Dark Fantasy’s Extra – Chapter 224

Author: Dawn

“Um…”

“Come here.”

The moment the door closed, Zepetia dragged me to a chair, sat me down, and gripped my shoulders while bringing her face close.

“I have something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“The Creator… do you know what that is?”

“…”

“I’ve almost finished decoding grandfather’s research materials. Among them, while reading the most deeply hidden and secret contents… though it started with science, it gradually moved into the realm of mythology.”

“…And?”

“I’m the one asking questions here. Do you perhaps know?”

“I do.”

“Is it possibly… you?”

“That’s right. How did you know?”

“I just thought about it a bit. Think about your circumstances. You should have died several times over by now. But you always manage to come back alive. How many times have you encountered behemoths? How many times have you escaped from witches? When you think about it, it doesn’t make sense.”

“Is that all?”

“Actually… I was half testing you.”

“Testing me?”

“Yes. Of course, I didn’t think you were actually the Creator, just that you must be related to it somehow. But in the end, I had this thought – what if you were actually a god?”

“That’s quite an absurd theory with no evidence.”

“It makes sense to me. Because to me, you were already no different from a god. Rather, now that you say you’re really a god, I feel… I feel refreshed somehow. Like all the mysteries and puzzles are falling perfectly into place.”

“…That heart you have…”

Zepetia pressed her face forward and our lips met, but no thrill or positive emotions bloomed.

“Haah… I’m satisfied like this.”

“But…”

“There were certainly painful times. But still, thanks to you I had many happy moments too, and could endure these maddening feelings. To me, you’re already everything. So don’t take away everything I have.”

Just before coming here, I had briefly worried.

Whether it would be right to manipulate their souls again to return those who were twisted because of me back to their original selves.

And one thing became clear.

For Zepetia, that would not be right.

One fog in my mind cleared.

“Completely insane.”

I laughed.

I wasn’t sure if it was from joy or disbelief.

“Yes. But this is who I am.”

Indeed.

Though her ethics, reason, and emotional lines were all unstable, by Noah’s standards Zepetia was judged suitable to be a protagonist.

She must have her own kind of strength.

From the start, the fact that she could potentially become a behemoth like Vile also means she has the potential to reach transcendence.

“Yes. That’s who you are. I acknowledge you as the god who molded the world.”

“That sounds a bit too grand.”

“Anyway, is that all you wanted to ask? Whether I’m a god?”

“Actually, this next part is the main point. Are you perhaps… planning to do something to Lady Saintess?”

This might be the first time Zepetia has mentioned Belle.

Since she wouldn’t have any loyalty to Belle, she must be worried about me.

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“It could be. I’m still not complete yet.”

“Then how about going back and coming again later? How long until you stabilize? Is that why you’re walking with a staff too?”

“No matter how long it takes, I don’t want to delay anymore. If Belle is targeting me, I want to properly face those feelings too.”

“You’ve always been stubborn in strange ways… Seems you haven’t changed much even after becoming a god. I’m a bit relieved. Well, I guess you came to see me because you’re still Eugene.”

“That’s right. I’m Eugene. No one else but myself.”

“Good. Then I can’t keep holding you back anymore. Ah, do you need my help? Though I doubt I could be much help at the level of gods and Lady Saintess.”

“You’ve already helped me.”

Just the fact that I could put aside my worries about Zepetia is more than enough.

I leaned on her as we left the workshop.

Hilde, who had been waiting outside, immediately supported me after Zepetia.

“I’m rooting for you. You have to come back.”

With Zepetia’s send-off, we headed to the administrative office next.

The administrative office had returned to being the quiet place it was before, perhaps because the Order’s wartime posture had relaxed after my children’s war entered a ceasefire.

Whether Crowty was away or still in his office was unclear, but right now only Hera was in the administrative office.

“Ah, Mr. Eugene! You’re back!”

Hera jumped up from her seat and approached us.

“A-are you hurt somewhere?!”

“I’m fine. I’ll get better soon.”

“Thank goodness… But still, you should rest properly. Beasts haven’t been appearing much lately either, so now’s your chance to rest.”

“No, not yet. I still have some things left to do.”

“…”

Hera hesitated with a slightly stiff expression.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

At my words, she glanced at Hilde before taking a determined breath.

“Um, Mr. Eugene.”

“Yes?”

“P-please marry me!”

“…!”

Hilde jolted violently.

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized with somewhat bitter feelings.

“I thought so…”

Though Hera was disappointed, she seemed to understand in her own way.

“Who is it? Ms. Sephira? Or is it Miss Hilde next to you?”

“Neither.”

“D-don’t tell me it’s Ms. Zepetia from the Development Department…?”

“It’s not that. It’s complicated to explain right now, but I’ll probably be leaving the Order soon.”

“What?! You’re leaving the Order, Mr. Eugene?! You’re quitting being a hunter?!”

“Probably.”

“No way… No, I mean…!”

“I know. But it’s that important of a matter.”

“…If Mr. Eugene says so, it must really, really be important. Then I guess it can’t be helped.”

“Yes. So…”

“How long will it take?”

“…I’m not sure myself.”

“It would be nice to know in advance, what a shame.”

“What would be nice?”

“If there was a deadline, it would be easier to wait. Of course, since Mr. Eugene will try to finish as quickly as possible, I’ll have to be patient.”

“Patient? Wait? For what?”

“Well, you rejected me because you’re busy right now, right? So I’m planning to confess again after that matter is resolved.”

“Uh…”

“C-confess…”

Hilde beside me muttered.

“Haah… Hera has gotten stronger too.”

I sighed.

“Senior, don’t tell me…”

“To be honest, I want to tell you not to wait. I don’t know how long it will take, and I might not even be able to return.”

“That’s fine.”

“…You might really regret it, you know?”

“I’m still going to do it.”

“You’re amazing too.”

Hera probably wouldn’t have fit Noah’s standards for women.

If she had, there would have been some negative distortion.

But Hera has none of that.

She’s just a pure and dazzlingly strong, ordinary person.

“Ah, and…”

Hera turned to Hilde.

“I’m sorry?”

“Uh…”

Hilde was dumbfounded.

“Ahaha. Well, I’ll be going.”

“Take care. Make sure to come back.”

“Yes, definitely… Let’s go.”

“…Ah, right.”

Hilde belatedly came to her senses and supported me.

“…She really got me good.”

Hilde said right after we left the administrative office.

“To think Ms. Hera would…”

“She’s a good person.”

“Senior, perhaps…”

“She could find someone better than me and be happier.”

“…”

“Being a god doesn’t guarantee happiness. The smaller your world is, the easier it is to find happiness.”

“…I don’t think Ms. Hera was wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“Senior should have more confidence.”

“…I really can’t. Sorry.”

Both my current life and previous one were marked by nothing but failure and despair.

But if I give up on everything, it would truly be over, so I have no choice but to desperately keep swimming.

“That’s part of your charm too, Senior.”

“That’s charming?”

“Those who know, know the charm.”

“You sure know how to talk.”

Next we went to find Crowty’s office.

“…Welcome back.”

Crowty greeted us while sitting in his chair with his feet up on the desk.

“Why are you so carefree?”

His desk was clean.

It was always cluttered with various documents before.

Maybe thanks to the war stopping.

“What about you? Why can’t you even walk properly and have to lean on Hilde? Are you that badly hurt?”

“I’ll be fine soon.”

“Right. Then go get plenty of rest. Or you could retire like Marcus and Beth.”

So they ended up retiring…

The lower-ranked hunters who were appointed as training instructors with me at the Offenbach branch.

Auntie Beth wanted to save up retirement money to send her children to school.

And Marcus…

“Seems Marcus’s body couldn’t hold up in the end. If you don’t want to end up like that, take good care of yourself.”

“Ah…”

Marcus was quite old.

He walked the path of a hunter like me, but I guess age caught up with him.

“Well, his son and daughter-in-law will take good care of him so there’s no need to worry too much. Rather, you’re the biggest worry.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You should start thinking about getting married and preparing for the future soon.”

“Sir Crowty, you should find a fiancée yourself first.”

“I’ll pass. I’m married to my work.”

“Pfft, come on…”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What about that Viola person? Isn’t she on your mind?”

“…!?!?”

Crowty fell out of his chair.

Viola was Crowty’s old colleague as a 1st-rank hunter.

While there was no mention of Crowty having family or a fiancée in Blue Paper Moon, there were occasional descriptions of him being concerned about Viola.

“You…”

“Maybe there could be some good news.”

“H-however you found out about that… it’s realistically difficult.”

Since Viola is bound by Belle’s mental manipulation now, she will absolutely never look his way.

But if I can persuade Belle… Maybe…

“Sir Crowty, you deserved to be happy too. It will work out somehow.”

“Ha, to hear such words from you. Either I’ve really gotten old or… have you gotten old? Saying such sensitive things that aren’t like you.”

“That has nothing to do with age.”

“If you know so well, then do something about Sephira, hm? Figure something out.”

“Yes… I was planning to go see her now anyway.”

“Good. Make sure you do. Though I haven’t said it… I raised her like my own daughter. She deserves happiness more than anyone. And… she…”

“I know.”