Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 191

“What exactly happened here…”

Eric said while walking around Snark Island.

Of course, since Vile was a person of interest who had clashed with Rusalka’s forces several times, they had been keeping him under constant surveillance.

However, since they couldn’t properly gauge Vile’s true capabilities, they hadn’t dared to attack Snark Island even though they knew it was his base.

Though he was easily subdued when the witches joined forces, Vile hadn’t brought his army then either.

But recently, they received reports that hunters had arrived on the island.

What’s more, among them was even Ozwald, the Order’s greatest mage.

If Eric had led his subordinates to ambush them while they were crossing the sea toward the island, he surely could have achieved great military merit.

But Eric didn’t do that.

Because Eugene was also beside Ozwald.

Eric didn’t want to miss this golden opportunity to have Vile do away with him.

Though there was a chance the hunters would win, at minimum their forces would be depleted to take down Vile.

Eric decided to step back and observe.

Of course, while preparing his subordinates to ambush them on their return route.

And surprisingly, the hunters came back from the island in less than a day.

There was no way they could have defeated a behemoth in such a short time – they must be fleeing after being defeated.

Eric immediately ordered the prepared forces to ambush.

Though Eric couldn’t take direct action since he needed to avoid Rusalka’s attention, he calculated that the hunters must have expended most of their strength since they were retreating.

At the very least, they should be able to kill a lower-ranked hunter.

That’s what he thought.

But instead, his subordinates were completely wiped out.

This much couldn’t escape Rusalka’s notice, so orders came down to investigate the situation with the island and Vile, and considering the gravity of the matter, Eric had to take charge personally.

And the results were beyond shocking – they were dumbfounding.

“They killed Vile… in just one day…”

After investigating with a large-scale investigation team, they discovered Vile’s underground base.

Though calling it a discovery was laughable since the door that should have been hidden was completely shattered and clearly exposed.

The inside was completely empty with barely any bloodstains.

Since the Beasts that Vile controlled often left no traces due to lacking true physical form, proper investigation was difficult.

Conversely, if there were no traces at all, one could deduce that everything had been eliminated.

Of course, there was also the possibility they all moved elsewhere, but looking at the scene, one could instinctively know.

That everyone who was here had died.

“Just how…”

Though Great Mage Ozwald’s capabilities weren’t certain, they shouldn’t exceed those of a high-ranked hunter.

Humans have human limits.

No matter how talented and trained one might be, fundamentally surpassing a behemoth is impossible.

The superiority between behemoths and high-ranked hunters had been demonstrated several times already in the last great war.

If there was a possibility, it would be that someone else in the party besides Ozwald was also a high-ranked hunter.

“…No, that’s impossible.”

They had information on all publicly active high-ranked hunters.

If any of them had been included in the party, reports would have definitely come in.

Then could it be the 1st-rank hunters, the White Witch’s strongest cards that hadn’t been revealed?

That’s even more impossible.

They are the White Witch’s armor and shield.

They would never leave the Order headquarters unless the White Witch herself made an appearance.

“Could there be someone we don’t know about…”

Though the possibility was high, in the end not knowing remained the same.

“Sir Eric.”

One of the investigation team members approached Eric and spoke.

“Though no bodies remained, we’ve roughly figured out the battle’s progression from the degree of destruction at the scene.”

“Report.”

“It seems there was likely an overwhelmingly strong individual, at least behemoth-level or above.”

“As I thought…”

“Yes. There was a location that was likely where direct combat with Vile took place, and the scale of destruction was tremendous. It was undoubtedly a head-on battle of power versus power.”

“Then at least it wasn’t a hunter? Perhaps there was some behemoth cooperating with the Order?”

“That I’m not sure about…”

“Ah, I wasn’t expecting an answer to that. Just talking to myself.”

The first person that came to mind was naturally Blanc.

It wouldn’t be strange for Blanc to be where Eugene was.

But would Blanc cooperate in something like this?

On the contrary, she would interfere with Eugene and make the fight more difficult, or just take Eugene and flee if the situation worsened.

No matter how much Blanc roamed around like a mad dog, as a behemoth she would never break the mad rules that formed the foundation of her existence.

Because that’s what behemoths are.

“Hmm… continue the investigation for now. We might have missed something.”

“Yes.”

After the investigator withdrew, Eric sank back into thought.

But there was nothing he could say with certainty.

No, there was exactly one definite concern.

If Rusalka learned Eugene was involved in this incident, she would act more aggressively about bringing that hunter to her.

“That must not happen…”

Eric deeply frowned before letting out a sigh.

“…I have no choice.”

Now there was only one option Eric could take.

“Charmol.”

*    *    *

“What did you just say?”

Charmol asked.

“Exactly what you heard. Let’s pretend our alliance never existed.”

Bari repeated what she had just said.

“…Why?”

Charmol expressed pure bewilderment.

That’s how nonsensical Bari’s words were.

“Because you’re trying to kill Eugene.”

“Huh…?”

Charmol could barely understand what Bari was saying now.

“Um, what… what are you talking about?”

“Your target is Blanc, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And that Blanc is after Eugene.”

“…That’s right.”

“Naturally, you’ll want to kill Eugene.”

“Of course.”

“That won’t do. Eugene is too valuable to kill.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am. Since I’m unilaterally breaking our promise, I’ll tell you something special. Most of my sisters are severely bound to Eugene. Though I don’t know the exact reason myself, they become quite emotionally agitated whenever Eugene appears. In other words, if I can just get my hands on that person, I’ll have a head start against my sisters.”

“…”

Charmol thought for a moment.

After thinking, he voiced the question that arose.

“…Are you different?”

“What?”

“I don’t quite understand, but you said he has some mental influence over the witches? Are you untouched by that influence?”

“Of course. I’m rational.”

“Rational? While suddenly breaking our alliance like this?”

“Isn’t this better? Better than keeping quiet and backstabbing you later.”

“Well, true. But… but aren’t you the type who does backstab? Aren’t you the witch most known for schemes and sowing discord?”

It wasn’t criticism or insult.

Truly purely, Charmol was just stating the characteristics and usual behavior of the witch called Bari that he knew.

That’s why it was even more strange.

If Bari really thought she needed to break the alliance, she would have kept quiet and waited for when Charmol was weakened, then properly backstabbed him when the opportunity came to gain advantage.

So why tell him so honestly?

“This is also a warning.”

“Warning?”

“Yes. A warning. A warning not to touch Eugene. Can’t you notice something this obvious? That human will become my useful chess piece, so don’t carelessly break him.”

…Then wouldn’t it be better to kill him and give the corpse?

Bari can summon and control souls using corpses.

Wouldn’t that be a more certain way to possess Eugene?

But Charmol didn’t voice that question.

He had a premonition and conviction.

“Hmm… alright. If you insist that much… Instead, properly teach me the dark arts of controlling behemoths. What you taught me last time was incomplete. If I can just possess Blanc that way, I won’t care about Eugene or anything else.”

“Good. Then let’s end our final deal with that.”

“…Alright.”

It was confirmed.

Bari had also fallen for Eugene.

Though he didn’t know specifically what happened, Bari herself had fallen for Eugene just like the other witches she mentioned.

If it was the usual Bari, she wouldn’t have acknowledged that the dark arts were incomplete.

She would have said the technique itself was perfect and it was just Charmol’s lack of proficiency.

But when Eugene was brought up, she spilled the truth absurdly easily.

Yet she claims she’s rational.

Has her wisdom fallen along with her vision becoming clouded?

Shortly after Bari left, Charmol sat alone on his throne looking down at the book she had given before departing.

It was the latter volume of a book containing dark arts for controlling and subjugating the minds of Beasts, even behemoths.

The upper volume he originally had was incomplete alone, but once he masters this, the technique will be complete.

And when that happens, the earnest wish he’s held for hundreds of years…

“…Master.”

As Charmol was imagining a happy future, Yorick spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Eric, the knight of the Little Mermaid, has contacted us saying he wishes to meet with you, Master.”

“Eric? What business could he have suddenly?”

“I’m not sure… He wouldn’t say the details, insisting on speaking directly to you, Master.”

“…Hmm, alright. Tell him he can come anytime.”

“Anytime, you say?”

“Yes. Even today would be fine.”

“If I may ask the reason? I need to gauge somewhat what he might be plotting…”

“It’s obvious.”

“What?”

“Without a doubt. It’s Eugene.”

“…That human?”

“This is fate.”

“Fate?”

“Yes. The whirlpool of fate is now spinning around him.”

“…Understood.”

Though Yorick had lived quite a long time himself, talk of fate was still difficult to understand.

Charmol was usually very calm and thoughtful, but occasionally when he spoke of fate, he would decide future policies based on fate without any basis.

And strangely enough, those policies had never been wrong.

After Yorick left, Charmol was alone again on the throne.

“Fate… Though I don’t know where your fate is heading, in the end I’ll be the victor…”

If he could get his hands on Blanc, if he could just do that, Charmol could become the ruler of the world.

There wasn’t any particular basis for believing that would happen.

He simply thought it was such a fate.

That he, who had been the weakest behemoth during the great war, had survived until now, and that Blanc still hadn’t achieved her wish – it was all necessity for such a future and fate.

And now, right before that fate lay the final obstacle.

“If only you weren’t here… If I can just get rid of you…”

Charmol muttered while holding the book of dark arts.