Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 168

What Zepetia held in her hand was a small black rod with two metal needles at its tip.

It was the ‘Electric Shocker’, Zepetia’s secondary weapon alongside the Dismembering Cutter in Blue Paper Moon.

Though it deals 1 electric damage and briefly stuns the target, it’s a tricky weapon since the unnecessarily long weapon-switching animation restricts the main weapon if you try to use it in combos.

“Can you get up?”

Zepetia put away the electric shocker and reached out her hand to me.

“Yeah.”

I took Zepetia’s hand and stood up.

“Thanks… But wasn’t that a bit harsh?”

Gerda was still twitching stiffly.

“It won’t cause any physical harm, so it’s fine.”

Well, that’s true.

Since the electric damage is only 1.

“I made it while researching the rail gun, and it works pretty well.”

“Ah, the rail gun. I was unconscious for a month so I haven’t seen how the research progressed.”

“Actually, that’s why I came. I was planning to tell you when the time was right, but I heard you’re going back to Offenbach? So I came to show you now.”

“Okay. But first, let’s help Gerda get up…”

“…!”

When I reached out my hand, Gerda grabbed it swiftly.

She must have only been briefly stunned, but I was caught off guard by her speed and ended up getting caught.

“Don’t… go…”

Gerda looked up at me.

I…

“Alright, that’s enough.”

But Zepetia brought the electric shocker to Gerda’s hand again.

“Hey, wait?! We can talk this out!”

Feeling this was too much to do twice, I quickly grabbed Zepetia’s hand.

“You don’t know? About that kid…”

At that moment Gerda shot out like a bullet, lunging at Zepetia.

I stepped between them to block Gerda.

“…!”

I couldn’t fully block Gerda’s charge and tumbled down with Zepetia.

What the…?

Was Gerda this strong?

“Ow ow ow… What are you doing?!”

Zepetia rubbed the back of her head.

“No, I…”

“Not you! This cunning little girl…”

“Eek!”

When Gerda tried to lunge at Zepetia again, I held her back.

Fortunately, Gerda seemed to have lost her strength and stopped struggling.

“Such a nasty temper for such a tiny thing.”

Zepetia got up while dusting off her clothes.

“That’s because you keep using electric shocks on her.”

“So what?”

“It’s too harsh.”

“Harsh? You really don’t know anything, do you?”

“Know what?”

“Do you know how much stronger that kid got while you were unconscious for a month?”

“Huh…? W-wait, stay still.”

Gerda struggled again.

“She’s probably been pretending to be weak in front of you.”

Gerda flinched noticeably at Zepetia’s words.

“That can’t be…”

I reflexively said that, but a chill ran down my spine as I looked down at Gerda.

No way…?

“…”

Gerda avoided my eyes.

“Huh? …Really?”

“N-no…”

“What do you mean no? There’s a limit to being shameless. Did you think I wouldn’t know since I made your weapons?”

“You made weapons? For Gerda?”

I hadn’t heard about this.

“Ha, this is ridiculous. You were hiding even that?”

Zepetia shook her head while pressing her forehead.

“While you were unconscious, that kid got incredibly strong. Probably thanks to that mid-ranked hunter who taught her instead of you.”

“But…”

She said she barely got any teaching…?

“They wouldn’t just leave an exceptional talent alone. Isn’t that obvious?”

“…Gerda.”

“…!”

Gerda flinched again when I called her name as I let her go.

“Why did you lie?”

“…”

“Zepetia, thanks for your help. I’ll come find you in a bit, so could you leave us alone for now?”

“…If you say so.”

After Zepetia left, only Gerda and I remained in the room.

“Gerda.”

I knelt on one knee again to meet her eyes.

But this time Gerda avoided my gaze.

At this point, I think I understand why.

She must have wanted me to stay by her side.

I was stupid too.

Not only did I fail to understand those feelings, I didn’t even notice them.

“…Hic.”

Gerda sniffled.

“I don’t want to… I don’t want this… Brother keeps leaving me behind…!”

Tears welled up in her blue eyes.

“Like Kai… You’ll leave me behind like Kai…!”

“…”

Though Kai wasn’t kidnapped because of me, he left the village and Gerda behind wanting to escape his difficult life as a laborer.

I volunteered myself as Gerda’s guardian and kept her safe through various dangerous situations.

And Gerda kept experiencing people close to her leaving.

So it’s natural for her to want to hold on tightly to keep me from leaving.

If this had been just a slightly more normal situation, like modern life in my past life…

No, that has nothing to do with it.

If I had just talked more with Gerda and shown more interest in her, this wouldn’t have happened.

“And… and…”

I silently hugged Gerda.

Of course I couldn’t be a proper guardian for a child.

“Waaahh!”

Gerda burst into loud tears.

*    *    *

Kai rolled on the ground, tears of blood streaming down his face.

It was the result of being directly hit by the mind-shattering screams unleashed by the Deep Sea Folk sorcerers.

“How young.”

Eric sighed.

“Not just young in appearance, but truly a child. To think Snow White would brainwash another boy and send him to the battlefield.”

A fierce battle was raging around them.

They had attacked a village with Deep Sea Folk soldiers, but it turned out to be a place already occupied by Winter of Salvation.

After Margarete’s power returned, the cultists received a small share of their master’s curse and were no longer weak humans.

“Poor thing. Curse your fate.”

Eric had seen Margarete brainwash and enslave seven beautiful boys during the last war.

The suffering and misfortune must be unimaginable, as she not only brainwashed them but meticulously modified their bodies too.

Moreover, the Kai he saw now wasn’t wearing normal clothes for a boy or warrior on the battlefield, but rather scanty, ornate clothing meant for entertainment.

Even Eric couldn’t help but feel sympathy seeing such dignity trampled while not in his right mind.

“Though Lady Rusalka ordered me to conserve my strength for this attack… she would surely understand in this case.”

Eric drew out Moby Dick.

A gleaming golden sword unsuited for the battlefield.

But its sharpness could surely sever the boy’s neck cleanly.

“Rest in peace.”

“Who said you could?”

Eric immediately turned and swung his sword toward the voice.

A massive, sharp blade of ice clashed with the sword, chipping slightly as it contested Eric’s strength.

“Only I, the master, can kill my servant.”

The legs of Margarete’s clone, one of the higher-ranked entities that was taller with disheveled clothes and hair, had become giant ice blades.

“Have you no shame, Snow White?”

“The ones who should be ashamed are you lot trying to lay hands on someone else’s property!”

Margarete put strength into her leg and sent Eric flying backward.

Eric flew back, performing an acrobatic spin in midair before landing safely on the ground.

At the same time, he kicked away Kai who had rushed in trying to exploit the opening.

“The Queen has arrived! Let us join her!!”

Seeing Snow White appear on the battlefield, the cultists all drew daggers and plunged them into their own throats.

Their corpses melted like snow and soon transformed into more of Snow White’s clones.

“Madmen…”

Eric’s face twisted in disgust looking at them.

“My, how are you any different? Everyone’s just sacrificing their lives for their noble master who they absolutely obey.”

The higher-ranked entity said as she returned her legs to normal.

The tide of battle suddenly began turning in Snow White’s favor.

Though the cultists affected by the curse were strong humans, they weren’t comparable to the Deep Sea Folk.

However, when they all transformed into Snow White’s clones at mid-tier Beast level, the Deep Sea Folk soldiers found themselves outmatched in pure strength.

“I chose to pledge my loyalty to Lady Rusalka of my own will! Do not mock my resolve!”

Eric launched a massive yellow sword beam at the higher-ranked entity.

Only traces of destruction remained where the overwhelming force passed, like a whale swallowing its prey whole.

The higher-ranked entity created an ice shield to block the attack.

“Ugh…”

Still, the shield shattered and her clothes and body behind it became much more ragged.

“I am not a slave but a knight!”

“Heh, hehehe… A dog’s bark is just noise. If anything, you’re the pitiful one.”

“What?”

“At least my servants feel nothing but happiness serving me. I made sure of that. But what about you? Does all your howling and staring at Rusalka make her favor you specially?”

“Of course! I am her one and only knight! That honor belongs to me alone!”

“Is that really true?”

“Shut up!!”

Eric gripped Moby Dick with both hands and raised it high.

Ancient characters appeared on the blade as it emitted a soft light.

Though undoubtedly a powerful attack, it left an opening in his stance.

The higher-ranked entity gave a sinister smile and flicked her hand at Eric, sending a small icicle the size of a dagger flying swiftly.

“Ugh…!?”

The icicle pierced the left side of Eric’s neck.

Though it missed the center, his stance completely crumbled and he staggered backward.

“Ahaha! Just as I thought!”

“Hahaha!”

“Ahaha!”

Along with the Snow Whites’ mockery, ice spears rained down from all around.

Deep Sea Folk shield bearers rushed in to protect Eric, but they crumbled one by one under the relentless barrage.

“Kuh!”

The fallen Eric looked around.

Nothing but mocking Snow Whites everywhere.

The corpses of Deep Sea Folk soldiers lay strewn across the ground.

When did they get overwhelmed like this…

This will be a total defeat.

Though Deep Sea Folk soldiers can be replenished when killed, Eric has no other subordinates who can replace him.

“See, you are insecure! Afraid of not being the best! In the end, you’re just another subordinate to Rusalka! She could find a new favorite slave anytime!”

Margarete knew Rusalka was quite seriously pursuing Eugene.

She had made that taunt thinking Eric would know this too, but it hit harder than expected.

“Damn it…”

Eric withdrew from the battlefield under the escort of his remaining soldiers.

The abandoned Deep Sea Folk corpses would either increase Snow White’s numbers or become sacrifices to strengthen her curse power.

Eric tasted the bitter flavor of defeat along with blood in his mouth.

But his heart ached even more.

Margarete’s taunts kept echoing in his ears.

As he fled, Eric saw Kai struggling to get up in a corner.

Though not of his own will, he must be using all his strength trying to reach his master.

Yet none of the many Snow Whites showed any interest in Kai.

They just mocked the fleeing Eric while savoring their victory.

“…Damn it.”

Today’s defeat tasted especially bitter.