Huh?”

“Is something wrong?”

I finally broke free from my dark thoughts at Gerda’s call.

After training ended, I had returned to my quarters….

“No, just thinking since tomorrow is the graduation ceremony.”

Maybe I was lost in thought because it’s the last day.

“Graduation ceremony… time really flew by. Though not for me.”

And tomorrow is the graduation ceremony for the recruits I was in charge of.

The time was too short, and I was absent for nearly ten days in between – I’m still dazed by the fact that they’ll officially become hunters.

Of course, excluding Gerda.

Gerda not only joined later, but above all, being classified as exceptional talent, she must be designated to become a mid-ranked hunter.

Crowty told me to take Gerda to Offenbach too.

“Everyone else worked hard following your example too, Brother. I’m sure they’ll do well as hunters.”

“I hope so….”

Oh dear, now Gerda is the one comforting me.

But I just couldn’t think optimistically.

How did my seniors teach me back then?

Multiple people with different talents took turns filling in what was lacking.

Especially unlike now, there were far more veterans then, which gave a greater sense of security to those learning.

Though everyone’s small tips were different, their way of fighting in life-or-death situations was unified like some kind of truth.

But what about now?

How many lower-ranked hunters have more experience than me?

And how does my teaching compare to my seniors’ education back then?

“I’m sure of it! Brother is an excellent hunter. And they say you taught Ms. Hilde too.”

“Hilde would have done well even without me.”

Truly.

If she hadn’t missed her chance to awaken in an extreme situation where everyone around her died and she was left alone, Hilde would have done fine by herself.

She wouldn’t have gotten attached to someone like me, and Zepetia wouldn’t have broken down like that either.

“But Ms. Hilde said it was thanks to you. Ms. Pieta also said you’re a good hunter.”

“You, too, would do better if Ms. Pieta kept teaching you instead of me….”

“Brother?”

Suddenly Gerda grabbed my hand.

“Why are you saying such things…?”

“…!!”

For a moment, I saw Hilde’s image overlapping with Gerda.

I had the same conversation with Hilde too.

“I’m glad it was you, Brother.”

“Ah, no, I….”

“You’re excellent and kind – why do you keep denying it?”

“…”

Not for a single moment.

Not even for a moment have I ever thought of myself as excellent.

Gerda says that because she’s innocent, but inhuman beings like Yorick and the Grinning Cat called me a monster.

That’s truly the most accurate assessment of me.

And bit by bit, I really am becoming less human.

What about Zepetia? The witches?

What am I even doing?

Ah, I, I….

[Don’t forget those blue eyes.]

“Brother!”

“Huh?! W-what did you just say…?”

“Brother… you seem very tired. Was I being too bothersome?”

“Ah… no. No, that’s not… Just, um… I just have a lot on my mind lately. You’ve never been bothersome at all….”

I reflexively reached out to pat Gerda’s head.

But I froze when I saw her blue eyes.

No, my whole body stiffened.

Blue eyes….

[Remember it when you look at the moon.]

“Brother…?”

Gerda grabbed my awkwardly outstretched hand.

“…Yeah. I must be tired. Should get some rest.”

What’s wrong with me?

Did something get into my head?

Strange thoughts keep coming up.

Surely it must be because there have been too many difficult things lately.

Even I think there’s been way too much going on.

“Ah, then!”

Gerda carefully took something from a small wooden box on the table and brought it over preciously.

“Have one with me today, Brother.”

“Candy?”

The candy I first bought for Gerda.

Though I don’t know exactly how many were in one handful, we decided she would eat one each day after dinner as a snack.

I only ate one out of curiosity when I first bought them, then gave the rest to Gerda.

Even compared to my increasingly dim memories of my past life, the candy’s taste was crude so I didn’t mind not sharing.

Of course, it’s not that I didn’t want to eat it, but I wasn’t desperate for it either.

“Not really….”

“Don’t be like that.”

Gerda forcefully pressed a candy into my hand.

Rather than the round shape with bright colors I knew, it was bumpy and black.

“Well… I’ll eat it later then.”

I placed the candy on the bedside table.

Gerda had already put hers in her mouth.

“Mmm… sweet….”

Gerda enjoyed the small sweetness in her mouth with a completely relaxed expression.

Just seeing that face is enough satisfaction for me.

Though I’m not her blood relative, we’ve lived together for quite a while.

Being called Brother and taking care of her all this time, I’ve developed something like familial affection.

And seeing her grow up properly makes me wonder if this is what parental feelings are like.

…Come to think of it, combining my past life, I must have lived quite long now – those old friends whose faces are becoming hazy must have fully grown children by this age?

And are they planning their retirement with their wives or husbands?

That must be… peaceful.

“Brother?”

Gerda tilted her head when I stared blankly.

Seeing that childlike gesture, I shook my head with a small smile.

What am I thinking about.

Did I really eat something wrong?

I’m strangely emotional today.

A bit more time passed and as the sun set, night arrived.

Before lying in bed, I briefly thought about tomorrow’s tasks and did some light stretching.

Gerda was already asleep in the bed across from me.

“…”

Blue moonlight was streaming into the room through the window.

It’s a strange mood-altering blue.

Originally the moon should be a bleached white like artifacts, and the soft ivory moon I saw in my past life was that color from slightly reflecting the yellow sunlight from the opposite side of Earth.

The moon in this world was probably that white color originally too.

And someone painted that moon blue.

“Urgh….”

For a moment it felt like electricity ran through my head.

Today is really not a good day.

Let’s sleep early….

“Good night.”

With a greeting that would reach no one, I lay in bed and closed my eyes.

And… and….

….

….

* * *

The door quietly opened then closed again.

There was no squeaking of hinges that always makes noise no matter how carefully you open it.

A silence that seemed to weigh on one’s chest.

With no heating and low humidity, even in summer it gets cold enough to give goosebumps when deep night comes.

The person who entered the room was trembling slightly too.

But not from the cold.

A pounding heart.

Heat running up the spine.

Hands that wanted to fidget were clasped to the chest as the person slowly approached the bed.

Like walking on the moon – slow yet light, and above all, completely silent.

And passing Gerda’s bed, went further inside toward Eugene’s bed where he slept.

A face slightly gaunt from accumulated fatigue, and faint scars that would be hard to notice without looking closely.

Small, thin fingers traced along those scars above Eugene’s cheek without actually touching.

“…”

Eugene frowned slightly and moved his head in his sleep.

The intruder froze, but Eugene didn’t wake up.

As long as there was no direct touch, Eugene wouldn’t notice.

Sound, smell, magical power – everything was perfectly blocked.

After all, they were confident in hide and seek.

“Hah, aah….”

Even softly exhaled breaths trembled.

Something small inside whispered that this was wrong.

But they ignored it.

The moonlight would erase that voice completely.

And slowly climbed onto the bed and straddled Eugene’s stomach.

“…!!”

At that moment Eugene’s eyes flew open as he tried to sit up.

But with just a light press of small hands on his chest, Eugene was pushed back down.

An overwhelming difference in power.

Though several times larger in build, the difference in inner power was like comparing a torch to lava… no, now it was more like comparing it to a forest fire.

That much was enough.

“M…!”

Eugene tried to shout something but even that was sealed shut like being sewn with thread by a single finger touching his lips.

The restrained Eugene even pulled up his magical power, but a higher system of power he couldn’t even comprehend bound him like unbreakable chains, making him unable to move at all.

Unable to move or even speak.

But they couldn’t erase the power in his eyes.

Their hand stopped when their eyes met Eugene’s.

At that moment the closed window slowly opened and blue moonlight returned.

“Hee.”

She grinned.

The moonlit wind fluttered, making the hair that slightly covered her shoulders dance.

“…!! …!!!”

Eugene desperately tried to shout in the silence.

Snap out of it.

But it couldn’t be heard because of the moonlight.

This isn’t normal.

This shouldn’t be happening.

Something’s wrong.

This isn’t it.

…Or is it?

Is this right?

Now is right.

Should have done this earlier.

See, the moon’s blue color is telling me.

Do it quickly.

Small hands lightly lifted Eugene’s blanket and tore open the top of his exposed shirt.

Though there was no predetermined spot, if she had to choose, the heart would be good.

The heart is nice.

Thump thump, pit-a-pat, ba-dum ba-dum!

Always singing.

Surely always feeling good.

Feeling good so always singing.

Thump thump, pit-a-pat….

“Ba-dum… ba-dum… ahahah.”

The whites of her eyes filled with black.

Green hair tickled her neck in the wind.

Feeling ticklish feels good.

So… when it’s this fun at night, what was I supposed to say?

“Hello… kind hunter?”

Maia smiled like she was about to tear.

And stared at Eugene’s exposed chest, right at the spot where heart was covered by bone and muscle and skin.

The heart is beating.

“It’s sparkling…!”

And leaned in with grotesquely protruding blade-like teeth.

Just as they slightly pierced the skin, Gerda leapt out from behind Maia and stabbed her neck with a dagger.