Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 215

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

Margarete asked.

“I’m speaking as someone who has Noah’s memories.”

I thought about what to say all the way here.

“Margarete. You’ve always pursued perfect beauty.”

“…Ha, indeed. Rusalka wasn’t lying to us. You really do have Noah’s memories.”

“Yes. And from back then until now, you…”

“Shut up.”

Margarete instantly covered my mouth with her hand.

“Even if you have Noah’s memories, and even if you’re Noah’s avatar, you’re still not the Noah from back then, right?”

“…”

“Yet you dare to criticize my methods? Seems like you need some education.”

I placed my hand on Margarete’s arm.

“…!?”

She pulled her arm back as if burned.

“W-what was that just now? What did you do?!”

“I can return to being Noah anytime. But I’ve decided not to do that.”

For just a moment, to remove her arm, I acknowledged myself as Noah.

Though Hilde is the current creator, I still hold the creator’s authority and initiative.

Of course, if Hilde were to become aware it might be different, but at least right now, it would be possible to reclaim all that authority.

However, I have no intention of doing so.

Not in the slightest.

“Y-you really can return to being Noah?!”

“Yes. But I won’t.”

“Why not?!”

Margarete grabbed me again.

But unlike before when she was oppressive, she seemed more desperate herself.

“Return to being Noah! Right now! What we need is Noah! If Noah comes back, I’ll end all this war and everything else you hate. I’ll do anything, absolutely anything…”

“I’m sorry. But I won’t ever return to being Noah. I’ve already chosen a successor, and even if she refuses…”

“Successor?! We don’t need anything like that! What we want is you!”

The higher entity, who was a head taller than me, lowered their posture more and more.

“After we thought you were killed by Belle, do you know how much we cried? How much pain we felt, how much we hated Belle? Do you really not know… how lonely we were?! You who created us…!!”

There wasn’t a trace of their usual domineering attitude.

Just making them realize I could briefly return to being Noah was enough to make even the proud Margarete this desperate.

“Please come back…”

“Come back…”

Dark clouds instantly covered the sky and heavy snow began to fall.

Margarete’s avatars appeared like mirages everywhere.

They all repeated “come back” like broken radios while approaching me like moths drawn to flame.

“I’m begging you like this. Please come back…”

“…Before that, I have a request.”

“What is it? Anything…”

“Let me meet the real Margarete.”

All of Snow White’s group froze as if someone had pressed pause.

“…”

“…”

Then silence.

“You all have Margarete’s personality and memories too. But in the end, there’s only one real Margarete.”

“…No.”

The higher entity in front of me said.

“I am Margarete. We are all Margarete.”

“Please.”

“…No.”

“If you believe I’m real, then you too should…”

“No!”

She shouted while grabbing my shoulders again.

“Wai-!”

And intense cold enveloped me from where she grabbed me.

*    *    *

The higher entity instantly encased Eugene in a massive block of ice.

“Ahhh!”

Sephira let out a half-crazed scream as she shoved away the other higher entity holding her and ran toward Eugene.

Regular avatars appeared in front of her blocking the way.

But like a shredder, they were all torn to pieces and scattered everywhere.

Though it seemed like a bloody scene, what flowed from the severed limbs was not red blood but snowflakes.

Combined with the heavy snow falling from the sky, an intense whiteout soon made everything invisible.

Yet Sephira ran forward like a demon without stopping and reached where Eugene had been.

“Let him go!”

She swung her sword with all her might at the higher entity who had frozen Eugene.

“Ugh…!”

Though the higher entity blocked it with their arm, deep wounds appeared and blood sprayed for the first time.

“Get… away…!”

But she couldn’t cut off their arm.

They pushed Sephira away with their other arm.

However, another higher entity who had followed slammed their whole body into Sephira’s back.

“Gahk!?”

Sephira’s back bent and blood spurted from her mouth that had opened unconsciously.

Her consciousness grew distant for a moment with an indescribable sharp pain deep in her chest.

Yet she instinctively swung her sword behind her.

The higher entity blocked the attack with both arms and blood flowed from shallow wounds.

But that was all.

“Go quickly!”

They said to the higher entity who had frozen Eugene.

“…! Where do you…?!”

White energy rose from Sephira’s sword and transformed into the shape of a skeleton.

The holy sword Robera’s power changes according to the user’s emotions.

Anxiety, impatience, resentment, obsession… The deeper such negative emotions are, the more power the sword possesses.

That’s why users of holy swords are suited to those with deep trauma, emotional wounds, and intense obsession.

Though terribly wicked and eerie, that is the true nature of Belle and the essence of Sephira who is called the Little Saintess.

“…!”

The higher entity flinched momentarily at the ability so similar to Belle’s.

And along with Sephira’s slash, the skeleton stretched out its bone arm.

But regular avatars appeared in masses before it, creating a wall of flesh.

Once again, the avatars’ limbs, heads, and bodies shattered and scattered everywhere.

And when everything had crumbled, no one was there.

In the far distance, the higher entity carrying Eugene could be faintly seen fleeing, but they were visible for just a moment before completely disappearing.

“Kyaaah!”

Sephira screamed.

But even that near-shriek was buried and disappeared in the violent blizzard.

That’s how everything was ending.

“Disappear!”

And with that short command, all the white obscuring vision retreated.

Even the dark clouds spraying snow suddenly split left and right as if exploding, revealing the huge blue moon again.

“…!?”

The higher entity fleeing with Eugene sensed an ominous attack and blocked with the arm that had been injured by Sephira.

A yellow slash cut off that already heavily damaged arm.

“Y-you!”

“Sorry but…”

A magnificent golden sword whose brilliant form could be seen from afar even at night if there was light.

“Introductions can wait for later. Winter Witch.”

Eric cut off the surprised higher entity’s other arm as well.

She dropped the ice containing Eugene along with her arms.

“What?! Why are you here…!”

But Eric didn’t answer and kicked her away before approaching Eugene.

“Hmph, what an unsightly sight for a creator.”

Eric grabbed the ice encasing him.

“Get away from there!”

Other avatars appeared with enraged faces, creating and throwing spears of ice at Eric.

But Sephira arrived in front and created a white wall blocking the attacks.

“So you’re High-Ranked Hunter Sephira. First time meeting you.”

“…Who are you?”

Sephira, who had returned to Eugene’s side, asked with a much calmer expression and demeanor than before.

“I’m Eric. A behemoth…!”

Eric blocked ice spears flying from the opposite direction.

“There’s no time for explanations now. First we escape from here with Eugene.”

Sephira nodded briefly.

“Eric!!!”

Another higher entity came running while calling Eric’s name in rage.

But this time Sephira blocked their path.

Meanwhile, Eric ran toward the edge of Race Plains carrying Eugene.

Ice spears rained down on him as he fled, but a behemoth’s sprint couldn’t be stopped by that much.

“No, no, no!!”

The higher entity stretched out their arm screaming, but couldn’t get past Sephira.

And just as Eric was almost out of sight, Sephira followed after him in retreat.

Eric, who had come quite far from Race Plains, set down the ice-encased Eugene and placed his hand on it.

Yellow curse power flowed from his hand, counteracting Snow White’s curse and melting the ice.

Shortly after, Sephira who had followed him stood behind watching.

But she didn’t sheathe the sword in her hand.

“Wait a moment. This requires delicate work.”

Eric said without turning his head.

“…”

Sephira could at least tell he was helping Eugene, so she waited quietly.

Soon after, all the ice trapping Eugene melted away.

“Haah, a higher entity’s technique is still a bit overwhelming.”

“Mr. Eugene!”

As soon as Eric moved away from Eugene, Sephira rushed to him.

Eugene lay with closed eyes, his face completely pale and bloodless.

“He’s cold…!”

She felt only coldness touching Eugene’s cheek.

“Could it be…”

“He’s not dead. He wouldn’t die from this, and Winter Witch wouldn’t have intended to kill him either.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Just wait. If I had to say, Winter Witch won’t give up easily either and will send pursuers soon. We just need to handle that well.”

“…If you’re Eric, and a behemoth… then Little Mermaid’s…”

“…Yes. I was Lady Rusalka’s sword… once.”

Eric said with a bitter expression while lowering his head.

“Why are you helping us?”

“I have my reasons. It’s a long story, but right now we need to shake off pursuit. Carry him.”

“…”

Sephira picked up Eugene without argument.

She could feel cold from Eugene’s body, but this chill wasn’t just from that.

“They’re already coming… I’ll escort you out of here.”

“Which way should we go?”

“Head straight in that direction.”

“How far?”

“Just keep running. Continuously.”

Dark clouds gather in the sky again.

“We’re out of time. Let’s go now.”

The high-ranked hunter and behemoth ran side by side.

Winter’s rage followed behind them.

That rage’s depth was unfathomable and thought even tearing those two to pieces wouldn’t be enough.

But Snow White’s behemoth-like higher entities, while numerous, were much weaker than normal behemoths.

They lacked both power and speed against a proper high-tier behemoth and high-ranked hunter.

And so Snow White ultimately lost Eugene while bursting with frustration and hatred.