Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

The Scenery of Gerun Domain.

Unlike the chaotic moments when I was frantically thinking about lighting the hearth, I walked while keeping an eye on my surroundings.

Like Rondan, everyone averted their eyes towards the ground to avoid meeting the gaze of the Giant of the Snow Mountain, wearing gloomy expressions.

However, the atmosphere was even darker than Rondan’s.

Was it because there were fewer people on the streets, giving no sense of crowding?

It felt truly like a dark fantasy, reminding me once again of the genre of the game I had been possessed into.

Walking through the somber streets with Agartha and Asti, we were guided by the doorkeeper.

After all, the duke had summoned us!

Perhaps it was because I had poured Agartha’s coal into the hearth and saved the domain that I was called.

It felt strange to be summoned for something I considered a simple task.

I felt oddly complex about having amassed such grand achievements without truly doing much.

Should I consider this a good thing or not?

“Here we are; you may enter.”

It seemed the doorkeeper was done guiding us as she bowed her head, pointing towards a building.

The moment I saw that building, an awe escaped my lips.

It was a large mansion with a luxurious exterior that clearly indicated it was of noble design, independent from the hearth.

If the beauty I felt from the hearth came from the contrast of despair and hope, this mansion felt like an art piece formed to perfection.

“Wow….”

I found myself exclaiming in admiration, causing Agartha to chuckle beside me.

“You truly are a romantic of this era.”

“Isn’t it beautiful to see such things?”

“Well, given the atmosphere, I’ve never had the luxury to feel admiration while observing anything.”

Ah, I see.

Agartha’s thoughts seemed natural from the perspective of the inhabitants of Snow Castle.

They probably hadn’t had the chance to stand tall even for a day because of the Giant of the Snow Mountain.

With a slightly wistful heart, I gazed at the mansion from bottom to top.

Was it Duke Gerun?

When I heard the princess’s words, I thought only royalty governed domains, but dukes were treated as a separate power, making this domain feel similarly structured.

So the duke follows the princess.

Meeting the highest authority of a domain was inevitably a burdensome experience.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

At my words, Agartha and Asti answered in unison and stepped inside the mansion.

#

“Welcome. You must be Sir Tanton?”

As we arrived, a maid dressed in a uniform bowed and welcomed us from behind the opened door of the mansion.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Please follow me.”

The maid didn’t engage in any small talk and immediately began to guide us.

I couldn’t help but feel it was like looking at Alpha and Beta with her emotionless demeanor.

Is this the common practice for support roles in all domains, to be so unreadable?

The inside of the mansion was as spacious as it appeared from the outside.

However, there was no wasted space as numerous people busily scampered around.

They seemed to be knights or individuals of high rank, judging by their doll-like masks or quite elegant attire.

They looked at us with a curiosity that felt almost like a novelty.

Was it unusual to see outsiders wandering in the duke’s mansion?

As we moved inward, conscious of the gazes around us, we soon faced a large wooden door.

This seemed to be the duke’s chamber.

“I will take my leave now.”

The maid signaled that she had completed her duties and began to walk away.

Now that I thought of it, I hadn’t seen anyone else like her around here.

Thinking of the children the interrogator had distributed, I felt a pang of emotion.

Putting my thoughts aside, I cautiously knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Upon hearing the duke’s voice from within, I carefully opened the door and walked in, where a mountain of stacked papers greeted my eyes.

As I registered this, the sound of scratching, as if something was being written, caught my attention. I turned towards the source and saw the duke diligently writing something down.

Duke Gerun.

The aura emanating from him was strong, not losing to our domain’s deputy director, but his demeanor was that of an ordinary man of letters.

“…Ah, Sir Tanton.”

When the duke’s gaze shifted from the papers to me, he looked slightly surprised.

I thought it best to greet him, just in case.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke.”

“Is that a formality from a different domain? Please, raise your head.”

As expected, just like with the princess, the duke was flustered and waved his hand at me.

Even in a dark fantasy, formalities held unexpected importance, didn’t they?

Was it that the game designers skimped in this area?

The duke smiled faintly.

“Thank you for saving our domain. If it weren’t for you, we would have faced certain doom, preparing to accept death with folded hands.”

“What I did was nothing special—just fulfilling my obligations.”

I spoke plainly, yet the duke’s eyes softened with warmth.

“Doing such things is also a skill, you know.”

Hmm.

That’s right.

In some ways, it felt like Agartha deserved 90% of the credit for what had transpired.

Of course, the duke wouldn’t know that.

After nudging his papers aside slightly, he tapped his chin.

“I wish to reward you, is there anything you desire?”

A reward, huh.

I glanced at Agartha.

If the duke were to reward me, I planned to use it solely for Agartha’s sake.

Fortunately, the duke offered a reward, so I nodded.

“Could I request three sacks of coal infused with Outsider flesh?”

“…Is that all it takes?”

“That’s what I used to reignite the hearth. That alone is sufficient.”

Although Agartha had mentioned it was an expensive item, from the duke’s viewpoint, it was merely fuel, nothing more.

Agartha stared at me with eyes filled with surprise.

What? Did you think I would only look out for my own interests?

They all seem to think that way.

“…You can use items containing Outsider flesh as firewood for the hearth?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I was under the impression that I had to use the essence of the Outsider when I received the source for the hearth from the princess. Sir Tanton, thanks to you, I’ve learned something new. I’m grateful.”

Muttering “In urgent situations, we must rely on the knights,” the duke suddenly seemed to have an idea and shifted his gaze towards me.

“Sir Tanton.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I don’t know the purpose of your visit to our domain, but I may have to make an impolite request of you.”

The duke said, his expression grave.

I tilted my head.

“What might that be?”

“Actually, the Hunter’s recent failure in hunting was primarily due to the surrounding powerful Outsiders. I was aware the hunters were in a panic. Because of my incompetence in not taking measures earlier, I’ve caused trouble for you.”

Here, the hunters seemed far weaker compared to those of Rondan.

Even though it was a blizzard area, it must primarily consist of ordinary Outsiders.

No, it could also be that the hunters of Rondan had become overpowered due to the protagonist buff.

As I pondered this, recalling game elements, I was suddenly taken aback as the duke bowed his head.

“…?!”

“I’m asking for a favor. Please assist the hunters in their next hunt. With a strong Outsider’s physique, they can live without worry for about the next five years. By then, the hunters can be much stronger.”

Outsider hunting, huh.

It felt uncomfortable to be asked to kill beings that were merely innocent in my eyes.

While there were certainly aggressive Outsiders like the previous twins, hunting those with no malice, like the Dragon Slayer, didn’t seem right.

Maybe there might be children who could communicate.

If I could bring back some fragments from them, perhaps I could manage something.

I could collect enough and pour it into the hearth like dumping coal into a train.

Reaching this conclusion, it dawned on me that it might not be too significant of a task.

“Understood. I shall carry out your orders.”

“…Thank you. If you complete this task and return, I shall grant you anything you wish within my power.”

I replied strongly to the duke’s words.

#

“Don’t accept things like that so easily! What if Hunter find out?”

“Well, when that time comes, I can just help and escape.”

It was true that my nosiness was a problem, but I didn’t lend that assistance for purely altruistic reasons.

This was all part of the buildup.

By helping another domain, I could surely acquire strength to deal with the Giant of the Snow Mountain.

“Like a hunter who’s furious would let you escape, right?”

“Haha….”

“Seriously.”

Agartha took on a slightly sad expression.

It was a face I hadn’t seen from her before.

“Why do you always act so selflessly? You’re stubborn in the most absurd ways. Honestly, my request for the coal was just me wanting to moan, not really a demand.”

Selfless.

I didn’t see it that way at all.

I had used the coal without considering its importance to Agartha and was always a nuisance to the hunters.

In fact, I felt rather grateful and sorry to them for always relying on their efforts.

Indeed, it was strange how the people supporting such an insignificant person as myself felt more remarkable.

I gave Agartha a slightly melancholic smile.

“I’m not selfless. I’m actually quite selfish and egocentric. I’ve only been receiving from you, Agartha.”

At my words, Agartha raised her head, looking bewildered.

“Thank you. For helping me out again this time.”

…Ugh.

Now that I said it, it felt incredibly embarrassing.

Agartha seemed just as shy, lowering her head with her face flushed.

Ahem.

In moments like this, I should respond, but her reaction was making me feel shy too.

“Really, you’re such a fool.”

With that, Agartha moved on.

#

“Did you come?”

The hunter here greeted me.

Approaching him, I waved my hand as he did, and we vigorously shook hands.

Looking at his expression, he seemed strong yet felt quite liberated in some way.

“Thanks for this, helped me solve a headache.”

“It was nothing much.”

As I said this, I found myself unsure how to address the hunter.

From his perspective, he was just a hunter, but my mind struggled to organize it, leading to confusion.

“What should I call you?”

“Just call me Hunter.”

…Isn’t that the same meaning?

Still, the tonal difference seemed to help with distinguishing it.

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