Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 62

We took the boy we found in the cave to Julia.

“Donar!”

Julia recognized her son and pressed her cheeks against his face repeatedly while holding him in her arms.

Only then did the sleeping boy open his eyes.

“Mo…ther?”

“I’m so glad you’re safe. So glad…”

“Mother? What happened?”

Donar had no memory at all of what had happened to him.

That was truly fortunate.

Hilde wiped her moistened eyes slightly from behind them.

Perhaps she was remembering how we couldn’t save Grannonia and Bardello at the Walnut Preserve Inn last time.

That was a bitter incident too…

“Ahem, ahem.”

Though I didn’t want to interrupt the touching reunion between mother and son, there were things that needed to be done.

“Ah, hunter. Thank you for saving my son…”

“Before that, there are a few things I need to say to you.”

“What?”

“First, regardless of everything else, thanks to your brave actions we were able to find the child and uncover the truth. My words earlier were a bit harsh.”

I gave her a slight bow.

“It-it’s fine. Just finding Donar is enough to make me happy.”

“And investigation teams from the Order will be coming soon. Then they’ll also learn what happened in this village.”

“That’s…”

The tragedy has ended.

But the difficult lives of those who continue living have not ended.

The Order won’t simply let what happened in Hameln slide.

Harsh investigation and interrogation will follow for the village chief, those involved, and the entire village.

The fact that a Beast had been violating humans for hundreds of years in the Order headquarters’ front yard cannot be taken lightly.

Especially after the large-scale zombie Beast incident two months ago, the Order has already lost too much face.

Perhaps measures bordering on retaliation beyond what’s necessary will be imposed on this village.

“It won’t end with just hanging the village chief. Using that money to leave this village is also your choice.”

I pointed at the gold cup and jewels Julia had received.

“That money should be enough to settle well anywhere you go.”

“Yes… In the end, leaving the village would be right.”

“And since you cooperated with us, you should be able to receive some compensation. Anytime… well, even now you could come with us to the Order if you want.”

“…No. I don’t have the face to do that after all. As you said earlier, I was also a member of this village…”

“Do as you please then. Well, this concludes our business here. Let’s go, Hilde.”

I turned my back.

“Um…”

Just then I heard Donar’s faint voice.

I turned my head to look at the boy.

“Mister, are you a real hunter?”

The boy looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

Being still too young, he seemed to not quite understand the serious conversation that had occurred between adults.

“Yes. I’m a real hunter.”

I knelt down to match the boy’s eye level.

“Could I become a hunter someday too?”

It’s a common story.

Children, especially boys, admire hunters.

Like protagonists in stories who fight monsters and protect people.

“…”

Don’t do things like this.

Instead protect your mother.

Find something more worthwhile to do.

Such words lingered around my throat.

“…You could become one.”

I said that and was about to pat the boy’s head.

But before that, seeing my gloves with dried blood stains stuck to them, I withdrew my hand.

With those final words, I left Julia’s house together with Hilde.

“That was unexpected.”

Hilde said after we came outside.

“What was?”

“I thought Senior would say something more realistic.”

“There’s no particular need for me to say it.”

“What?”

“Reality has quite a stench to it. Even if you hate it, you’ll realize it eventually.”

“…”

“And I’m not tactless enough to say such things to a child. What do you take me for?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything bad by it.”

“I know.”

And a brief silence followed.

We left Hameln and walked back toward Order headquarters.

Though it was night, the large round full moon in the dark sky made it feel bright.

“I’m glad I continued being a hunter after all.”

Hilde spoke up again.

“Though we could only save one child, and saw many horrible things… still, we were able to save that one.”

“All thanks to me?”

“Yes. All thanks to you, Senior.”

Though I said it jokingly, she answered in such a serious voice that I was lost for words.

“Having you here, Senior, I really…”

Hilde also stopped speaking.

An awkward atmosphere could be felt.

“…About that earlier.”

I spoke about something that had been bothering me, partly to lighten the mood.

“Yes?”

“That technique you used to take down the Beast at the end.”

“…What?”

Hilde tilted her head and asked back.

“You know, that blue thing.”

“Blue thing…?”

“You don’t remember?”

“No…”

Does she really not remember?

It looked very similar to the ‘Crescent’ skill from Blue Paper Moon.

Crescent was an attack technique you could get after putting points into magic-related stats and completing a quest from a hidden NPC.

Since it was a melee attack, there was rarely any use for it when playing as a mage, but with its flashy motion and effects plus decent damage, it was sometimes used as a main skill in entertainment magic warrior builds.

But that was something you could only get in the mid-to-late game, and according to the setting it had to be directly taught by that NPC, not something you could realize on your own.

This must be something unique to Hilde rather than Noah.

I can’t know with the information from my past life.

Then I’ll have to ask someone who might know.

Prophet Ryu in Cranion’s alley immediately comes to mind, but I only have two more chances to ask him anything.

Using one of those chances to learn the identity of just one skill felt quite wasteful.

Then naturally all that’s left is to ask the NPC who teaches Crescent themselves.

I had to visit them anyway, so I can ask about it then.

“If you don’t remember that’s fine. Let’s think about it later… for now since it’s late we should prepare to make camp.”

“Yes.”

*    *    *

Night on an uninhabited island.

Though it was an island where no one had set foot for hundreds of years, now it was filled with busy movement.

Cutting trees, moving stones, and leveling the ground.

The scene looked no different from ordinary construction work.

But those carrying it out were not humans.

They were Deep Sea Folk with damp green scales covering their skin and yellow eyes glowing like light bulbs.

They worked in perfect unison without saying a word, as if following a prepared script, with not a hint of confusion or commotion.

Then someone set foot on that site.

“Ha, so you were hiding in a place like this?”

Blanc appeared with her whole body wet from seawater and spoke.

At her appearance, all the Deep Sea Folk froze as if turned to ice.

It was due to the curse’s presence that not even ordinary people, let alone hunters, could sense.

Like a foul stench piercing the nose, or noise that seemed about to burst eardrums, the massive Beast’s curse pressed down on them with an intensity impossible to ignore.

A clear top-tier behemoth.

But due to the fundamental difference between Blanc and the Deep Sea Folk, they would not submit to her.

Deep Sea Folk serve Little Mermaid, not Red Hood.

Here Blanc was an unwelcome guest, and naturally the being that came out to receive her exuded a very unpleasant atmosphere.

“…What business do you have here?”

A beautiful young man with pale skin, blue hair and yellow eyes appeared and spoke.

“Oh, who do we have here? If it isn’t the prince? You were still alive?”

Blanc said with a snicker.

“Look who’s talking. You’ve managed to survive well on land. Is the White Witch not chasing you anymore?”

“Not so much these days. She’s started tracking again though. Well, it’s just a bit annoying at this level. Probably means that woman still isn’t ready to fight seriously.”

“That’s fortunate then. But what about you? Did you come looking for a fight with us?”

“Hmm, what would you do if I said yes?”

“Rest assured that you’ll die after I cut off at least one arm and leg. It won’t be a trivial fight.”

“Whew, quite tough aren’t you? I might fall for you.”

“Don’t say such disgusting things. Are you still playing at being a villain?”

“This isn’t playing. This time I’ve truly found my destined person.”

Blanc said with all traces of laughter gone.

“That talk again. Just how many have you killed so far? How many more do you plan to kill? Well… not that it matt-“

“I found him.”

At that moment, Blanc’s curse violently surged.

Her curse mixed with madness wrapped around everything like sticky tar.

Just from that, ordinary Deep Sea Folk trembled and chattered their teeth.

Huge monsters in the sea sensed her madness and raised their heads despite disobeying orders to standby.

“This time it’s definitely him. That person. My hero.”

“…You’ve finally gone completely mad.”

He drew his sword.

It was a beautiful sword adorned with all sorts of jewels and gold, undoubtedly a national treasure or something of similar value.

And the sharpness emanating from it was no less extraordinary than its beauty.

“Mad dog. I’ll ask one last time. What is your purpose for coming here?”

“Sigh… oh my, I’m sorry. I scared you.”

Blanc shook her head and returned to her original demeanor.

“I just thought my wait was finally being rewarded you see. It really was long. 500 years is… ah, you asked why I came here? Just wanted to see that fish woman’s face.”

Fish woman.

Knowing who she meant by that, he immediately swung his sword at Blanc.

A golden sword beam flew from his sword, but she dodged it by merely twisting her body slightly without even moving her feet.

“Your mouth is still as foul as ever, mad dog.”

“You still seem devoted to that woman too, which puts me at ease. Prince. No, Eric Gringham Wales?”

Blanc spoke the name he had long since abandoned.

“Hmph. Just Eric. I abandoned both my father’s name and my homeland’s name. Anyway, if you came to meet Lady Little Mermaid then leave. There’s no way she would come to a place like this.”

“It makes sense for you, her right hand, to come here? Just to build a hut on some deserted island?”

“I merely came out to stretch my body a bit.”

“Come now, let’s be honest. You’re in quite a hurry too, aren’t you? Since your planned attack was ruined by an unexpected interference. Snow White, that is.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Aren’t you curious where Snow White’s true body is?”