Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 86

“I’m not entirely sure since I only heard Vile’s mumblings, but I’ll tell you what I know.” 

Time Rabbit continued explaining about Vile.

Vile discovered an incredibly powerful and unique cursed power within moonstone.

A curse occurs when will becomes imbued in magical power and distorts reality.

In a sense, it could be called recreating reality, and the moonstone contained a curse so powerful it could only be described as special.

“The problem was that even Vile couldn’t control moonstone freely. So he decided to dilute its cursed power to a level he could use.”

That’s where the Beast’s bloodstone came in.

He would mix the high-level cursed power from the moon fragments with Beast curses to dilute it.

The principle of using poison to counter poison, so to speak.

Since Vile himself was a Beast, it had the added advantage of being easier to control.

“That machine over there recreates reality. But it wasn’t perfect. The power of creation depleted with use, like water in a cup. In other words, it wasn’t eternal.”

Time Rabbit pointed at the machine that resembled an alchemy furnace.

“And the same goes for us.”

He pointed his finger at himself.

“We’re beings that originally didn’t exist. Me, Lizard Bill, Mad Hatter, and Lady Queen of Hearts. We were all born from that power of creation. When I said we only had about a year left, that’s what I meant.”

“It’s a bit… complex, but I understand.” 

Sephira nodded.

Since I already knew the story, I had nothing particular to add.

But Zepetia…

“Whoa…”

She’d lost it.

“Anyway, examining that is this one’s job. Hey, that’s enough, snap out of it.”

I grabbed Zepetia’s shoulders and shook her.

“D-don’t shake me! I just had an amazing idea… Wait, what did you say?”

“You can read all the research materials here.”

“O-oh, that’s right! It’s completely unbelievable, like something out of a fairy tale or myth! But it’s real, isn’t it?! I’d regret it for life if I didn’t examine such incredible research!”

“And once you understand those research materials well enough, examine those guys over there too.”

I pointed at the Wonderland bosses.

“How long will it take?”

“Well… is this everything?”

“At least, we don’t know of any other rooms.” 

Time Rabbit shrugged.

“Hmm…”

Zepetia held her chin and looked around.

“Just reading will take a week. Plus there will be parts I don’t understand, so it’ll take at least a month at minimum.”

“You heard that? Your treatment will be on hold for at least a month. In exchange, as you said earlier, we’ll take all the research materials here.” 

I said to the bosses.

“We don’t particularly mind. We weren’t staying in that false world because we liked it… Though we’d like to go outside together, you probably won’t allow that?”

Time Rabbit said.

“Leaving this building right away should be fine, at least within this mountain range.”

Even I couldn’t give a definite answer beyond that.

“I-I like it here…” 

Lizard Bill said.

“O-outside is scary.”

“I don’t care where. What matters is they won’t torment us for at least a month.”

Queen of Hearts said.

Mad Hatter still kept silent, but the atmosphere felt much more relaxed.

“Those terms are acceptable. In fact, that white hunter there could have killed us all instantly. The fact that didn’t happen is thanks to you, right?”

Time Rabbit said to me.

“I just… acted in the Order’s interests.”

That was a lie.

To be honest, I just couldn’t be ruthless enough to trample his desire to protect his companions.

Of course, if they were like normal Beasts roaming around attacking humans, I would have convinced Sephira to execute them without hesitation, but they had no such intentions.

Being different from existing Beasts, these new beings created by Vile didn’t seem to have the instinct to crave human magical power.

In that case, I thought maybe I could judge them by slightly different standards… just such a weak sentiment.

When I first met Blanc, I told her I didn’t particularly resent Beasts.

That wasn’t a lie.

Beasts are just puppets of the witches, no, victims.

Like that old couple at the Walnut Preserve Inn…

The mother’s wailing cries after losing her son are still vivid.

“Still, the fact that we received help, no, a great favor from you remains unchanged… That’s why Mad Hatter wants to repay you.”

Though I hadn’t heard anything, they seemed to communicate telepathically among themselves.

Time Rabbit took something out from inside Mad Hatter’s hat and held it out to me.

But repayment?

What did you get from defeating Mad Hatter again?

No, originally only Queen of Hearts directly dropped items?

“Here, take it.”

Time Rabbit grabbed my hand and placed something on my palm.

“This is…”

It was a pocket watch similar to the one Time Rabbit used.

But it clearly wasn’t in good condition.

While Time Rabbit’s was clean and shiny silver, Mad Hatter’s was a dull brass color and looked very worn even at a glance.

This… why give this to me?

“He says he doesn’t need it anymore, and you could use it more effectively. I think the same. Mad Hatter’s watch is an incredible item that can heal almost any wound and curse, though only once.”

“It can heal almost any wound and curse?!”

Zepetia exclaimed in surprise before I could.

“Yes. Though it must be used within a year while we, or more precisely Mad Hatter, still has lifespan remaining, the power inside is real.”

Time Rabbit was right.

I know about this watch.

In Blue Paper Moon, Mad Hatter fights in two phases.

Phase 1 is ridiculously simple, but from phase 2, Mad Hatter transforms into a new form using this watch.

He becomes more threatening and powerful than even the final boss Queen of Hearts, but his HP continuously drains so he’ll eventually die if you just defend or run away.

According to the setting, Mad Hatter was designed wrong from the start and is suppressing his own collapse.

Those bandages are tools for suppression, and phase 2 involves using the old watch to release it.

What I received is the item used to release that seal.

“Let me see it for a moment! If that’s true, it’s a revolutionary item!”

“Calm down. That’s for this hunter… sorry, what’s your name?”

Time Rabbit asked.

“Eugene.”

“Right. This is Mad Hatter’s gift only for Eugene. I’d prefer if others didn’t handle it.”

“B-but, but…”

“You’ll be looking through all the research materials here anyway. The instructions for making this should be there too.”

I patted Zepetia’s shoulder to calm her down.

“That’s a wonderful gift. Thank you.” 

Sephira bowed slightly to Mad Hatter with sincerity.

Even so, a higher-ranked hunter bowing to a Beast is a bit…

Well, maybe it’s fine since they’re not ordinary Beasts?

Either way, being able to show such gratitude for kindness shown to her subordinate rather than herself also speaks to her character.

Most people would get angry about being disrespected in front of their leader.

“Sorry but that watch is the only one. But we thought Eugene was the one who helped us first. If there’s something else…”

“I’m fine.” 

Sephira said.

“Well, that’s good then…”

We looked around the final lab thoroughly before heading back.

Though Zepetia wanted to stay and read the materials, we couldn’t leave her alone no matter what, so we dragged her out forcefully.

We burned all the Beast corpses remaining in the bloodstone lab before walking out of the laboratory.

“Thank you! Though we’re Beasts and you’re hunters, I wish you good luck!”

Time Rabbit came alone to the lab entrance, shouting and waving.

Only Oscar and I waved back before leaving Drang Basin to return to base camp.

“Now then…”

Dominic said.

“From here, we’ll return to the Order and report everything that happened here to the Heresy Inquisition Department. During that process, there will likely be opinions to dispose of all the Beasts in the laboratory.”

That’s only natural.

“N-no, you can’t! Those are such valuable specimens…!”

Zepetia said.

“Indeed. That’s why Ms. Zepetia needs to come to the Heresy Inquisition Department yourself to explain their usefulness to them. I trust you, but those who haven’t seen firsthand can’t help it.”

Does Dominic trust her because he watched her personally decapitate Beasts and extract their brains…?

How fitting for a judge of the Heresy Inquisition Department.

“What? N-no, I… explaining is kind of… I’m not confident…”

“But if you can’t convince them, we’ll have to dispose of everything?”

“That’s, well…”

“Wait.”

Unable to watch any longer, I raised my hand.

“Asking Sir Corsis… no, that wouldn’t work. I’ll go explain with you. That works, right?”

“You, Mr. Eugene? That’s not a bad idea.”

Dominic nodded.

“Actually, having Lady Sephira explain would be most effective, but a higher-ranked hunter visiting the Heresy Inquisition Department is somewhat burdensome for us too. Especially since Lady Sephira came recently for the Blanc incident.”

Higher-ranked hunters are the Order’s most important combat strength, so even the Heresy Inquisition Department would be hesitant to investigate them.

Plus, while this involves a behemoth, it’s not directly related, so the Heresy Inquisition Department must have their own concerns.

Even though they’re known for having powerful authority and using extreme methods, they’re not completely without political considerations.

“I see… Then how about Mr. Oscar coming too? You also explored the laboratory with Lady Sephira and Mr. Eugene. Sir Ozwald would approve too.”

“Ugh?! Absolutely not! Why would I go there?”

That’s the normal reaction.

Though Ozwald would probably say it’s a good experience and insist he go.

“Even without that, I’ve seen too much today. I want to rest and think about what I’ve learned for a while.”

“Is that so. It can’t be helped then. Mr. Eugene, please come to the Heresy Inquisition Department once you return to the Order and organize what needs to be reported. I’ll inform the guards in advance.”

“Ah, yes…”

I know it’s necessary, but the Heresy Inquisition Department again…