Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 173

I arrived at the Offenbach branch and met the other instructors.

Especially Auntie Beth who welcomed me with much fuss.

Of course, given that I was unconscious for a month, it might not even be considered fussing.

I was practically someone who had come back from the dead after all.

“Let’s not just stand here – we should have some kind of celebration party!”

“A party? I…”

And somehow we ended up having a small gathering to celebrate my return.

It’s not uncommon to celebrate good occasions with simple snacks and drinks.

Such gatherings happen frequently in professions where you risk your life.

But I never really participated much before.

“You always skipped out before. If you don’t join in now, when will you?”

Come to think of it, I never really mingled much with other lower-ranked hunters.

Though there wasn’t anyone I had bad relations with, there wasn’t anyone particularly close either.

I drew a line between myself and them, and they probably knew that too.

Chris was the only one I treated openly as a friend, but…

…Better stop thinking about that.

After work hours ended, we bought some alcohol, drinks and snacks from the general store to share together.

Though the items at the general store were a bit lacking compared to headquarters, they had some unique local foods from this country so it wasn’t too disappointing.

“Let me tell you about my daughter…!”

“Remember last Saturday?”

Everyone gathering together, having fun and chatting… somehow it makes me feel… like a normal person.

“By the way… you came with Lady Sephira this morning, right?”

Auntie Beth asked as she approached.

“Yes. We ended up traveling together.”

“I saw you two passing by, and the atmosphere between you seemed off. Did something happen?”

The “off” Auntie mentioned probably meant exactly that.

After Sephira suggested running away, the atmosphere became quite strange and we grew distant.

“Well…”

“Lady Sephira is beautiful and kind, but how should I put it… she always had this cold atmosphere, but when I saw her then she looked completely gloomy.”

“Is… that so? Gloomy?”

Is that the right way to describe it?

“My goodness, you really don’t understand women’s hearts. Lady Sephira was showing that much on her face, and you couldn’t tell even though you were right next to her?”

She was showing it?

I only felt the awkward air between us.

“It’s really heartbreaking to watch… You were right next to her, you should have taken better care of her.”

Among high-ranked hunters, Sephira was the only one who voluntarily participated in lower-ranked hunters’ missions.

Because of that, saying Sephira was popular among lower-ranked hunters would be an understatement – it was closer to worship.

For good reason too, since having Sephira around greatly increased your chances of survival.

But even with Sephira present, people still died sometimes.

I’ve already experienced that kind of situation…

“Looks like she hasn’t gone back to headquarters yet – you should go comfort her.”

“Me?”

“Well who else but you? Among us, you’re the closest to her.”

I’m close to her?

“Don’t you work together in that special department?”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, Sephira did say we were colleagues in the same department.

“And you know, Lady Sephira always seemed to be in an especially good mood during missions with you.”

“No way, that can’t be…”

Normally I would have just dismissed that thought.

But the memory of Sephira pushing me down and asking me to run away with her flashed through my mind.

Just what does Sephira think of me?

Colleagues?

Or is there something I don’t know about?

What is there between Sephira and me…

“My my, so there is something after all? It’s written all over your face.”

“No, well…”

“That’s enough teasing.”

Marcus came over and spoke quietly.

“Cut her some slack. She’s been saying everything she’s wanted to say since announcing her retirement soon.”

He shrugged while nodding towards Auntie Beth.

“What? Auntie is retiring?”

“Well I’m getting up there in years too. My kids are growing up, and to get them a nice house in the city I’ll need to use my retirement money on top of savings.”

“Wouldn’t savings be enough for a decent house?”

Though I don’t know exactly how much Auntie Beth has saved, given her exceptional resourcefulness it must be no small amount.

With a hunter’s income, you could get a decent house without much trouble.

“I mean a good, pretty and spacious house. I’ve already talked it over with my husband.”

By city she must mean Cranion, and what would be considered a good, pretty and spacious house there would be something suitable for nobles or wealthy merchants.

Though getting a minimal house would be easy, when it comes to luxuries it’s difficult even for a lower-ranked hunter.

Plus Auntie has two kids so the expenses must be enormous…

Indeed, savings alone wouldn’t be enough for that level.

“In the end, what remains is the house, right? Things can break or get lost with use, but a house you can live in and pass down.”

“But… isn’t it a waste? Using even your retirement money…”

“Hohoho, it’s fine. I was planning to retire soon anyway. Can’t be a hunter forever, and my husband and I are getting older so how much more can we enjoy life going forward?”

How should I put it… this is amazing.

Finding a partner, building a family, leaving something behind.

I truly respect that.

She’s really different from me.

“Eugene, you need to start thinking about these things too.”

“Me?”

“Of course! Aren’t you the one who needs to worry about it most?”

“…Why me?”

“My goodness, look at this child. There’s a limit to playing dumb.”

No really, why?

“You think I don’t know about all the women lined up for you?”

Ah.

“There’s that Hilde girl you used to train, and that Hera from administration clearly likes you too, and I hear there’s another woman in the Development Department?”

“No, that’s… um, well…”

How does she know all of this?!

“Of course I know you’re not that kind of frivolous man, but at least pick one properly and make her happy. Though the other girls will be sad…”

“Ahem.”

Marcus cleared his throat and stopped Auntie.

“Oh my, look at me. I just can’t help but meddle somehow. Hoho, maybe that’s part of your charm?”

Auntie Beth laughed while patting my shoulder before backing away.

“…Well, Beth isn’t just teasing you for fun.”

Marcus said.

“If anything, it’s the opposite. Among us, you’re the most likely candidate.”

“I suppose so.”

“I’m already quite late. But you’re still young so you have opportunities. It wouldn’t hurt to take it to heart.”

“Well…”

“Well, in the end it’s your choice… but at least don’t just leave it be. End it somehow.”

Marcus said with a bitter expression.

Having been a hunter much longer than me, he must have gone through a lot.

“…Yes.”

Whether it’s Hilde, Zepetia, or Hera, I need to bring things to some kind of conclusion.

And Sephira…

…Is there something I need to face with her too?

* * *

Bari mounted Ragnarok and soared into the sky.

Until now she had only done reconnaissance by sharing consciousness with undead outside for safety, but this time she needed to go in person.

“It’s a bit dangerous, but curiosity can’t be helped.”

Word had come from Jarkoff that Eugene had arrived at the Offenbach branch.

He would probably soon lure Eugene to Bluebeard territory and use the cursed necklace she had given him.

She had told Jarkoff the necklace would kill when pointed at the target, but in truth it had no ability to directly end someone.

However, since it would make the target fall into a coma as good as death, he would truly think they had died right after using it.

Eugene would be a useful card against at least three of her sisters, and there was something else about him that drew her attention.

Since securing Eugene was absolutely necessary, Bari decided to make quite an investment in this matter.

“Let’s go, Arachne.”

When Bari sent out her thought, a massive being buried in the ground responded.

The Spider Queen Arachne who was among the highest tier even by the standards of behemoths’ golden age 500 years ago.

Bari had retrieved that corpse hidden deep within Spider Castle and brought it here, pouring her heart and soul into modifying it.

Indeed, Arachne was just an empty vessel without a soul, but even that was so enormous that it took quite some time to completely subjugate.

In truth, even now it couldn’t be called perfect and probably couldn’t display even half the potential of its prime.

The true power of Arachne in its prime started with endlessly producing vassals at the level of mid-tier Beasts, but right now it couldn’t create even a single one.

If Bari had just a bit more time to perfectly repair Arachne, it could have demonstrated those same abilities without reserve.

“If I can just get my hands on that human… sacrificing Arachne would be worth it…”

But among the forces available right now, Arachne was the strongest.

While behemoths could be created again, means as effective against her sisters as Eugene couldn’t be made.

So in some sense, Eugene’s value was higher than a behemoth’s.

At least that’s how Bari calculated it.

“…!”

The revived body of the Spider Queen began advancing underground.

Though its pale and massive form with pointed forelegs pushed through the earth as it moved its great bulk forward, the ground above remained eerily quiet.

Moreover, not just Arachne but countless legions of undead under Bari also began marching similarly.

Since Bari herself was taking the field this time, she needed to be extremely thorough with safety.

Though Jarkoff had said it would be fine if Bari came alone, she wouldn’t nod to such casual words.

“Something feels strange but… securing Eugene is important. Yes… it’s important that I have him…”

Words to herself, but Bari herself didn’t notice they were closer to self-hypnosis than reconfirming her objective.

Eugene strangely had a strong influence on the witches.

So logically it wasn’t strange that securing Eugene would be important in the war between witches.

However, for some reason Bari failed to calculate the fact that she herself could be affected by Eugene.

Or perhaps deliberately or unconsciously, she was averting her eyes from that possibility.

Though she didn’t notice this fact herself.

While commanding two behemoths and leading legions of undead from behind was grand and imposing, somehow it also resembled a moth drawn to flame.

“I will have that person… Huhuhu…”