Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 190

The hunt for Vile was over.

Though Gerda and Hilde suffered psychological trauma, they managed to overcome it without major issues thanks to Maia’s sorcery that could blur painful memories.

Oscar, or rather Dorothy’s trauma from what happened in Cheshire Village was too deep a wound and even Maia’s power wasn’t enough to fully heal it, but this time was different.

Both Gerda and Hilde were naturally mentally strong, and Maia’s power was sufficient.

Besides that, there were no other injuries and hardly any damage to speak of.

Though it was a remarkable achievement, everything ultimately depended entirely on Maia alone.

“Well, isn’t that enough?” 

Maia said.

“I’m also clearly part of Eugene’s forces. If we’re being strict about it, you’re the one who deserves the credit, Eugene.”

“Even so, that’s not right.”

“What’s not right? You’re the one who brought down Vile at the end. And in that way too.”

“…While you were watching over me the whole time.”

“Oh? You noticed?”

In Vile’s story, Maia was portrayed as a bothersome opponent who died first, but she was probably still alive.

Vile’s final creation was extremely sloppy.

It was nothing more than the desperate thrashing of someone dying after being defeated by Maia, and he seemed to rush things anxiously, sensing he was running out of time.

There’s no way Maia would have died to something like that.

She must have been pretending.

“Why did you do that?”

I couldn’t hide my slight displeasure.

“If you had stepped in from the start, Gerda and Hilde wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“But I thought it was more logical for you to fight.”

“Why?”

“Because it was a battle between creators.”

“I told you I’m not like that anymore.”

“Really?”

“Well…”

“You say you’re just an ordinary human? Can an ordinary human instantly shatter a world by reversing the power of creation?”

No…they can’t shatter it.

“You keep saying you’re an ordinary human. But from my perspective, that’s hypocrisy.”

Hypocrisy.

Those words pierced my heart strangely deeply.

“You fight seeking a place to die. But will such a place ever truly come?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Maybe, perhaps… you might still be a creator. If you’re truly a god, while wearing a human shell, you might be precisely manipulating the world to keep avoiding death…”

“Stop.”

“…”

Maia immediately shut her mouth.

As if she was following my order.

If anything, I was the one growing anxious.

Maia’s words kept spinning in my head.

Could that really be true?

Am I perhaps still Noah, hiding within Eugene’s shell and using god’s power to keep avoiding death even in fatal situations?

If that’s true, what about my resolve?

My determination?

My…pride?

Was it all just a staged play?

“No… That can’t be…”

I covered my face with my hands.

Who am I?

Why am I living as Eugene?

Which part of me is real?

No, what is Eugene in the first place?

I, I, I….

“It’s okay.”

Maia whispered in my ear.

“It’s just a possibility, right? I believe that you are Eugene.”

“Then why did you say such things…”

“The White Witch might think differently.”

“Belle…?”

“Yes. That woman knew you were Noah. Why would she keep you around? What could she want from you? Isn’t it suspicious?”

“But Belle… Belle…”

“Is the one who cut your throat.”

“…Stop it.”

Maia backed away again.

I didn’t have the courage to look back at her.

I didn’t want to show any face that doubted Belle.

“You’re awake.”

I heard Ozwald’s voice.

When I turned my head, Hilde and Gerda were getting up.

“What exactly happened…”

“Uhh…”

They both looked dazed like people who had just woken up after sleeping all day.

“So… what about Vile?”

“Did we fight something…?”

“There’s no problem.”

Maia walked over to them and said.

“We won.”

“Won…?”

“Yes. Vile is finished! We rescued Dorothy or whatever too. Now we just need to head back.”

“Dorothy?”

“Hey.”

Dorothy waved at them.

“Ah, Oscar.”

“No, it’s Dorothy.”

“Dorothy?”

“That’s my name from now on.”

“Sigh…”

I rubbed my cheeks hard with my hands to compose my expression before approaching them.

“Are you awake?”

“Ah, Senior.”

“Brother!”

They smiled at me, but a corner of my heart kept growing colder.

*    *    *

After hunting Vile, we returned to the Order to report our achievements.

However, Maia couldn’t join us and instead went to Vile’s old laboratory.

Not only to keep her promise to Time Rabbit and Queen of Hearts in Wonderland about healing them, but it was also thought to be a suitable place for Maia who had nowhere proper to stay.

Though it was Order territory, it was a place they had lost interest in, so it was much better than being somewhere ambiguously far away.

We couldn’t confirm whether Maia could heal the bosses there or not, but she probably could.

She’s almost too versatile, to the point where it seems questionable if this is right.

Normally they would hold a victory ceremony and celebrate taking down a behemoth, but the fact that we’re still at war hasn’t changed.

A medal and merit pay followed by some rest.

That was all.

But that should have been enough for me.

It should have been enough, and yet…

“The next mission…”

“Yes. Though I’m not telling you to go right now.”

Though Crowty showed clear signs of feeling quite apologetic, I didn’t have major complaints.

Maia was essentially the one who took down Vile, and it was Ozwald and Hilde who directly fought Raging Bandersnatch.

“Now that Vile is dead, I suppose the Behemoth Tracking Special Department’s mission will change too.”

“Ah… That was a thing.”

“Well, you’re the department head, and Hilde is also a member. For now, it’s recorded as being handled by that department. Of course, following protocol, it was a mission assigned to you all independently… but you know? That sorcerer, I mean. That’s what bothers me.”

“Well, neither Maia nor I particularly care, so it’s fine.”

“So for now, since one of the department’s missions is considered complete, we need to move on to the next. Go to the conference room at 4 PM today. Sephira will be waiting too.”

“Yes.”

When I went to the conference room a little before 4 PM, Sephira was waiting alone.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello.”

Sephira greeted with a somewhat cold expression.

Did something happen?

“…”

Somehow she didn’t seem to be in a good mood, so I carefully sat down in my seat without saying anything.

“…”

“…Mr. Eugene.”

“Yes?”

“I heard you took down Vile.”

“Ah, yes… well…”

“Well done.”

“Thank you. But…”

“But you left me out.”

“Well, about that.”

“What’s the reason?”

“That’s…”

To find Vile, we first had to find Maia, and also needed help from Wonderland.

Neither were issues that should involve a high-ranked Order hunter.

I did it with Hilde and Gerda because I was certain they were completely on my side, but Sephira was somewhat ambiguous.

To be precise, I didn’t want to cause her trouble.

“Are you saying you couldn’t trust me?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then why didn’t you take me with you?”

Sephira stared straight at me.

“I also wanted to go with you… ah…”

But only briefly, as she turned her head away again.

“I’m sorry…”

“Lady Sephira has nothing to be sorry about.”

“No… That’s not true…”

Now she became extremely depressed.

Sephira’s emotional ups and downs are really severe today.

I can understand feeling upset about being left out.

But if you ask whether Sephira and I have that level of personal friendship, I didn’t think so.

But maybe that wasn’t the case?

Perhaps Sephira considered me close?

Looking at her reactions it’s possible, but I’m not certain.

We’ve never even met privately.

No, does Sephira even have anyone she’s personally close with in the first place?

Called the Little Saintess or Saintess’s avatar, Sephira takes on all sorts of minor missions, so among high-ranked hunters she probably meets people the most.

But all those meetings are just because of missions.

Could Sephira be lonely?

…These are all just guesses.

If she doesn’t say it herself, I won’t know.

You can sometimes guess other people’s feelings, but conversely, the results are worst when you carelessly step in without really knowing.

“…”

“…”

Another awkward silence.

But maybe I could speak up first here.

We are colleagues in the same department after all.

We also fought together against Bari and Blanc recently.

“Lady Sephira. Perhaps…”

“Ah, Eugene! Long time no see!”

However, interrupting my words, the door opened and Zepetia entered.

“You came 30 minutes early and were already waiting before me.”

Zepetia said as she sat right next to me.

“What? 30 minutes?”

I thought I barely made it early?

The time now is… a little before 4:30.

“Isn’t the meeting at 5?”

“5?”

Didn’t Crowty say 4 o’clock?

Could Crowty have gotten the time wrong?

“Anyway, it’s been a while…”

Zepetia pulled her chair close and leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Ah… yes. Oh right, that rail gun you gave me…”

Looking again, she wasn’t leaning but sniffing me.

Honestly it’s creepy and a bit unpleasant, but I’ll put up with it since it’s Zepetia…

“Hm? Rail gun? Ah right, I should hear about that too. Was it useful?”

“It worked excellently. Lady Sephira saw its performance too.”

I turned my head toward Sephira.

“…”

Sephira slightly turned her head the opposite way as if ignoring us.

As if it never happened, her emotionless, wall-like demeanor had returned.

“Hehe, tonight with me…”

Though it felt uncomfortable, I should focus on giving Zepetia attention first.

“…Ah, but.”

“Yes?”

“About Vile…”

“Grandfather? Ah, I heard you killed him.”

“Um… yeah.”

“Yes. But why?”

Her reaction is strange considering I killed the grandfather she respected.

“Did you… not want to meet him?”

“I used to feel that way a little. But not anymore.”

“Why?”

“I told you.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t need anyone but you…”

Zepetia grabbed my arm.

Though Zepetia had normal physical abilities, for a moment my heart sank like being caught in giant vise grips.

Right… Zepetia becoming broken was my fault too…

Her completely giving up on relationships with others ultimately happened because I needlessly got involved.

Then I need to take responsibility for that.

…Perhaps, did the me who was Noah also have things to take responsibility for?