Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 165

The first thing I did after waking up from being in a vegetative state for a month was an investigation.

I had to report every detail of what happened in Offenbach while being summoned back and forth between the Intelligence Department and Heresy Inquisition Department.

Since the magical phenomenon had also begun, I told them almost everything I had seen and heard honestly.

Of course, except for nearly being kidnapped or being invited to become a subordinate.

“…Hmm.”

The Heresy Inquisition officer who had been reading through reports and statements turned to me with razor-sharp eyes.

“You’re quite dangerous.”

The Heresy Inquisition officer said.

“What?”

What does he mean?

I didn’t say anything particularly strange about myself…

“I’ll be direct. There was debate about whether we should still consider you human or not.”

“…?”

“Surely you’re not going to claim ignorance? About how much curse has accumulated in your body.”

Ah…

“And normally, we would have already arrested you for heresy charges.”

“But I’m still human…”

“Who can prove that?”

“…”

I had no words.

Am I human?

At least I think so myself, but it’s also true that I’m slowly drifting away from that.

Marks that nearly formed have been precariously accumulating in my body.

“Of course, you won’t be charged with heresy immediately.”

“Why?”

“Because there are signs of a sacred mark.”

Belle’s Mark that nearly formed.

That exists in me too.

I see, since the Saintess is involved, even the Heresy Inquisition Department can’t move carelessly.

“In the worst case, even if you truly become a Beast, they probably won’t kill you right away.”

Is that… fortunate?

No, if I become a Beast, I’d prefer to be killed immediately.

In that sense, it’s unfortunate.

“But if you drift any further from being human… it would be quite troublesome for us too. There’s no precedent for an existence like yours.”

True.

Where else would you find a human who almost received multiple witches’ Marks?

Even I find it absurd.

Am I really just an extra?

“And for your own sake too, you should be more careful. As I said earlier, you might truly become a Beast. Though we won’t kill you then, we would have no choice but to restrain you.”

“Yes…”

“Though we acknowledge that all your actions were done with good intentions and noble spirit, be careful. You’re already crossing the line.”

I nodded again saying I understood, but the inquisitor’s eyes remained unsettling until the end.

It was the same gaze used for looking at dangerous individuals or Beasts, not someone with good intentions or noble spirit.

Though I didn’t do it to gain recognition, the bitterness was unavoidable…

Even after leaving the Intelligence Department and Heresy Inquisition Department, there were still places I needed to go.

First, I had to visit Sir Crowty.

When I knocked on his office door, a voice told me to just come in.

Did his secretary go out on errands?

Anyway, when I opened the door, I immediately saw Crowty.

“Hello…”

Before I could finish my greeting, I momentarily lost my words at Crowty’s appearance.

He was looking straight at me with an extremely serious face.

“…sir.”

“…So. You came?”

“Yes…”

“Sit down first.”

I sat down in front of Crowty.

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence.

Of course, Crowty spoke first.

“You know why I called you?”

“…To tell me to be careful?”

“Right. I was very worried.”

“Thank you.”

“What’s there to thank.”

Crowty sighed and looked at me with eyes that even held pity.

He didn’t make such an expression even during the Chris incident…

“Just look at yourself. This really won’t do.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m seriously considering assigning you to just internal security for a few months.”

“What?! No, that’s a bit…”

“A bit, what?”

Crowty frowned deeply.

“Do you think you should be working in the field right now?”

His voice carried clear anger beyond pity.

“Don’t you know what you’ve been through? You’ve done far too many things beyond your station until now. Normally, I would have forcibly assigned you to internal staff. But I can’t!”

What does he mean he can’t?

How can Crowty, the overall commander of field operations, not freely assign a lower-ranked hunter?

“Haah… right now, you’re quite out of favor with those above. You understand that much, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re too dangerous despite producing results. Though the Saintess seems willing to protect you to some extent, ultimately you’re closer to those below her… To be frank, there are too many people specifically saying to keep sending you to the field.”

Isn’t that actually good?

“Do you think that’s good? Don’t be ridiculous!”

Crowty slammed his desk.

“You’ll really die like this!! They’re sending you out there to die! Because it would be clean and without complications if you died during a mission!!”

“I’ll be fine.”

After all…

“I’m not fine!”

Crowty took off his hat and threw it at me.

“…!!”

“You were practically a living corpse for a month and you still haven’t come to your senses?! Are you that obsessed with dying?! Don’t just think about yourself, you idiot!! Do you think it ends with just you dying? Are you ignoring those who want to live! And those who’ve lost their precious people?!”

“What?! No, that’s not…”

“Sephira…!!”

Crowty suddenly shut his mouth.

Sephira what…?

Why did that name come up here?

“…Haah.”

Crowty slumped back in his chair and looked at the ceiling.

“No, let’s not talk about that… Anyway, you must be careful. That’s an order. When something happens, don’t try to resolve it yourself but report first. Ask people close to you for help. Okay?”

Surely he’s not telling me to ask Sephira for help?

“Uh, well… I’ll try.”

“Don’t try, just do it. Do you know how many people worry about you? Look around you a bit.”

“…”

I got up and picked up Crowty’s hat.

Did he get that angry for my sake…?

Really, he’s too good a superior for me.

I dusted off his hat and placed it on his desk.

“…Thank you.”

“What’s there to thank. Enough, now get out. I have plenty of other things to worry about besides you.”

“Yes.”

I turned around and went back outside.

“Ah, wait.”

“Yes?”

“Stop by administration before heading back.”

“Administration?”

“Yes. Go see Hera before you go. She worried a lot about you too.”

“Ah… yes.”

I left Crowty’s office and went to administration.

When I opened the door and entered, I saw Hera working alone on paperwork in the corner.

The last time I saw her was a little less than a month ago.

But considering the time I was in a vegetative state, it must be longer than that.

“Who is… it.”

Hera looked this way.

Our eyes met.

“Ah, hello.”

I awkwardly waved.

“…”

Hera silently got up and walked toward me.

Then she stood right in front of me and started hitting my chest with her fists without saying anything.

“Uh… sorry?”

“…that all?”

“Huh?”

“Is sorry all you have to say, you, terrible, person…!”

Hera said while continuing to hit me with her fists.

Of course, punches from a normal person like her didn’t even tickle, but…

Remembering Crowty’s words from earlier, it hurt terribly.

“Do you, know, how much, I, worried, about you…!”

Tears welled up in Hera’s eyes.

“Well… I’m sorry.”

“You’ve been like this since before.”

Hera rubbed her eyes with her sleeve.

“Making people anxious just by looking at you, like you might suddenly disappear… Why are you… so selfish…?”

Hmm… she really is a good person.

Should I just say it?

Ask her to marry me.

Sorry to Hilde and Zepetia, but someone like this would be best to be with.

Would she accept if I asked?

…She probably would.

“…I’m just like that.”

I gently pushed Hera away.

“Can’t help it. This is who I am.”

“Mr. Eugene…”

I’m that kind of person.

As Crowty said, as Hera said, a selfish bastard who can only think about himself.

No matter how much others try to stop me, I’ll still go searching for a place to die.

Even if it makes precious people sad…

So I don’t need anyone special.

No, I shouldn’t have anyone special.

“Sorry for being this kind of guy. Really sorry.”

“…I’m sorry too.”

“What… mmph?!”

…Huh?

“…Forget what just happened. I just… acted on my own too.”

Hera lowered her head again while covering her reddened face.

I could only nod in bewilderment.

* * *

Sephira could barely contain the rising anticipation from showing on her face.

Eugene had finally woken up.

She had spent a month worrying, wondering what if he never woke up again.

But that was over now.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Sephira quietly went to find Eugene without telling anyone.

The reason Sephira, who originally had no aptitude for detection, had deliberately trained that ability was of course because of Eugene.

So she could go to him anytime, anywhere…

And right now Eugene’s presence could be felt in administration.

Being diligent as he is, could he be working on something again?

Normally she would just tell him to be careful, but this time was different.

“This time…”

Even for Sephira with her iron-like patience, Eugene being unconscious for a month had been extremely harsh.

If… if it ended without even repaying her old debt to that person…

So this time was different.

This time she would honestly tell him she was worried.

Though conveying her thoughts to Eugene wasn’t easy, she had to do it.

Sephira walked to administration with a sense of mission.

Two presences could be felt inside.

One was definitely Eugene.

But the other was… Hera?

That office worker woman?

Were they having some conversation?

If so, it would be difficult to interrupt…

…No, this time is different.

Let’s push forward just this once.

She had waited too long.

It’s unbearable now.

Please… I want to see him…

Sephira hesitated before grabbing the doorknob and opening it slightly.

Just a tiny bit.

Opening it all at once would be too overwhelming, so she was trying to time it right.

So, what conversation were those two having…

“…”

Sephira couldn’t comprehend what she saw through the tiny gap in the barely opened door.

For an instant.

So brief she wondered if she had seen wrong.

But Sephira never misses anything she sees.

Her absurdly sharp eyes saw that fleeting moment all too clearly.

“…I just acted on my own too.”

Hera said.

But… why?

Acting on her own?

“…”

Sephira lowered her head and turned around.

Then she quietly walked back to her quarters like someone who hadn’t seen anything.

“Ah, Lady Sephira!”

Pieta saw Sephira and approached.

“Lady Sephira. Where were you… um…”

Pieta, who had been more devoted to Sephira than anyone in the Order, broke into a cold sweat and backed away.

“…Pardon me, but I’m a bit busy.”

“Ah… yes…”

Pieta, who had been frozen in place like a nail was driven through her, collapsed as if her knees gave way only after Sephira disappeared from sight.

“…First time I’ve seen. That kind of face…”