Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 175

Though it was hard to tell exactly how much time had passed, we seemed to arrive at Bluebeard territory without it being too late.

Bluebeard territory was already on a war footing as well.

They had reinforced the thickness of the stone walls by surrounding them with wooden palisades, and watchtowers had been built at every corner to maintain vigilant surveillance of the surroundings.

Above all, the guards were probably using guns loaded with silver bullets.

I’d heard rumors that the Order was releasing their monopoly on silver – it must be true.

Without silver equipment for civilians, they would essentially be leaving everyone to die.

Of course, while saving lives was part of it, the main purpose was to prevent the witches’ forces from growing.

After all, the Beasts that witches command are ultimately transformed humans.

“Excuse us for a moment.”

Though the guards surely recognized our carriage, they still checked everything thoroughly.

Everyone’s faces were filled with tension.

“…We had a Beast horde attack recently.”

Ulysses said after we passed through the inspection.

“Since I wasn’t here when it happened I didn’t see the details, but they say the walls were nearly breached.”

Indeed, after experiencing something like that, any laxness would disappear.

That atmosphere permeated even as we crossed through the town.

Fear, tension, anxiety…

Though there was no one out on the streets at this late hour, the unique atmosphere that fills the air when negative emotions run high wafted through the entire town.

And even after arriving at the mansion on the hill, we had to go through one more inspection before we could finally enter the Bluebeard residence.

I followed a maid with not even a hint of a smile on her face to the room where Jarkoff was.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has been a while, Branch Commander.”

Only Jarkoff was in the room, and the maid who guided me left immediately, leaving just the two of us.

“Please, have a seat.”

Jarkoff gestured to a chair.

Coffee and snacks were already laid out on the table.

I sat down.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Ah, though I heard you only woke up recently.”

“Thank you for your concern. I’ve recovered enough to return to duty now.”

“That’s fortunate. Having an excellent instructor like you absent is quite a loss.”

“You’re too kind.”

“…”

“…”

After exchanging these formulaic pleasantries, an awkward air settled over the room again.

“…How is Hilde.”

Jarkoff spoke first.

“How is Hilde doing these days? I haven’t been able to contact her much lately.”

“I don’t see her often myself so I’m not sure, but she’s probably doing well. I heard she’s making achievements and going on missions as a proper mid-ranked hunter.”

“I see…”

Jarkoff probably had a chance to be with Hilde originally.

But it’s too late now.

No, did Jarkoff ever have a chance to begin with? 

Perhaps my very existence was an obstacle to him from the start.

I have many regrets now, but everything is already in the past.

Knowledge from my past life?

The game’s story?

Such things were rarely helpful, yet I needlessly stepped in using them as an excuse and ruined everything.

“I’m not sure if you know…”

Jarkoff said after drinking his cold tea.

“I am in love with Hilde.”

“…Yes. I heard from the Marquis.”

“Is that so? I see…”

Jarkoff set down his teacup.

“Father used to mention you occasionally. He said you were an excellent hunter.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Not at all. You are an excellent hunter. Your career and character are both spotless.”

“That’s not really…”

“So it’s not strange that Hilde would fall for you.”

“…”

“…”

“…I rejected her.”

“You would, wouldn’t you. And Hilde wouldn’t give up on you either.”

“I couldn’t…”

“Do anything about it. Yes. What could you do? When she keeps pursuing you despite your rejection. You can’t exactly angrily tell her to go away either. Really, there’s not even a speck of fault to find.”

“…”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I don’t resent you.”

Jarkoff stood up.

“About Hilde, about my father… you haven’t done anything wrong. That’s for certain. If anything, regarding my father you should be praised… hehe… praised…”

“What happened with the Marquis was truly regrettable.”

“Yes. Regrettable. I feel the same.”

“So…”

“It’s truly regrettable, Eugene.”

Jarkoff pulled something from his pocket and pointed it at me.

“…!?”

*    *    *

Jarkoff stood before his mother Jeanne’s corpse again in the mansion’s hidden space.

“Witch.”

“…Hello.”

When Jarkoff called, Jeanne, no, Bari responded.

“Did you perhaps succeed?”

“Yes.”

Jarkoff pointed to the floor.

Eugene lay collapsed there.

“Fufu, very well done.”

“With this we have no more business with each other? I’ll handle disposing of the body myself.”

“My… that might be a bit…”

“Is there a problem?”

“Could you wait just a moment? I’ll be there right away.”

“…You’re coming?”

“Yes. I’m heading there in person right now.”

“I’m sorry but you’re no longer my guest. I’ll burn this room entirely as Father said. So Mother can rest in true peace.”

Jarkoff held a bucket filled with sloshing liquid.

“Just wait a moment. Let’s meet and talk for a bit…”

Jarkoff ignored Bari’s words and splashed the liquid on the floor.

“Wait! I helped you!”

He splashed it on the collapsed Eugene as well.

“Eek…! Stop!”

Jeanne’s purple eyes blazed with an eerie light as she instantly broke the chains binding her body.

“Stop! I’m taking that person!”

The corpse of Jeanne controlled by Bari leapt from the bed and pounced straight at Jarkoff.

“Get out of the way…!”

“No, you get out of the way.”

And a white flash sparked between them.

“Ah?”

Bari’s vision turned upside down.

Up became down, down became up.

And legs came into view.

Jeanne’s bisected corpse tumbled to the floor.

“Wh-what…”

The upper body tried to turn its head to see the attacker, but before it could, the neck was severed.

Bari’s consciousness returned to her main body.

Atop Ragnarok.

Still flying through the moonlit night.

“Ugh… Damn it!!!”

Bari grimaced and ground her teeth.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!! A mere brat dares to mock me!?!?”

If Jarkoff burned Eugene’s corpse there would be no way to salvage it.

If even just a part of the body remained, somehow…!

“Ragnarok!”

“Caaaaw!”

Ragnarok beat its wings harder at Bari’s command.

Until now they had been flying at a pace matching Arachne and the undead army, but there was no more time.

With Bari mounted, Ragnarok surged ahead of the formation and raced through the sky.

“That person is mine! They will be mine!”

Blood vessels stood out in Bari’s eyes as her expression twisted into that of a wrathful demon.

Flying like a comet, Ragnarok arrived near Bluebeard territory in an instant.

Flames could be seen rising in the distance.

“Faster!”

Without thinking, Bari flew straight toward that spot.

If she was too late to salvage even a part of Eugene’s corpse, everything would be for nothing.

No… I won’t be able to have him…!!

The excited Bari could see nothing else.

A complete opening.

And the ambush landed perfectly.

A streak of red light pierced through one of Ragnarok’s wings.

“Caaaw!?”

“Huh…?”

Ragnarok plummeted toward the ground.

“Wait…! What is this!?”

Bari belatedly looked toward where the attack had come from.

“Im-impossible…”

Eugene was aiming something at Bari while staring straight at her from atop a hill outside Bluebeard territory.

The Eugene that Bari knew couldn’t make such an attack.

Eugene was clearly a lower-ranked hunter after all.

But the power just now approached that of a high-ranked hunter’s attack.

Just how…?

And a chilling presence was felt from the opposite direction.

“…!”

Sephira could be seen taking stance with her sword.

White energy rose from her sword and body before taking the shape of a skull.

“N-no!”

Ignoring Bari’s scream, Sephira swung her sword.

The white skull flew precisely toward Bari.

Bari desperately grabbed onto the falling Ragnarok with her hands.

Sephira’s attack struck Ragnarok and Bari directly, causing a massive explosion in the sky.

*    *    *

I quickly kicked the rail gun down the hill.

The bloodstone generator and barrel tumbled down and shortly after, a large explosion occurred.

Moreover, as Zepetia had said, thick curse energy dispersed after the explosion.

However, I had already spread plenty of holy oil there, so the curse would disappear along with the flames that ignited.

Now the only problem was Bari herself.

“I wonder if that finished her.”

No, that’s impossible.

A witch wouldn’t die from something like that.

But it definitely dealt significant damage, and there’s a good chance we killed Ragnarok who was responsible for Bari’s mobility.

She seemed to use it as a shield at the last moment to block Sephira’s attack….

First priority is to escape.

I ran straight toward Bluebeard territory.

Sephira will confirm whether Bari is truly down or not.

Since I’m the target, if Bari is alive and doesn’t intend to flee, she’ll come here.

But while running down the hill toward Bluebeard territory, I tripped over something and fell.

“Ugh!”

What suddenly…

“Found… you…!”

“…!?”

No, impossible…

When I turned my head, there was Bari in a completely mangled state.

Though her arms, neck and waist were bent at strange angles, her purple eyes stared straight at me.

“Ha, hahaha… you’re… mine… you’re mine….”

My ankle was caught by one of the bone hands that Bari likes to use.

I immediately drew my silver dagger and struck down at it.

Though cracks formed and bone fragments flew, it didn’t seem like it would break immediately.

Bari approached me.

“You are… mine… to… take…”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Damn it, at the very end like this…!

Can’t help it but I’ll have to cut off my foot…

But the moment I drew my hand axe, Bari’s twisted arm pointed at me.

More bone hands burst from the ground and grabbed me, preventing any movement.

“Hah, hah… now… we must return… ugh…”

Bari staggered while breathing heavily.

The damage was greater than expected.

But what should I… some way to respond…

“Get away from him!”

At that moment, along with Sephira’s voice, the skull formation flew again and struck Bari.

Bari was sent flying far away as if hit by a truck.

“Are you alright?!”

Sephira rushed over and cut away all the hands restraining my body.

“Thank you.”

“Quickly escape to the territory! I’ll handle this!!”

“Yes! I’m counting on you!”

I ran without looking back.

And fell again.

“…Huh?”

Or more precisely, was made to fall.

Just like how Sephira did to me last time.

“Hehe… long time no see?”

Said Blanc.