Dark Fantasy Normalized

11 – Jinjo (2)

“Hey? My disciple? Did you drink some kind of elixir?”

Master suddenly grabbed my wrist and said with a rarely seen surprised face.

“Elixir? Well, nothing comes to mind. What’s the matter?”

“Well, the mana I feel from you has increased dramatically!”

“Isn’t it thanks to your lessons, Master? If I had to choose between an elixir and your lessons, I would choose your lessons without hesitation.”

“Duran. What did you say about my lessons? Did you hear what Lisir said? Did you hear, did you hear?”

＜That kid claps just by looking at your face. Anyway, Lisir’s magic power has grown rapidly. It seems your lessons are effective.＞

“Is that so?”

Master looked pleased but also unconvinced.

“This can’t be explained simply by saying the lessons were effective.”

“Could you explain it in a way that someone like me can understand, Master?”

“Let’s see, if we say the expected growth value of Lisir’s magic power from today’s lesson was 1.”

“Did it grow by about 5?”

“No? Roughly 50?”

“…Magic is too easy. I feel like dying from boredom.”

I looked at the horizon with a feeling of emptiness.

This must be the world that the great sages who realized the truth of the world were looking at.

The world was so insignificant.

“Look at my disciple’s high nose. But you deserve it now. Yes.”

＜The disciple is arrogant, and the master is indulgent. Only do one of them if you don’t want to ruin the farm.＞

“Actually, the change that happened to Lisir is a result that is hard to achieve with ordinary magic training, even considering Lisir’s innate talent.”

“…But I really can’t think of anything – Ah, could it be that using my unique color on Pien had an effect?”

“That’s probably not it. If it were, there should have been a change when you sent Gogos back to the ground, right? My disciple?”

“Yes, Master.”

“After today’s lesson, can you tell me everything that happened so far?”

Master was smiling brightly at Pien while listening to my story.

“You tried to use the power of fascination on my disciple?”

“…”

“…And you stole my disciple’s lips?”

“Eek-“

＜Doesn’t that matter? You’re going to be engaged anyway.＞

“You’re going to be engaged, but strictly speaking, you’re not engaged yet, right? And it wasn’t with pure intentions that you got engaged, right? And, looking at the context now, it seems like the engagement will eventually break off?”

＜That’s strange. She wasn’t originally a woman who clung like a swamp.＞

“Could you not misunderstand the master’s wish that his disciple’s bright future should not be confined to the narrow frame of a live-in son-in-law?”

The master pondered for a long time and then shook his head.

“Yeah. I still don’t get it. If I could find out the reason and apply it to the class, it would be a great help in solving the chronic problem that plagues my disciple.”

The chronic problem that plagues me.

Those words reminded me of the master’s evaluation, which verified my magical qualities through the classes over the past few days.

-My disciple. How nice it would have been if you had encountered magic a little faster. If only you had received proper swordsmanship training.

-I feel resentful towards Vendel.

Magical qualities are largely divided into two categories.

The ability to accept mana, called magical power.

The ability to handle mana, called sensitivity.

The master said that in my case, I was greatly endowed with sensitivity. Clearly in the realm of the extraordinary.

But in the case of magical power, it was clearly in the realm of the ordinary-

The master attributed all this glory to Vendel.

Magical power, which is more influenced by acquired factors than sensitivity.

Such magical power was literally neglected due to Vendel’s neglect.

Magical power is like a muscle, no matter how excellent the talent, it requires constant training, investment, and management.

To achieve results in the path of magic and sword? You had to lay the foundation no later than the age of 10.

In the case of nobles, they lay the foundation from infancy through continuous contact with mana, such as taking elixirs-

-In other words, it’s almost a lifetime loss. Because Rishir is a noble.

-Duran. That’s too cruel an expression. My disciple? It’s okay? I’m by your side, aren’t I?

-Just in case, may I ask, at what age did you start learning magic, Master?

-Well. I don’t remember?

-That means you started so young that you don’t even remember. Even back then, you learned all sorts of things under a master and took all sorts of elixirs. The forest is rich with such things.

-By now, it wasn’t particularly surprising. It was the natural order of the world to revolve around those who had. If I were surprised, I would have been disappointed in myself. It would have been proof that I still hadn’t faced reality.

-What should I do~ My disciple has become a wizard in a room who only drinks and smokes instead of eating~

“Pain brings out the literary expressions smoothly. I like it. How about we just leave it as it is?”

According to my master’s words, I had lost at least 8 years, at most 18 years.

To catch up with those ahead, I had to work myself to death, and even then, there was no guarantee of good results.

Magic is like muscle.

There was a limit to how much it could grow with one training session.

No matter how much I overworked myself, I couldn’t make up for the lost time.

“But still, still, still. You don’t have to be too disheartened, my disciple. Your innate magic is as excellent as your sensitivity, isn’t it? At this rate, you could reach the third level within two years, couldn’t you?”

The first level is the stage of initiation.

The second level is the stage of apprenticeship.

The third level is the stage where one begins to be recognized as a competent individual.

Most nobles strive to reach the third level before coming of age.

Some even reach the fourth level before their coming-of-age ceremony – in such cases, a banner is hung at the family mansion.

Both the eldest and the youngest of our family fell into this category.

As for me, being an illegitimate child, I was at the first level.

I decided to find solace in this fact rather than disappointment.

I was 18 years late, but where else could I stand at the same starting line as others in just two years?

“Master, you just said I achieved 50 times the accomplishment, right? Then, can I assume that I shortened the period to reach the third level by 50 days?”

“Well, it’s not that simple, but there’s no need to be overly strict about good things. I’m not Duran, after all.”

＜I am a book.＞

I gained 50 days.

Thinking that way, I became interested in the phenomenon that occurred to me.

Well, even if I ponder over the problem that my master couldn’t solve, nothing would change.

I just earnestly hope that such luck happens frequently.

“Now then.”

Clap.

My master clapped his hands to change the atmosphere.

“Excuse me for a moment?”

He then approached the fallen Pien, checked her body here and there, and nodded.

“As expected. Her strength has greatly weakened, but it hasn’t completely disappeared.”

“Ah. Shall we use it once more? My true color. The power of the progenitor. This time, I’ll make sure it disappears.”

“Ri, Rishir…! Why are you doing this to me…!”

“Fien. Remember this. A wounded man becomes a beast. You never know what he might do. So be careful when you play with men’s affections. This is a lesson from your big brother.”

“You weren’t even affected by my power in the first place!!!”

“That’s why it hurts even more. If I had been dominated by your power and knew nothing, how great would that have been. I thought of you as my one and only little sister, even if just for a moment.”

“Ugh- Little sister!? Just how much do you intend to treat me like a child!? This insult. I can’t stand it any longer. How special I am! How beautiful I am…”

Fien glared at me while speaking, but her pale face blushed like a peach, and she averted her gaze midway.

“Why are you embarrassed after saying that?”

“Because of you!!! It was my first time! Doing something like that… But you keep treating me like a child… Teasing me… Humiliating me…”

Fien looked up at me cautiously, her voice trembling.

“Rishir, do you really think so…? That I, without power, am nothing…?”

Damn. As expected of the progenitor. What a powerful mental interference.

Seeing her cry like a baby bird, I couldn’t help but feel like the bad guy.

Dominated by that magical guilt, I approached Fien, who had fallen to the ground, and offered my hand.

“…”

Fien pouted and sniffled, but she took my hand and stood up obediently.

I took out the handkerchief I always carried as a gentleman and dusted off the dirt on Fien’s dress.

Then I flipped the handkerchief and wiped the moisture from the corners of Fien’s eyes.

Fien looked up at me with her eyes wide open, her lips tightly shut.

Looking at her like this, she really did seem like a cute little girl.

I couldn’t help but smile like a dad.

“…”

Suddenly, Fien averted her gaze.

“Fien?”

When I called her again-

Oh my. She closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

What’s with this girl again?

Ignoring it, I brought the handkerchief to Fien’s face and said,

“Here. Blow.”

“…Huh? Blow?”

“Sniff!!! You need to blow your nose, right? Our Miss Pien, if you are truly a lady, you know how important it is to keep yourself tidy, right~? Now, sniff~”

“Sn-sniff, what nonsense!? I-I won’t do it!?! Are you crazy!? What do you take me for!?”

Pien, who had moved away from me in a huff, reached out her trembling hand towards me.

“Y-you’re doing this on purpose…! I know!? You’re actually shy and treating me like a child…! Ha! Men and their bravado!”

She smirked, trying to tease me-

But with her trembling voice and tearful expression, she was just adorable.

And she’s supposed to be older than me?

…Fine. You do you. Older.

At that moment, my master tapped my shoulder.

“My disciple? That child, despite how she looks, is quite kind, so don’t be too harsh on her, okay?”

“Really? The one who used to play with other people’s brains?”

“From what I’ve heard, she seems to be quite lenient. Even when she takes blood, she does it in a way that doesn’t affect the other person’s life. And when she uses mental interference, she leaves a part of their ego intact.”

＜True Ancestors usually treat all beings other than their kin as livestock or prey. Considering that, this girl is indeed an exception.＞

Was she really that considerate?

Pien didn’t know what to do under my gaze.

“Could you please stop looking at me like I’m some kind of admirable child? I just… I just didn’t feel the need to go that far with my subordinates!”

“In other words, you didn’t use your power recklessly?”

“I’m different from those vulgar beings who don’t know restraint.”

She seemed quite confident about this.

Seeing her proudly assert herself, unlike before, made me smile at the contrast.

“Indeed. You are different.”

“And now what are you going to say…”

Pien was wary and disgusted, but she couldn’t hide the slight upward curve of her lips.

“Miss Pien?”

But then, when my master called her, Pien flinched.

“Can you make a promise here? That you won’t use that power recklessly anymore?”

“…Why should I?”

＜Because this sister named Pamon is scarier than you think. Just say no once. She’ll take you away immediately, happy to have an excuse. And then she’ll use you for all sorts of experiments.＞

“O-okay, okay, I promise…!”

Pien, who seemed to be continuing her momentum, immediately backed down at Mr. Duran’s harsh words.

For some reason, Pien seemed to fear my master more than me, who had neutralized her power.

“Oh my. How kind.”

Master smiled brightly as he took Pien’s hand and ran his index finger over her palm.

Pien slightly grimaced.

Before long, a thin red line appeared on Pien’s white palm.

“My disciple?”

Master pressed Pien’s injured palm against mine.

“…”

A small whisper escaped Master’s lips, and a strange power enveloped Pien’s and my palms.

“Miss Pien. You promised, right?”

“Yes, yes…”

The moment Pien answered, a wave of power surged from our palms, climbed up our arms, and struck our chests.

“Ah!”

“Oh.”

Pien and I each made a sound and stepped back slightly.

Master looked at us with satisfaction and nodded.

*

[Beneficial effect detected]

[The wizard’s promise is bound to you]

[Target: True Ancestor Pien]

*

Afterwards, Pien and I parted ways with Master and returned to the Vendel mansion.

-Because of normalization, Miss Pien’s power weakened, and her control over her subordinates became unstable- but it will only be for a moment, right? It wasn’t a control that required that much power in the first place.

-Miss Pien, could you help my disciple through that control?

-…How can I help?

-It’s simple. Withdraw from the marriage. Then the family will naturally lose interest in my disciple again, and my disciple will leave Vendel in everyone’s indifference.

-How about releasing the control, creating chaos, and escaping in the confusion?

-Duran, really. That would put Pien and Rishir in a difficult position. Do you want the two of them to be pursued by the church and the imperial family? Oh. Maybe being chased once for the sake of future generations wouldn’t be so bad?

-I’m sorry. Please don’t say such crazy things.

Remembering the last conversation I had with my master.

“Miss…!!!”

It was just as my master had said.

When Pien and I returned to the mansion, it was in complete chaos.

Gallant only remembered that Pien and I had left the mansion together.

Consequently, I became the illegitimate child who had dragged the unwell lady outside.

“Mr. Rishir? Can you explain what happened?”

Vendel’s butler interrogated me.

The head of the Dintal family and his retainers stood behind, watching the scene unfold.

It was a formality prepared by Vendel for Dintal.

“You scoundrel-“

At that moment, a handsome man with flowing long hair rushed at me and grabbed me by the collar.

“How could you take a sick child outside like that!?”

“Mr. Callan!!!”

Pien’s brother- should I say.

The eldest son of the Dintal family.

“Everyone, please stop…!”

At that moment, Pien shouted.

Cough!

Cough!

Followed by a series of small coughs.

The chaotic atmosphere was instantly subdued.

Everyone focused on Pien.

“Mr. Rishir tried to stop me. It was my insistence. So please, do not blame Mr. Rishir.”

The little girl who had been crying and throwing a tantrum just moments ago was gone.

As the delicate, pure white girl with a magical presence earnestly pleaded, the atmosphere of the place quickly calmed down.

“…Mr. Rishir. The head of the family is calling for you.”

Starting with Vendel’s butler, the crowd began to disperse one by one.

“Let’s go, Pien.”

Callan glared at me as he tried to take his sister away.

However, Pien held onto my hand and wouldn’t let go.

“Pien?”

“Brother. I want to stay with Lord Rishir a little longer, is that okay?”

“But your condition-“

Pien raised both hands and gave a cheerful smile.

“Is it because I’ve been with Lord Rishir? My condition is exceptionally good today.”

“…”

Callan glared at me disapprovingly, clicked his tongue, and left the room.

“How could a b*stard like that-“

Leaving behind a muttered complaint.

Soon, it was just the two of us left in the room.

“…”

I looked at Pien in disbelief.

“…What is it now, what nonsense are you going to spout?”

Pien, who had reverted to a little child, awkwardly avoided my gaze.

*

The butler informed me that the head of the family had summoned me.

After spending a short time with Pien, I headed straight to the head’s office.

“We are discussing your marriage with Miss Pien.”

Those were the words that greeted me as soon as I entered the office.

The head, standing still, immediately got to the point.

“Behave properly and prepare yourself mentally.”

With that, the head’s business was concluded.

Throughout the conversation, the head’s gaze remained fixed on the documents on the desk.

“I have something to say.”

I spoke towards the top of the head’s head.

I thought it was the perfect timing.

“I am considering leaving the family.”

“…”

Now you finally look this way?

The head of the family looked at me with an expression that seemed to ask if he had heard wrong.