Dark Fantasy’s Extra – Chapter 32

Author: Dawn

I was bewildered by the situation unfolding before me.

Why is Jarkoff here?

He’s a character that shouldn’t appear until after the Mermaid’s attack in the game.

While he didn’t play a major role in the overall story, I remembered him because of his related quest.

“Wait, Jacob. I’m training right now, so let’s talk later.”

Hilde said to him.

“Training or whatever, why are you even here doing this?!”

Jarkoff said.

“Because I’m a hunter.”

“What? What are you talking about?!”

“Just calm down first. I told you before, didn’t I? That I would become a hunter someday.”

Hilde placed her hand on her chest.

“What… How could…”

“I’m just doing exactly what I said I would back then. Anyway, I really need to train now, so please step aside.”

“Hold on.”

After reading the atmosphere for a moment, I stepped in.

“Hilde, is he a friend?”

Though it seemed obvious from the situation, I still had to ask.

“Yes. We’ve been friends since long ago.”

“I see.”

To think Hilde and Jarkoff were friends.

“Then let’s postpone training for a bit.”

“What? But…”

“He’s your friend. You’ll regret it later if you don’t explain things properly.”

“Yes, Senior…”

Hilde nodded.

It would be better to talk properly with Jarkoff.

Not for any rational or strategic reason, but purely out of sympathy.

Because he was a victim of tragic circumstances just like Gerda, who had to kill her precious brother Kai with her own hands.

* * *

We stopped training and gathered in the break room.

I didn’t expect Sephira to be here too, which makes it a bit awkward.

“Now then, explain properly.”

Jarkoff said.

“Even if you say explain… there’s nothing special to tell. I became a hunter. That’s all.”

Hilde said.

“That makes no sense! You’re a noble!”

“Nobles can become hunters too. Even the second son of Duke Herzen works here.”

“That, that’s because he’s a special case.”

That’s true.

While it’s common for nobles to have deep connections with the Order, very few actually become hunters.

First of all, setting aside whether they have magical power or not, if nobles need honor they can join the military, and if they need money they can invest in merchants or find government positions.

“Then I guess I’m a special case too. That should be enough, right?”

“Not at all. To begin with, why did Count Grimm allow this? Even if the Grimm family has connections to headquarters…”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t thought about that either.

I just assumed Hilde would become a hunter because she’s the protagonist.

It would naturally be strange in reality.

Did she somehow manage to persuade them well?

“That’s not something you need to worry about.”

Hilde averted her eyes.

“What? Explain properly. Or else I’ll ask the Count directly…”

“Stop it!”

Hilde stood up.

“Senior, let’s go.”

“What? But…”

“Wait.”

Jarkoff suddenly turned his eyes to me.

“Who are you?”

Ah, now I’m in the crossfire.

“…I’m Eugene, in charge of Hilde’s education.”

“Don’t pick on my Senior!”

Hilde said.

“This has been bothering me. Senior? Are you perhaps of noble birth too?”

“Such backgrounds don’t matter for hunters.”

“This is strange. How could you become a hunter? Not just anyone can be a hunter. You need magical power, right?”

“I have it.”

“What?”

“I said I have magical power.”

“But, but…”

“And though I don’t like bragging, I have talent. I was told I could succeed as a hunter.”

At Hilde’s words, Jarkoff looked at me and Sephira.

We nodded.

“Miss Hilde is a talented individual with exceptional aptitude. She will likely become a higher-ranked hunter within a few years.”

Sephira said.

“As she says, Hilde is learning quickly. She’s already fully capable as a lower-ranked hunter, and could become a mid-ranked hunter within this year.”

I added my explanation.

“This… this can’t be…”

Jarkoff shook his head.

“What can’t be?!”

Hilde couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“What’s your problem?! When I said I would become a hunter, you were the one who said you’d support me!”

“I only said that because I didn’t think this would actually happen!”

Jarkoff shouted back in his agitation, then his face turned pale as he seemed to realize what he’d said.

“Ah, no, I mean…”

“You…”

But it was too late.

“…I’m leaving.”

Hilde turned her back.

“I’ll wait outside first…”

She went outside.

Jarkoff could only stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

“I, I just… was worried…”

Only after she left did he mutter dejectedly.

“…This isn’t what I meant to do.”

He lowered his head.

“Hilde… has really become a hunter?”

After a moment of silence, Jarkoff asked.

“She’s still a trainee hunter, but she’ll officially join soon.”

Sephira said.

“Will she fight Beasts?”

“She’s already fought several times.”

This time I answered.

“Already… fought…”

“Hilde is doing well. I can say that with certainty as her training supervisor who’s fought alongside her.”

“…You said you’re in charge of Hilde’s training?”

“Yes.”

“Are you a higher-ranked hunter?”

“No. I’m a lower-ranked hunter.”

“Then at least someone more trustworthy…”

“I assigned him personally.”

Sephira said.

“Originally Miss Hilde’s education was my responsibility, but due to scheduling issues, I entrusted it to Mr. Eugene, who is most reliable.”

“Even though he’s a lower-ranked hunter?”

“Yes. Mr. Eugene is a trustworthy and excellent hunter. Even Sir Crowty approved.”

“Even Herzen’s second son…?”

“…”

Jarkoff’s expression showed he couldn’t understand.

That’s the image of lower-ranked hunters.

While ordinary civilians might show respect just for being a hunter, to those of high status, we’re mere pawns, or worse, expendable resources.

“Still, when fighting Beasts, shouldn’t someone stronger be by her side…”

“I understand your concern for your precious friend.”

I chose my words carefully as I spoke.

After all, I had been sympathizing with him from the start.

“But Miss Hilde will become an excellent hunter. That’s what she wants too. While it’s dangerous work, it’s also meaningful work.”

“I… that…”

Jarkoff seemed at a loss for words and couldn’t answer.

“I understand. Anyone would worry when their friend says they want to do something dangerous. You can take your time to accept it gradually.”

I said this in a gentle tone before turning around.

“Then I’ll go get Miss Hilde now.”

“Wait…”

Jarkoff said.

“Earlier… I’m sorry about earlier. Just, well… I was a bit overwhelmed and said some rude things…”

Though his words were scattered as if his thoughts weren’t fully organized yet, his sincerity came through.

“…It’s alright.”

Jarkoff probably had no ill intentions.

As he said, he was just worried about Hilde.

I can understand his wish for her to be taught by a more capable and reliable mid or higher-ranked hunter rather than a lower-ranked one.

No one could really be blamed in this situation.

What’s sad is that the true tragedy surrounding Jarkoff hasn’t even begun yet.

* * *

I went to the training ground where Hilde would be waiting.

After Jarkoff had just passed through, the unsettled atmosphere had already cleared and everyone was training hard.

I approached seeing Hilde crouched quietly in a corner.

“…Senior.”

Hilde said as I stood in front of her.

“What?”

“Do you… do you believe in me?”

“I do.”

“Yes…”

Hilde seemed to smile.

“But I can understand your friend too.”

“Why?”

“It’s natural to worry. If I said I was being deployed to hunt a behemoth tomorrow, wouldn’t you worry about me?”

“That, that’s…”

“You can work it out by talking properly. Anyway, the mood isn’t great, so let’s call it a day.”

“Yes.”

* * *

In a secret meadow surrounded by treacherous mountains, black flowers bloomed everywhere.

Without a single tree or even weeds, everything was black flowers, making it feel more eerie and bizarre than beautiful.

The thick floral scent was dizzying and unpleasant.

“Oh my, it’s you.”

A woman who had been sitting in the middle of this strange flower garden stood up.

Though she was a beauty in exotic clothes with long navy hair nearly black tied up with a hairpin, she was enveloped in an aura that felt gloomy beyond measure, even ominous.

“What a meager flower garden.”

Blanc said.

“Ah, I’m not trying to pick a fight, it really is. There used to be 4 types of flowers back then. Plus the flowers stretched from horizon to horizon.”

“I find it quite regrettable too. But it’s fine. Given a little more time, it will become like before, no, an even larger flower garden.”

“That would be nice~”

“Fufu, words you don’t mean. More importantly, what brings you to a place like this?”

“Nothing much. Just came to look around.”

Blanc waved her hand dismissively.

“Let’s stop the jokes there. We both know we can’t trust each other, don’t we?”

“No really, it’s true. I’ve been checking on the seal status of your kind lately. I saw some of Snow White’s avatars wandering around recently. They’d come down quite far.”

“My, Margarete seems busy too. I see, did you really come just to look around? To see how much our seals have weakened?”

“Something like that. Well, at this rate your seal will break soon too.”

“It has been such a long time. 500 years.”

“Indeed. It was quite a peaceful and quiet 500 years.”

“For you, wouldn’t it have been a boring and disappointing 500 years?”

“It was.”

“Then how about now?”

“Well, luckily I found someone decent.”

“Fufu, you’ll just end up disappointed and kill them with your own hands as always.”

“Are you picking a fight? I didn’t want to do that either. And this time I really have a good feeling.”

“You say that every time and then kill them painfully. How pitiful.”

“Me?”