Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 209

“…”

After leaving Belle’s quarters, I was lost in thought for a moment.

The current creator position must be split between me and Hilde.

Though it’s not vacant, we can’t leave such an unstable state indefinitely.

But the problem is, what exactly should I do about it?

Should I transfer all authority to Hilde according to the original plan?

“…No.”

That’s definitely not it.

When I was Noah, I simply created Hilde as a sacrificial pawn to escape from the position of god.

But looking back as Eugene, that too was clearly a mistake.

Rather than creating a substitute, I should have patiently waited until someone with suitable qualifications appeared.

As long as humans continue to be born, they would appear eventually.

In that case, the best option would be to reclaim all the creator’s authority and wait.

Though I don’t know how long it would take, I could seal everything away after reclaiming it all and live on as Eugene.

But what if… what if Hilde wants to become the creator?

I think the possibility is low, but there’s always that small chance.

“Hmm… maybe it would be fine?”

While forcing it wouldn’t be right, if she wants it herself that wouldn’t be bad.

After all, Hilde was created by me when I was Noah as a successor and substitute.

At the very least, she should be able to properly fulfill the position of god.

Of course, whether she could create satisfactory worlds is a separate issue.

Though I’m not sure about Hilde’s sensibilities and reasoning, at least being born into nobility she must have received proper education…

“Huh?”

But why… does Hilde have parents?

Moreover, Hilde was born relatively recently.

It couldn’t have been 500 years ago no matter how early.

Could it be… she was reborn after dying?

Even if a creator’s soul leaves the body and enters reincarnation, the higher system sends it back to where it originally was.

Since Hilde also had some creator authority, it wouldn’t be strange if the higher system sent her back when she tried to enter reincarnation after death.

And if we ask who killed Hilde… well… it was obviously Belle, but.

“Let’s leave that for later….”

There’s nothing I can really do even if I meet Hilde now.

She probably hasn’t awakened to the creator’s power yet and simply possesses part of the authority.

It would only complicate things to confuse her with unnecessary words.

What I need to do right now is naturally…

“I apologize for being late.”

I returned to the administrative office and bowed my head.

While Noah’s past matters, Eugene’s present is important too.

“Suddenly another matter….”

“Ah, I heard. The inquisitor came and said they needed to take you somewhere. You’re back now? Sit down there for now.”

Crowty leaned back in his chair and gestured toward another chair with his chin.

I didn’t see Sephira, Hera, or anyone else.

“I won’t ask what it was about, and being late isn’t particularly an issue. Anyway, about your report… sigh….”

Crowty straightened his posture and leaned toward me.

“You know… do you realize how complicated things have become because you suddenly met that Frog Princess at Ivan Mountains?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t look very sorry though.”

“What? No, that’s not….”

“You probably did something heroic again. Something you felt you absolutely had to do.”

“…”

“Don’t tell me you actually subdued the Frog Princess? No, that would be impossible alone, so did you perhaps persuade her? Like that sorcerer Maia?”

“Actually…”

“Well, that’s not what I’m curious about right now.”

“Then…?”

“Let me ask directly without beating around the bush. Are you planning to go somewhere again? You have something important you need to do, even if it means leaving your mission?”

“…Yes.”

“As the field overall commander… your actions are complete insubordination. No, beyond just insubordination, considering the gravity of the matter, dismissal wouldn’t be strange. Though of course, others wouldn’t let that happen.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Forget the apologies. Things flowing differently in the field isn’t anything new… Sometimes we need to be flexible… And the same goes for you.”

“What? The same?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking inside or what you’re planning, but it’s something important that you feel you must do, right? Something so confidential that even the higher-ups won’t tell me about it. Moreover, you need truly reliable companions who aren’t much involved with the Order, right? Like that sorcerer.”

“…Yes.”

“But… here’s the main point, could you make an exception?”  

“Exception?”

“Yes. An exception. There’s someone I really want you to take among those companions.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“…It’s Sephira.”

“…”

“…”

“I’d like to know the reason… if that’s alright?”

“No. It’s not alright.”

“…”

“You’re not telling me anything either anyway. So you can allow this much, right?”

“It’s not a matter of me allowing it or not, there’s no way Ms. Sephira would follow me….”

“She will. She definitely will.”

“What?”

“Ugh… I can’t explain why, but if you ask her to go with you next time, she’ll definitely go.”

“But Ms. Sephira has so many missions. Rather than following me around, wouldn’t it be better for her to help elsewhere…”

“That doesn’t seem possible.”

“What?”

“Sephira also has… her own struggles. And your work must be important too. Wouldn’t it be better to have someone strong by your side?”

“That’s true, but… really?”

“I’m telling you it’s true.”

If what Crowty is saying is true, it’s not a bad proposition for me.

While I could somehow survive Karen’s Beasts through authority, other Beasts are uncertain.

My goal is to meet and persuade all the children, but even just meeting them is complicated and difficult.

However, if Sephira helps, at least making contact should be possible somehow.

Of course, all of that depends on whether I can completely trust Sephira.

Sephira is undoubtedly an excellent hunter and we have some friendship, but not enough to openly discuss things like Noah’s past.

“…”

Though we’re not that close, Crowty is asking so sincerely.

“…Yes. I understand.”

“Thank you.”

“I can’t refuse that much at least.”

“Hah.”

Crowty snickered.

“Right. That’s good then. That’s all. I should get back to my work too.”

Crowty stood up.

“Ah, and.”

He looked at me with his usual reliable expression.

“Congratulations on returning alive.”

“Yes! 8th-rank hunter Eugene, reporting back for duty!”

* * *

“…Senior Eugene.”

Hilde looked at the moon while thinking of him.

Taking a deep breath, she could smell the thick scent of blood.

However, it didn’t feel particularly unpleasant.

It had already been several days since she took leave immediately after hearing news of Eugene’s death.

Though she didn’t have much leave time left, she had no desire to return.

She didn’t particularly care even if she got dismissed from the Hunting Order.

There was no meaning in returning to an Order without Eugene anyway.

“…”

Hilde pulled her axe from the massive 3-meter Beast.

A mid-tier Beast she had just killed.

Though it was quite strong for a mid-tier, perhaps one transitioning toward high-tier, she didn’t feel like she struggled at all.

More intense blood scent and lukewarm warmth wafted up from the wounds on the corpse.

That warmth somehow felt like Eugene’s warmth remaining on the axe.

It was all she had left now anyway.

“…”

Hilde shook off the blood on her body while releasing a bit of magical power.

She had occasionally seen Sephira fight, and now she understood why not a drop of blood ever stained her.

Hilde hung the Executioner’s Axe on her back again and took out a small matchbox from her pocket, lit it and threw it on the Beast’s corpse.

It was Zepetia’s new invention that could completely burn away Beast corpses without holy oil.

But because it was expensive and supplies were limited, currently only mid-rank hunters and above could use it.

Of course, many still insisted on holy oil, saying they were more used to the old way.

It was also an item that appeared late in Blue Paper Moon, where using matches after defeating Beasts would give bonus experience and money.

In reality, killing Beasts doesn’t bring in money and experience.

However, Hilde was clearly growing stronger at a faster rate than before.

Of course, the reason wasn’t that complicated.

“Haah….”

Using the Beast’s corpse as firewood, Hilde threw in the other Beasts one by one into the blazing flames.

Starting with one, two, by the time a small hill of Beasts had formed, it had grown so large it should be called a fireball rather than flames.

The reason she was getting stronger was simply that she fought more often and more frequently.

Breaking from the Order’s rules, she wandered alone outside and chased down and killed any Beast she sensed regardless of strength.

But there was no hunter’s pride in those actions.

“…”

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to just die fighting like this.

Eugene always said if he died, he would die fighting.

And he really did die that way.

Though she couldn’t go with him, if at least the way of dying could be the same…

Just keep fighting and fighting until eventually meeting an opponent too strong to handle, like that Blanc…

“…!?!”  

Hilde startled and gripped her weapon again, taking a stance.

The ominous presence just felt.

An intense and eerie feeling strong enough to cut off even thoughts of Eugene.

And she could hear sounds.

The sound of something huge and metallic dragging along the ground.

And the blood scent that had vanished into the fire rises again.

No, not rising but surging forth like a flooding river.

“Hee….”

It was approaching from the front.

The height seemed smaller than not just Hilde but even Gerda.

But the overwhelming presence exceeded even Blanc.

Blonde hair stained and dirtied with blood everywhere and blood-red eyes.

And a messy red cloak and hood.

For a moment the name Red Hood flashed through her mind.

But… no way?

Could Red Hood really be in a place like this?

“That’s impossible….”

Hilde took a step back.

It wasn’t to run away, her leg unconsciously moved back from the ominous feeling emanating from that being.

“Hello?”

But before her foot could touch the ground, a voice came from beside her.

That being approaching from the front was somehow right there.

As if using teleportation.

“W-who…”

“Hmm, you really don’t remember me.”

She spoke while circling around Hilde.

With each movement came the sound of an axe as large as herself dragging on the ground, similar in size to Hilde’s Executioner’s Axe.

“You… know me?”

“I know you…. You’re my sister after all?”