Dark Fantasy’s Extra – Chapter 179

Author: Dawn

Vale territory near the border was estimated to be Ozwald and Oscar’s last known destination.

It was Oscar’s hometown and the land ruled by his family, but when the Order went to summon Ozwald after entering war footing, they found only ashes and dust remaining after a sea of flames had swept through.

“No way…”

“Probably Vile.”

Hilde nodded.

“From the traces, it seems Sir Ozwald fought there, but we’re not sure about the outcome. At least no bodies were found…”

“If there are no bodies, he’s probably alive.”

After all, this is Ozwald we’re talking about.

A legendary figure who earned the title of Great Mage through research and development of battlefield survival magic like sound erasing and night vision spells.

Even for Vile, killing or capturing Ozwald wouldn’t be easy.

The only worry was…

“But Oscar…”

As Hilde said, Oscar was the issue.

Vile had shown an obsessive perversion toward Oscar, and conversely, Ozwald would have protected his disciple even at the cost of his life.

“Even if Sir Ozwald was defeated, Oscar would still be alive.”

Even if Ozwald failed to protect him, given Vile’s attitude toward Oscar, he probably wouldn’t kill him.

Most likely imprisonment and confinement would be the extent of it.

…I hate this world where I can sincerely think that’s the “extent” of it.

“But why did you come here? Did you find evidence that Sir Ozwald is in Offenbach?”

“No. But he said if anything happened to him, to find you, Senior.”

“Me? …Why?”

No, really.

As the Great Mage, he must have an incredible network of connections.

“We’re not really sure of the reason either… But he specifically said to find you, Senior Eugene, and no one else.”

Why me, a lower-ranked hunter, of all people?

Setting aside other acquaintances…

For example, hmm…

“…I see. Got it.”

“You know something, don’t you Senior?”

“Something like that. But why do you say that like it’s obvious?”

“Well of course, because you’re Senior!”

“What kind of reason is that? Anyway, I may know something this time, but… it won’t be easy.”

“What should we do?”

“Leave anything to me!”

“Gerda, you… hmm…”

I stroked my chin while looking at Gerda.

“Say anything except telling me to stay behind.”

Gerda spoke up first, quick to catch on.

“Sigh, about that. It could be a bit dangerous…”

“Even if it’s dangerous, Brother will protect me.”

“Well that’s true but.”

“In that case, you really should stay behind.”

Hilde said.

“Don’t make things difficult for Senior.”

“Ugh…”

“You stop too. What are you doing picking on a kid?”

“She’s not just some kid. You don’t know how cunning she is…”

I couldn’t say anything in response to the “not just some kid” comment since it hit a sore spot.

I hadn’t noticed at all that Gerda was deceiving me…

Though she didn’t do it with bad intentions.

“Anyway, since Sir Crowty sent you, it would be awkward to just send you back, so I guess we have no choice but to all go together.”

“If Senior says so… But where should we go?”

“Well…”

The situation is almost identical to when I was searching for Chris.

The reason Ozwald specified me.

It must undoubtedly be because of Maia.

I can’t think of anything else.

From Ozwald’s perspective, she would probably be the most capable person.

Since they also had a connection, he likely went to ask Maia for help.

And deducing the content of that request isn’t difficult.

“Oscar was probably kidnapped. Sir Ozwald must have gone to ask Maia for help in getting Oscar back.”

“Of course!”

Hilde clapped her hands.

“Maia…? Uh…?”

Gerda looked bewildered.

Come to think of it, when Maia went berserk from the magical phenomenon and tried to attack me, Gerda was there too.

Now we’re going to find her – what a twisted connection.

“You know, that green… monster from before.”

“…? Who? Huh?”

Gerda’s eyes spun in circles.

“…Gerda?”

“S-sorry. I can’t remember. Um… green? Huh?”

Could she not remember?

…Hm?

Why did I assume Gerda would definitely remember?

Since I knocked Gerda unconscious before Maia attacked…

Wait?

Did that happen?

“Uh…?”

My head is confused.

What… what is this?

My memories… my memories…

“Senior? Are you okay?”

Hilde’s voice made me pull myself together.

“Ah, I’m fine. Just got a bit… confused for a moment… Anyway, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know. The problem is what comes next.”

I shook Gerda’s shoulder lightly to snap her out of her own confusion.

“What comes next?”

“Yeah. The thing is… I actually don’t know where Maia is either.”

Maia left the Order, likely wary of going berserk from the magical phenomenon.

I’m not completely certain, but that must be it.

The haziness of my memories must be from being affected by some curse.

“Anyway, finding Maia comes first… We need to return to Cranion first. That’s where we’ll start.”

With a problem involving Ozwald and Maia, and Hilde here too.

Then it should be worth using one of the two, no, three remaining chances with Prophet Ryu.

“Then let’s leave right away.”

“No, before that.”

I stopped Hilde.

“Do you have anything to wrap up?”

“Maybe? But if there is, it’s not for me but for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I’d like you to meet someone.”

* * *

Jarkoff had been in the hospital since being rescued.

Or more precisely, he had been confined to the hospital since being forcibly rescued.

Though he had never told Ulysses about the secret room or how to enter it, as a mid-ranked hunter specialized in detection who had long served as the Bluebeard family’s guard, Ulysses had vaguely sensed something.

Especially unlike the Marquis himself, Jarkoff was rather clumsy with finishing touches and caution, making it easier for Ulysses to figure out.

The surviving Jarkoff told the Heresy Inquisition Department everything he had been hiding.

From his father’s diary to what he had been doing underground, everything.

The result was his current confinement.

“…Sigh.”

Alone, Jarkoff gazed out the window.

From the high hospital room, only the sky and distant mountain peaks were visible.

Even that scenery never changed.

The endless night and unpleasantly large moon.

No… honestly speaking, looking at the moon itself wasn’t unpleasant.

Somehow it reminded him of Hilde’s eyes.

But that naturally made him recall another side of Hilde he hadn’t known.

Dark and gloomy like the deep sea, and hostile…

“What should I even do…”

Just then there was a knock at the hospital room door.

Since only doctors and nurses knocked here, Jarkoff casually said to come in.

Then while drinking water from a bottle… he spat it out.

“Hi, Ja- Wh-what?!”

“Cough, cough… Th-that’s my line! What? Why are you here?”

Jarkoff asked while pounding his chest.

“Well, just… came to see you.”

“S-see? Who?”

“You, obviously.”

“…Why?”

“What do you mean why? Is it strange for me to come visit?”

“Yes. It’s strange.”

“You’re the strange one. What do you think I am? …I’m sorry I haven’t contacted you much lately. I was so busy I completely forgot. Really sorry.”

“No, it’s fine… I was just as busy.”

“…If it’s okay, can I ask what kept you so busy?”

“Training.”

“Training?”

“Yeah. Training to get stronger. It’s surprisingly… how should I say it… makes you stop seeing what’s around you.”

“To the point you didn’t even know our father was branded a heretic?”

“Huh? That happened?!”

“…You really didn’t know.”

“S-sorry. No one…”

“It’s fine. The Order kept it hidden from everyone except high-ranked hunters and those directly involved anyway. It’s not strange you didn’t know.”

“But then, you…”

“Various things happened and now I’m branch commander.”

“…Jacob.”

“No need to say anything. You did nothing wrong… If anything, I’m the criminal.”

“What crime could you have committed?! You’re the victim!”

“No, it is a crime. Original sin inherited from Father.”

“Ah, as a heretic…”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m… truly Father’s son after all.”

“What?”

“Um… Hilde.”

“…What?”

“…”

“Will you be engaged to me?”

“…Huh?”

“Be engaged to me. Because I want to marry you someday.”

“Whaaaaat?! Wh-what are you suddenly saying?!”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve liked you since we were young.”

“B-but, um, that, uh… um…”

“…Ah.”

Jarkoff covered his eyes with his hand and lowered his head.

“So it really won’t work.”

“Huh?! Um, I, I…”

“I know. You already have someone you like. That low-ranked… no, Senior Eugene.”

“…Yes.”

“Have you heard all the talk about social status?”

“Yes.”

“And you won’t give up?”

“Yes.”

“Right. Then that’s enough.”

“Jacob, I…”

“Please don’t say anything. I lost completely and perfectly.”

“…”

“It’s really laughable… That person probably never even thought about competing. Rather the opposite.”

“…”

“Will you answer just one thing?”

“What?”

“If… that person dies… would I have another chance?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Is that so… Right. I understand.”

Jarkoff raised his head again.

His face held an indescribable expression that Hilde had never seen before – bitter yet relieved, satisfied yet regretful, on the verge of tears yet smiling…

Father’s teaching was to seize love through power.

But Father, I was wrong.

I lacked the power.

“You can… go now. Don’t apologize either. In the end this is my burden to bear.”

“Okay… And… someone good will find you.”

“Puhaha! What’s that? A line from some romance novel?”

“What?! I was trying to encourage you and that’s how you respond!”

“Well, you always were sensitive. Like when you watched plays and read novels about hunters…”

“Why are you bringing that up!”

The childhood friends laughed together briefly.

And on the opposite side of where they were laughing, outside the door leaning against the wall listening to their conversation, Eugene closed his eyes and lowered his head.

“…So, what do you think?”

Eugene said quietly.

“Are you talking to me?”

A small wrinkled old man waiting across from Eugene asked.

“Yes. I’m talking to you, Marquis.”

“…How did you know?”

Eugene looked down at the back of his hand.

Bari’s curse.

That which had taken root in Eugene’s body originally came from the Marquis of Bluebeard.

“…Just a feeling.”

“My, did I fall for a simple probe? You might have aptitude as a noble.”

“Absolutely not.”