Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 74

A massive fortress stood tall on a beautiful prairie as the evening sun set.

Though it was a large and magnificent castle that even a king of a nation would have difficulty building, it had been abandoned for many years without anyone’s touch, with grass and moss growing thick on its walls and broken flagpoles at the top.

Two shadows were cast upon this place where many Beasts appeared and people had long stopped visiting, said to be cursed by the spider god since ancient times.

“Wow, this is truly amazing. So buildings like this exist on the continent.”

Maia marveled with her green eyes sparkling.

“This must surely be the ‘Spider Castle’, right?”

She said to the person across from her.

Wearing a black cloak that didn’t reveal even a bit of skin, their silhouette was strangely thin.

“…Indeed, it was called that once. Though it’s quite an old name. Who told you about that name?”

The cloaked person asked.

“A kind hunter.”

“Perhaps…”

“But before that, there’s one thing I’d like to be clear about.”

“What is it?”

“You, what exactly are you?”

“I’m an archaeologist…. is what I had planned to say as an excuse, but I can’t fool you. Rather, I’d like to ask too – where did someone like you come from?”

When she removed her cloak, what was revealed was a woman with skin so pale it seemed almost like a dead person.

However, her purple eyes emanated something strangely intense.

“We have the same question… Ah, that kind hunter said introductions should come first. Then I’ll introduce myself first. I’m Maia. A sorcerer from Swamp Island.”

“Swamp Island… I’m sorry. I don’t know it well. Anyway, you’re saying you’re a sorcerer? And one with quite remarkable abilities at that.”

“You can tell, huh. Hehe, that’s right. I was the greatest genius on the island. There’s probably no sorcerer like me anywhere.”

“Indeed, that’s true. I’ve never seen a sorcerer like you. Plus that inhuman body… you voluntarily gave up being human? How unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate?”

“Humans are beautiful because they are human. Because that’s how they were born.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean. Anyway, I’ve introduced myself, so now it’s your turn to tell me who you are.”

“I’m someone who grows flowers.”

“Flowers?”

“Yes. I tend to a large flower garden. It’s a very important job.”

“Hmm… Could those be… resurrection flowers?”

“That’s not wrong. But this is strange indeed. How do you know about such things?”

“It just shows how knowledgeable I am. Anyway, then you must be the ‘Ghost Princess’? More precisely, a corpse vessel controlled by the Ghost Princess. I never expected to meet the real one.”

“Please call me ‘Bari’. That’s my real name.”

“Bari… That information wasn’t even in the books from my homeland.”

“That child erased all our real names from history. But it seems the people of Swamp Island where you came from know some of the truth.”

“Just in case, don’t harm the people of the island, okay?”

“I don’t want to harm anyone. Rather, I love everyone equally.”

“That’s fine then. Anyway, what business do you have at this castle?”

“I came to give a gift to those who live here. Can you recognize this?”

Bari took out a yellow flower from her bosom.

“Originally I was going to give them red or blue flowers when they bloomed later, but the situation has become a bit urgent.”

“Ugh…”

Though it was certainly a beautiful yellow flower.

But Maia frowned as soon as she saw it.

“So you really are a ghost… no, Princess Bari. I’ve never seen such an item anywhere. And I thought I had a strong stomach…”

“You can indeed recognize it. It’s very beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Beautiful…? Just how many people’s blood and souls did you grind up to create that single flower?”

“That’s exactly why it’s more beautiful. Because I used people more valuable than anything else. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be disrespectful to those who died?”

“I can’t understand that… Well, I’d gratefully accept if you gave it to me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t bring your share. But I can give you a different gift.”

“A different gift?”

“What’s your reason for coming here, no, for leaving the island?”

“To broaden my horizons, of course. Swamp Island is a nice place, but it’s a bit small to contain my vessel. That’s why I came to this continent.”

“Fufu, I thought so. Even by the standards of 500 years ago, there were hardly any sorcerers like you. Especially someone who obtained such a body – you’re probably the first in history.”

“You know quite well. Then, you must know what gift I want?”

“That knowledge you desire, I think I can give it to you. Though it’s not free… But before that, there’s something I really want to hear.”

“What is it?”

“What do you want to do with that knowledge?”

“I’m going to become a witch.”

“What…?”

Princess Bari froze for a moment.

“Like the White Witch or Red Witch, or the Empress of the Ocean, the Growing Blizzard, and you or the Frog Queen – I want to become such an exalted being.”

Though all were titles different from their real names, their meanings were conveyed.

And Princess Bari pondered for a moment.

“Ha… Ahahahahaha!”

She burst out laughing loudly.

“Haha, ha, ahahahaha!”

“What’s so funny?”

Maia crossed her arms and asked with displeasure.

“Hahaha, ha… Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just, such an amusing story is really… Ahahaha!”

“Tch! What? Are you saying I’m not capable enough?”

“No, no. That’s not it…”

Princess Bari waved her hands while catching her breath.

“Ah… where should I start explaining… First, I’m truly sorry if I offended you. I’m not looking down on your abilities. Rather, I think you could definitely rise to a level similar to us sisters. Looking through this world’s entire history, there are only a handful of such beings.”

“Then what’s so funny?”

“Well… hmm… I see. First, let me tell you about the difference between us and humans, and why we came to hate and fight each other.”

“While you’re at it, I’d like to know how you became so strong too.”

“Ah, I’ll include that too. Originally, the power we possess wasn’t even ours to begin with. You’ve risen this far through your own efforts alone, so you deserve to know.”

“…Huh? Whose power was it?”

“Listen well. Once upon a time…”

* * *

“So you’re graduating now too. Time really flies.”

I said to Hilde sitting across from me in our quarters.

Time had passed, and finally that day had arrived.

The day Hilde’s training mission would end.

“It really does… Time moves too fast.”

Hilde said with her head bowed.

Next to her was luggage she had packed in advance.

After all, today would be our last day living together in these quarters.

“Though it was just over 3 months, anyone can see you’re now a proper hunter. You can already move forward on your own without me.”

“Will I really do well without you, Senior?”

“Of course. Your abilities are already above mine.”

“But I still couldn’t win against you even once until the end.”

“You mean sparring? You were just going easy on me.”

“Not really…”

Hilde’s physical abilities had already slightly surpassed mine.

She probably wouldn’t even be a match if she used magical power to fight.

Of course, I’m more skilled technically, but that can be overcome with talent.

“And above all, you’ve made it through plenty of chaotic situations. Though it was only 3 months, you’ve been through battlefields that wouldn’t lose to others’ 3 years.”

I can be confident about this much.

Until now, I had taken Hilde to almost all the places that could be called early-game dungeons in Blue Paper Moon.

There were several life-or-death battles and times we nearly broke, but we made it this far in the end.

She grew exactly as I intended in terms of survival abilities, fundamentals, types of weapons used, and marksmanship.

“You asked me before. You wanted to know what makes a real hunter. The current you knows what that is. That’s for certain.”

“I hope so, but somehow…”

“What?”

“It doesn’t feel real.”

“Well, you did get strong too quickly. You reached in just 3 months what would take even me over 10 years of training.”

“Ah, I didn’t mean anything about you, Senior…”

“I’m actually proud. You did even better than I expected.”

If anything, I was the one who interfered at first.

The first step is always important, and I ended up ruining it.

I wonder what kind of person Hilde would have been if not for me.

At least she wouldn’t have shown such weakness as wanting to quit being a hunter.

Someone who saves themselves from the brink of death is strong.

And she would have strived to become even stronger on her own.

“I understand being nervous. Things will be a bit different from now on. The rules will be stricter, and you’ll have to live and work with more people. But just don’t forget that you’re someone who can keep moving forward.”

Rather, traveling around together with me until now was the unreasonable thing.

As Latina and Runius said before, taking a rookie hunter who just joined to hunt mid-tier Beasts was probably unprecedented.

“…Yes.”

A moment later, someone knocked on the door.

Few people in this Order knock before entering lower-ranked hunters’ quarters.

“Excuse me.”

As expected, it was Sephira.

“Mr. Eugene, and Miss Hilde. It’s time.”

She took out a small paper from her bosom.

“Miss Hilde’s training period has ended. Therefore, the training mission entrusted to Mr. Eugene is also finished.”

What she held out to Hilde was an appointment letter for mid-ranked hunter.

“And from today, Miss Hilde is a 6th-rank mid-ranked hunter.”

It’s customary for a higher-ranked hunter to personally deliver mid-ranked hunter appointment letters.

“I…”

Hilde seemed to not quite grasp reality even as she received it.

“…So what happens now?”

“You can move to the mid-ranked hunters’ quarters right away. They will inform you of your future schedule there.”

“Yes…”

Hilde stood up carrying her packed bag.

“…Senior.”

She approached me.

“Thank you so much for everything. Without you, I couldn’t have made it this far.”

“You’re not the only one who’s indebted. I relied on you many times too.”

I also stood up and extended my hand to her.

“…I’m sorry.”

Hilde said as she took my hand.

“Hm? For what?”

She pulled my hand and lightly kissed my cheek.

“Since it’s the last time, this much is okay, right?”

“You…”

“Well then, please wait until we meet again. Promise?”

With those final words, Hilde went outside.

I was dazedly touching my cheek until Sephira’s cold gaze finally snapped me back to my senses.