Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 89

Many heretics belonging to Winter of Salvation harbored hostility towards the Hunting Order.

However, while most other retired hunters were still far stronger than ordinary people and couldn’t be carelessly attacked, they had identified that Chris was mentally and physically unwell, so they raided his home.

“How did they even… Ah, could it be…”

Could it be… because of me?

Did someone see me visiting Chris’s house?

“It’s not your fault. Unnecessary guilt will only hinder our work.”

Crowty is right.

I need to focus on the situation now.

“Anyway, looking at the scene, there were no signs of resistance. Strange.”

“Indeed, even if Chris has gotten weaker, he’s still a hunter with magical power, so that’s odd.”

Even though he limps, has lost muscle, and his mind is broken, a hunter is still a hunter.

At the very least he should have caused some disturbance in his delirium – the lack of any resistance is strange.

“Yet there were signs of an attack. Do you understand what that means?”

“Amateurs got their hands on excessive means…”

“Right. They probably used some dangerous curse or item imbued with magical power. Winter of Salvation is just an underground organization with influence in a single city. Most members are civilians. They shouldn’t have the ability to obtain such means.”

I wracked my brain as much as possible.

First, if this followed the story I knew, Winter of Salvation’s proper activities wouldn’t start until much later.

But Snow White’s intervention in the Cranion invasion caused Winter of Salvation to form much earlier than it should have.

Nevertheless, they’re still just an underground organization of civilians, yet someone is already supporting them.

Princess Bari immediately comes to mind.

Among the witches, she’s the one who specializes in scheming and conspiracy.

But she never formed alliances with other witches until the very end.

“Both the Heresy Inquisition Department and Intelligence Department are investigating this matter, but you’re not the type to just wait around.”

“No.”

I nodded.

“…Hera.”

“Y-yes?”

“How many vacation days does Eugene have left?”

“Well… about t-twelve days…”

“How many more can the administration extend?”

“Um… three days.”

“And I can add five more days with my discretion… That makes exactly twenty days. Not a lot of time to find someone, but this is the best we can do.”

“It’s enough. Thank you.”

I bowed deeply to Crowty.

I’m always indebted to this person.

I wish I could repay him somehow in my own way…

“…Take this.”

He held out a dagger in front of me.

“I’m lending this to you personally.”

I recognized it immediately.

It was Crowty’s secondary weapon, a silver dagger.

Made of mithril, a super-rare metal harder yet lighter than steel and more lethal to Beasts than silver, its value was difficult to measure.

“You must come back to return it.”

“…Yes, thank you. I will definitely return.”

I’m in no position to refuse even small help right now.

I accepted it and attached it to my waist.

Then I headed straight for the Development Department.

Not to Workshop 3 where Zepetia was, but to Workshop 1 where the Order’s finest craftsmen worked.

“Hmm? Who sent you on an errand?”

The Workshop 1 guard asked.

That was usually the case when a lower-ranked hunter came here.

“I’m 8th-rank hunter Eugene. Did Sir Corsis perhaps mention anything?”

“…Ah, so you’re that one? Well, go ahead in.”

The guard opened Workshop 1’s door for me.

Workshop 1 was like a massive factory.

Continuously running machines emitted strange heat, mixing metal and ash scents into the air.

I passed the supply production line and entered the handcraft room further inside.

If the previous area was a factory, this was a forge.

The Order headquarters’ most skilled craftsmen bustled about in this space where custom items designed for specific individuals were born.

Like Workshop 3 where Zepetia was, various weapons hung densely on the walls and display stands, with what looked like blueprints plastered all over the walls.

“Whew… ahem, a hunter? What brings you here?”

One of the craftsmen approached me.

I told him about my agreement with Corsis, just as I had told the guard.

“So you’re that hunter!”

He welcomed me with a very excited expression.

“I saw that shotgun you brought. You did an excellent job finding technology that was lost hundreds of years ago.”

“You’re too kind.”

“You came at just the right time. We were actually thinking of calling you soon since a few prototypes are ready. Come this way.”

Following him led to where about four craftsmen had gathered, stacking peculiarly shaped weapons.

“Everyone! That hunter has arrived!”

“Oh? Already?”

“Welcome!”

The craftsmen each greeted me warmly.

Their courtesy toward a mere lower-ranked hunter was so excessive it made me shrink back.

Of course, those with enough skill to reach such positions must have unmatched passion as well as talent, so technology lost for hundreds of years would hold special meaning for them.

Though I’m grateful for their hospitality, I don’t have much time.

When I mentioned wanting to see the items quickly due to an urgent mission, they gladly showed me the prototypes.

“There aren’t many, but take your pick.”

Four items made by the Order headquarters’ finest craftsmen were placed before me.

What was somewhat surprising was that they all looked quite similar to things I’d seen in Blue Paper Moon.

They weren’t exactly identical, truly giving off a prototype feel.

“Hold on, we should explain what’s what first.”

“Ah yes, right. Then about the operating principles…”

“That’s fine. Just tell me what effects they have and how to use them.”

I waved my hand lightly.

They seemed a bit disappointed but explained the four weapons.

The first weapon looked similar to the Dragon’s Breath Shotgun but was several times larger.

It resembled the ‘Incinerator Cannon’ I’d seen in Blue Paper Moon.

Its effect was similar too – it was a real flamethrower that spewed huge flames.

“It’s a bit large, but with this you can completely burn Beast corpses without using holy oil.”

But it looked too big to carry around.

Moreover, it consumed five incendiary rounds at once and required magical power too.

Pass on this one.

“This one’s rather ordinary, but still usable.”

What he showed while saying that was a gun with a cylinder like a revolver but almost as large as a typical rifle.

Its power was slightly weaker than a rifle but stronger than a handgun, having its pros and cons.

One of Blue Paper Moon’s guns, the ‘Kraken’, looked similar but had eight chambers.

This one’s on hold.

“This here’s our masterpiece! Came out really explosive!”

The third weapon wasn’t a gun but literally a cannon with a handle.

It was extremely large and heavy, but could fire ten silver bullets simultaneously for tremendous firepower.

It looked similar to the ‘Scorpion’, which was described as a siege weapon modified for personal use.

But it was excessively heavy, and the silver bullet consumption was ridiculous.

Pass on this one… though I want to, it could instantly solve my absolute lack of firepower.

Let’s keep it on hold.

“This one came from Sir Corsis’s idea…”

The last one shown was similar to what I’d just seen but much smaller.

It looked almost exactly like the classic ‘Hand Cannon’ from Blue Paper Moon.

Its power was less than half of the previous one but only consumed three silver bullets.

Plus its overall slim form looked good for carrying.

“Which will you take?”

“I’ll take this one.”

I picked up the Hand Cannon without hesitation.

“That one after all.”

Good balance, high firepower, and above all, being involved with Corsis means it has overwhelmingly high reliability among these.

The title of Development Department head wasn’t earned through connections.

The craftsmen seemed to understand, nodding though looking slightly disappointed.

After promising to tell them about the weapon’s feel and points for improvement, I left the Development Department.

Workshop 3 where Zepetia was caught my eye as I passed by, but I already had more than enough weapons for now.

Crowty’s silver dagger and Corsis’s Hand Cannon.

These aren’t my property.

I must return them once this is over.

Finally, I visited my room and the armory to prepare everything I needed before heading straight back to administration.

Crowty was already gone, and only Hera remained alone writing something.

“Mr. Eugene? Did you perhaps forget something…?”

“About that proposal earlier.”

“That proposal?”

“You know, about Offenbach. Can I at least go hear what they have to say?”

“H-huh? Ah… yes. The Marquis has already prepared transportation. But…”

“That’s enough. Do you have entry permits or such?”

“Yes. Here…”

Hera pulled out one or two small scrolls from under her desk and gave them to me.

“These are an entry permit for Offenbach vouched for by Marquis Bluebeard and a long-distance carriage ticket. You can use them in Cranion.”

“Good.”

“Are you perhaps going there?”

“Yes.”

“But Mr. Eugene, earlier…”

“I have a plan.”

“A plan?”

“Yes.”

“Well that’s good but… Mr. Eugene.”

“What?”

“You’ll definitely… come back, right?”

“Yes.”

“Promise?”

“…Yes.”

I turned my back and left administration again, departing for Cranion.

My destination was the neighboring country of Offenbach.

Of course, I’m not going to accept the Marquis’s proposal, nor do I think Chris is there.

Prophet Ryu could probably find Chris’s location immediately, but I don’t have the nerve to use that freely.

That opportunity is prepared for the protagonist – an extra like me shouldn’t even know about it.

So as befits an extra, I should ask another extra.

“Maia…”

Maia, Blue Paper Moon’s greatest sorcerer, would be a huge help.

I’ve built somewhat favorable relations with her, and if I squeeze out the knowledge from my past life, I can negotiate well to get her help.

And Spider Castle where she should be waiting is right in Offenbach.

Though crossing borders would be difficult even for a hunter putting me in a tough spot, thanks to Marquis Bluebeard I can pass through easily.

Although I ended up ignoring and using his proposal, Chris’s wellbeing is more important to me.

I ran as fast as possible straight to Cranion, then took a long-distance carriage heading to Offenbach.