Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 180

Hilde, Gerda and I left Offenbach and returned to Cranion.

Cranion is a massive city that grew through hundreds of years of trade alongside the Order’s headquarters.

It was always full of life, and despite this being an era where people normally work during the day and sleep at night, it even had night markets.

But now all 24 hours are like one continuous night market.

Moreover, the bustling atmosphere unique to night markets is nowhere to be found.

“…”

The faces of people walking around are covered in shadows upon shadows.

Worry, concern, anxiety, confusion… Such faces gather and disperse here and there.

The street stalls that used to loudly promote all sorts of goods have completely disappeared.

Not just that, but the number of people walking around has become unreasonably small.

Though the sky is dark, it’s actually daytime, yet there aren’t even half as many people as before.

Many probably left to become hunters, while others likely departed to oppose them.

Like those Winter of Salvation… damn cultists.

What exactly is supposed to be beautifully reborn in the first place?

There’s nothing more suspicious than witches.

On the other hand, the back alleys of the city remain largely unchanged from before.

The darkness is the same either way… no, if anything, being especially accustomed to darkness gives them relatively favorable conditions.

Like pickpockets and shady merchants…

And that rich aroma wafting from the deepest parts still remains the same.

“Welcome.”

Prophet Ryu’s noodle stand looked exactly the same.

“Hello.”

Just like last time, I placed 3 Order Silver coins and sat down.

After a moment, Ryu brought out a steaming bowl of noodles with broth well-simmered from fish bones.

“What would you like to know from this old man?”

“Where can I find Maia?”

There’s no need to explain who Maia is.

If he truly is a prophet, he would have already known what I would ask, and whether I could find her or not.

“I apologize. That is a question I cannot answer.”

“…What?”

“…”

Ryu offered no further response.

This… could it mean she’s dead?

No, that can’t be.

There’s no way Maia could be dead.

At the very least, if she was dead, he would have told me where to find her body.

Then what exactly…

Ah…

“…Does the question I just asked count toward the noodle price?”

“It does not.”

“Then… where can I find Thumbelina?”

“The youngest witch will come find you in five days.”

“…”

This… damn it…

I buried my face in my hands.

Damn.

Damn it all.

This is insane, how can this be?

She actually became Thumbelina?

This world is already a mess, and now we have another witch?

No… did Maia leave predicting this would happen?

Not wanting to harm anyone…

But in the end that was pointless too.

Since she’ll be coming to find me anyway.

“…Thank you.”

It was good that I asked.

Five days is barely enough time to prepare.

If I had met Thumbelina without any preparation, I would have died with no way to respond.

“Then until next time…”

“…It seems this business is coming to an end too.”

“…?”

What does he mean?

Those words just now… that’s the line for when all three prophecies are used…?

“I’ve worked long enough, so now it’s time to rest.”

“W-wait! Rest? You’re closing the business?!”

“Yes.”

“What are you saying?! There should still be one prophecy left…!”

The words caught in my throat before I could finish.

Knowing that would be… indirectly admitting I have knowledge from the game.

No, is that really the issue right now?

“I’ve only come twice!”

“Another customer came…”

“Another… customer…?”

D-don’t tell me someone else used one of Ryu’s prophecies?!

Who?

How?

Could there be someone else besides me who has knowledge from a past life?

Or just coincidence?

What exactly is this…

Though my mind was in chaos, when I saw Ryu lowering his stall’s shutters, I reflexively reached out to stop him.

“P-please wait!”

“…I apologize. I cannot grant that request.”

Ryu gently removed my hand.

I couldn’t resist.

Because of some… indescribable atmosphere he gave off.

“I am… tired. I wish to rest now, freed from my mission.”

“…”

“However… I can offer some advice on your way.”

“…Please.”

“Whatever choice you make, please do not doubt yourself. For your choices are truth itself.”

I don’t understand what he means at all.

But strangely enough, those words pierced my heart.

“Is this world… going to be destroyed?”

“Nothing truly ends. You should know that better than anyone.”

Even if this world ends at the hands of the witches, as Ryu said, that won’t be the end.

A world of eternal winter could come.

A world where the boundaries of land and sea are reversed could come.

A world where the peace of death is taken away and everything rots eternally could come.

A world where humanity’s definition changes as all humans become Beasts could come.

A world where everything burns as endless fuel for flames could come.

“Well then… it’s time for this old man to step down from behind the stage as well. May you make choices without regret.”

Ryu lowered his sign.

After the sign fell in front of him, no one was there.

The broth bubbling beside him and the box containing noodles were all empty.

All that remained was an old stall and empty pots.

“…”

I collapsed weakly into the chair.

The prophet has disappeared.

I thought there would be one chance left, but someone else used it.

I never even considered such a situation.

Of course not.

Who would think that a hidden event meant for the protagonist would be used by someone else…

Ah… I did the same thing.

Though it was for Hilde, I used one too.

I can’t blame anyone else.

“Damn it…”

Looking up at the sky, it’s still a dark night sky with a large blue moon.

That moonlight containing curses beyond human understanding continues pouring down on this land.

Even at this moment, someone is probably dying or becoming a Beast due to the magical phenomenon.

The witches’ power and the danger are both increasing.

“…Five days.”

In the end, all I can do is desperately cling to what comes next.

In 5 days, Maia, no, Thumbelina will return.

Should I ask Sephira for help?

Of course not.

What we need to do next is rescue a capable sorcerer, not hunt a witch.

What can I do in five days?

How did I save Maia before?

Where can I go for help?

“…That place.”

I stood up and walked out of the alley.

I suddenly turned my head to look at Ryu’s old stall.

A worn-out stall made by roughly nailing together some wooden boards.

I probably won’t be returning here again.

“You’re back already?”

“Welcome back.”

Hilde and Gerda were waiting.

The two of them stood out even in this endless moonlit night.

The dark expressions of passersby briefly lit up with admiration and envy when they saw them.

The power to exert a bright influence just by existing.

I don’t have that.

I just struggle desperately to escape unexpected situations however I can.

Then I must do what I can do.

I must struggle with all my might.

“Yeah. I’m back.”

“Did you meet that person?”

I had told them I needed to meet someone briefly.

“Yes. He helped me until the very end.”

At least the nearly omnipotent power of prophecy did help.

I was grateful for Ryu’s efforts.

Though I don’t know exactly what kind of life Ryu lived or what hardships he endured, it was clear there was something about him that made it difficult to even imagine his face.

“Let’s leave right away. We might be late otherwise.”

“Where are we going?”

Did it take 5 days by carriage from the Order to Drang territory?

Is this fate playing tricks?

…No, just coincidence.

No need to assign meaning to trivial things.

What I need is thorough reality.

“Wonderland.”

“…Wonderland?”

The first time Maia became Thumbelina, what saved her was the Hatter’s watch.

There’s no guarantee another one exists, but I can’t think of any other way to save Maia now.

Even Zepetia couldn’t recreate the Hatter’s watch.

If she could have, she would have made one and given it to me long ago.

…Originally it should have been an item for the protagonist Hilde.

“Anyway, let’s go. I’ll explain the details as we travel. We’ll be on the road for several days.”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

*    *    *

“Hmm… quite an interesting story.”

Rusalka said while resting her chin on her hand.

“A green Beast. Are you certain it wasn’t from Vasilisa’s side?”

“Yes! It was a completely new being I had never seen before.”

One of Rusalka’s royal guards reported while kneeling on one knee.

A cursed being that was neither Karen, Margarete, Bari, nor even Vasilisa.

Of course, they weren’t the only ones with the power of curses, but others generally couldn’t transcend human limits.

Yet what the royal guard was reporting now was beyond an ordinary behemoth.

Could a pure human accumulate that level of power?

Of course, Belle’s high-ranked hunter servants could face behemoths, but even then they were still a level below.

Instead, hunters were most threatening due to their large numbers and ability to cooperate.

“I see… Very well. You’ve brought excellent information.”

“I merely did my duty!”

“That itself is excellent. However, there are no signs of immediate conflict with either our side or the other sisters, so let us put aside thinking about it for now… And next.”

Rusalka’s gaze turned to Eric kneeling beside the royal guard.

Eric flinched slightly under his master’s gaze.

“Eric. I heard the plan to bring Eugene failed.”

“I am ashamed. To think Amcho would fail…”

“That surprised me too. Among the royal guards, Amcho’s stealth abilities were unmatched. It will be difficult to immediately fill Amcho’s void.”

“We are already searching for suitable candidates. Though it will take some time, I will definitely find one.”

Like other Beasts, the Deep Sea Folk who received Rusalka’s curse are born using humans as material.

And just like Beasts, exceptional individuals sometimes emerge due to the strength of will the original human possessed.

Among those, if one awakens self-awareness and develops a sense of self beyond mere slavery, they earn the right to join Rusalka’s royal guard.

But relying purely on the talents of humans becoming Deep Sea Folk meant stable recruitment was impossible, let alone predicting when they would appear.

“No, we don’t have that luxury. Everyone else must be gathering power even now, we cannot fall behind.”

“Then…?”

“Don’t you already know a suitable talent?”

“You don’t mean… Eugene?”

“Yes. That one carries several curses within him. Used well, he could become a warrior even more excellent at infiltration than Amcho.”

Eric silently ground his teeth while keeping his head bowed.