Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 153

The deep sea where humans leave no footprints.

A place inhabited by people who dismiss all life-bearing vast continents as mere islands.

Little Mermaid Rusalka sat on her throne governing everything from deeper than them, having a private audience with her most faithful subordinate.

“Eric.”

“Yes.”

“…Do you know why I called you?”

“Yes. I apologize.”

“There’s no need to apologize so much. As my right hand, you’ll be busy with many matters, and even if you suddenly go to a human city without informing me, my tolerance isn’t so narrow as to reproach you.”

Recently, Eric had departed for Cranion completely out of the blue.

Though Cranion was close to enemy territory, neither side was fully prepared for war yet, so quietly coming and going wasn’t a major issue.

The Order knows this too, which is why they don’t maintain absolute security against intrusions.

“Thank you…”

“However.”

A slight edge entered Little Mermaid’s voice.

“Behemoths are an exception. You must know this.”

The problem came after that.

After returning from Cranion, Eric seeking out a behemoth had disturbed his master’s mood.

Rusalka could still vividly recall Kenken’s rampage.

Though once merely human, nothing more than that, with just the force erupting from the curse harbored in his heart, he had driven back Rusalka’s army at their peak.

Though they ultimately defeated Kenken through strategy, Rusalka who had fought him directly shuddered at those days of fierce battle and imprisoned rather than killed the defeated.

While other witches generally view behemoths as difficult-to-control underlings, Rusalka uniquely came to both acknowledge and be wary of them after fighting Kenken.

“The behemoth you sought out, Vile… I clearly told you we were still lacking information and not to meet with him.”

“I apologize.”

“No need for apologies. Tell me the reason.”

“…”

“Why no answer?”

“…I apologize.”

“Eric!”

Rusalka slammed her fist on the throne’s armrest.

“Lady Rusalka… please trust me.”

Eric lowered his head further and squeezed out the words.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. No, there’s no one I trust more than you… However, knowing how wary I am of behemoths, is there something you absolutely had to do?”

“…Yes.”

“…”

“…”

“…Very well. You’re Eric after all. My trust in you runs deep.”

“It is a great honor.”

“However, no matter how deep, nothing is absolute. Don’t test my trust like this again.”

“Yes!”

“You may go.”

Eric stood up, bowed deeply to Rusalka once more, then turned and left the throne room.

“…Vile, is it.”

*    *    *

“Outdoor training, huh…”

Today was the day for various training exercises in the hills near the Order.

I thought it would be good to have Gerda participate too this time, so we all came together with the other instructors.

…It feels strange, reminding me of things from the past.

“You can rest today.”

Marcus, the representative and most senior of the instructors, said to me.

Gerda might not know, but all the other instructors know about that incident from 7 years ago.

Though they didn’t experience it directly like I did, they know better than anyone else what happened after me.

They all lost colleagues, friends, seniors and juniors back then.

Thinking about it that way made me feel a bit more at ease.

“I’m fine. Please let me do it.”

I shook my head.

“…It’s not for me to decide whether you do it or not. If you want to do it, then do it.”

Marcus looked at the distant mountain.

It wasn’t particularly large – just an ordinary mountain you could find your way out of within a day even if you got lost.

“Thank you.”

I also looked at that mountain.

My chest tightened and my back trembled slightly.

“Brother, are you okay?”

Gerda asked.

“Yeah… I’m fine.”

Will I be fine?

No, what’s there to not be fine about?

It’s just going to the mountain for various training exercises.

It’s not like it’s my first time climbing a mountain.

Just… just taking the trainees and…

“Brother…”

Gerda grabbed my hand.

Damn it, am I giving off such an unsightly and anxious appearance?

Still, the warmth of a person’s touch in my hand helped me calm down a bit.

“I’m fine.”

Though I can’t help being bothered by past events, I can’t excuse myself from current duties because of that.

The distance to those hills is about 3 hours.

That mountain back then was about the same distance too.

“…”

That’s in the past.

I shouldn’t forget it, but I can’t let it negatively affect current matters.

We gathered the trainees right after breakfast and set out toward the mountain.

“Wait.”

But just as we were about to exit the entrance, Ulysses came with Jarkoff and stopped us.

“What’s the matter?”

Marcus asked.

“If it’s alright, could the branch commander observe?”

“What?”

“We’re not trying to interfere with anything. He just wants to watch your training up close.”

“I absolutely won’t disturb you all. Really, I just want to watch and learn from up close how it’s done.”

Looking at Jarkoff, his expression was quite serious.

“Hmm…”

Marcus glanced at us slightly.

Since the answer was already decided, I nodded.

The others would likely have the same opinion.

“Of course. Please come along.”

To begin with, there’s no one who could stop the branch commander from wanting to observe training.

“But we’ll have to walk all the way there, will that be alright?”

Marcus pointed to the hills.

“I can ride a horse.”

“Ah, I see. Understood.”

Shortly after, we headed toward the training location with Jarkoff on horseback and Ulysses guarding him added to our group.

“…”

I kept feeling gazes from Jarkoff’s direction as we walked.

It’s probably not just my imagination since there are too many things that would make him curious.

He must also wonder how Hilde is doing.

Come to think of it, does that kid keep in touch with her family and Jarkoff these days?

Just as Jarkoff seems to have many things he wants to ask, I have some questions too.

Though he’s become detached from his fate in various ways because of me… no, the Marquis’s betrayal was unavoidable.

He had already betrayed from the start and Jarkoff’s misfortune was a predetermined course.

At least I helped him avoid complete ruin.

Though his situation is pitiful, I did what I could…

…Surely that’s true, but I can’t help feeling sorry.

Moreover, I unnecessarily interfered and probably erased his future connection with Hilde too…

That much is undeniably my fault.

“Brother…”

As my head was getting complicated with various thoughts, Gerda called my name again and moved closer.

Suddenly becoming aware of our surroundings, I noticed the trainees were looking at Gerda.

Damn it, to think I have to worry about things like this too…

…Calm down.

I should focus on immediate matters like this rather than looking too far ahead – that’s not my style.

Why did I ask the other instructors to look after Gerda?

It was for things like this.

“…”

I glared at the trainees who were sneaking glances at Gerda.

Those who met my eyes jumped in surprise and quickly looked forward again.

Having spent time in this military-like place, various things build up so I need to protect Gerda well.

“Um.”

Jarkoff who had been watching us approached on horseback beside me.

“Is that Gerda, your sister?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

That was the setup.

“Not my real sister but a distant relative – she showed talent so I somehow ended up taking charge of her.”

“How much aptitude does she have?”

“Exceptional level.”

“…! That means… similar to Hilde’s level?”

“She still needs to improve more, but she’ll definitely reach that level. Of course, Hilde can go higher too.”

“Seems you have… quite the connection with such people.”

“Well…”

His words had weight to them.

Or maybe that’s just how I’m perceiving it.

“No, in this case they must have trusted your proven abilities and left her to you – I apologize for being rude.”

“Ah, no. It’s fine.”

Still, having the branch commander and member of this country’s royal family say such things is a bit…

Lately I’ve been having too many experiences beyond my station so I might be getting a bit numb to it.

This isn’t good.

Like with Margarete, or Rusalka…

Anyway, having satisfied his curiosity somewhat, Jarkoff returned to his original position.

A few Beasts appeared on the way to the mountain, but they just lurked near the horizon, not daring to directly challenge such a large group.

Though it seemed pointless to engage them, on Jarkoff’s orders, Ulysses instantly rushed forward and killed one with a single thrust through its head.

Even running at full speed it would take me 10 seconds to reach there and I’d need to catch my breath before finishing it with a melee weapon, but Ulysses took just 5 seconds to get there and end it with one spear thrust.

Normally a guard shouldn’t separate that far, but perhaps he felt some responsibility as one in charge of this country’s hunters to exterminate Beasts.

And seeing a mid-ranked hunter’s prowess, the trainees looked quite shocked.

Until now they’d probably only seen lower-ranked hunters fighting.

Mid-ranked hunters and above typically handle dangerous Beasts or guard high-ranking people, so ordinary people rarely see them.

“You’ll be able to do that soon too.”

I said to Gerda.

“Me?”

“Yes. And it won’t take very long.”

“I’m… not sure.”

“I’m certain. Hilde did it too.”

“…Did that sister learn from you too?”

“Well… you could say that, but she could have done it without me anyway.”

“That’s not true.”

“Huh?”

“She could do it because it was you, Brother.”

“No, that’s not…”

Hilde is this world’s protagonist.

Her talent is the greatest in history so she would have managed somehow even without me.

“…You said I’m similar to that sister.”

“Hm? Oh, yes.”

“But I wouldn’t have become a hunter without you, Brother.”

“Huh? But…”

Wait a minute.

Originally in the story, Lasso Village burns from Margarete’s clone and Kai gets kidnapped.

That’s why Gerda became a hunter in the first place…

“I know. That sister became strong thanks to you. Because that’s what happened to me.”

“…”

Damn it, did the story get twisted because I stopped Margarete there?

The tale of a girl struggling desperately to find her kidnapped younger brother disappeared because of my existence… is that it?

Did Gerda’s personality change because the original story changed?

…No, Kai isn’t dead yet.

Though the timing was later, Kai was kidnapped…

Huh?

But… but…

When was the last time Gerda talked about Kai?

“Urk.”

For a moment, a terrible thought flashed through my mind.

“…Brother?”

Gerda looked up at me questioningly.

Those innocent blue eyes held only me within them.

Is the kind girl who worried about her younger brother still in there?

Could it be…

“We’re almost there.”

Marcus’s voice rang out.

Only then did I realize that 3 hours had already passed and we’d arrived at the mountain.

But right now, my heart held not a single worry about training or past events.