Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

like secretly a black mage or something?

: black mage? bruh r u taking Gerhen for a pussy?

: fr lol Gerhen doesn’t even need fucking black magic or demons to just multiply event quests

: I think I saw one too lol was the guy you saw named Born?

-[OP] : nah Koran

: fffuck whos Koran now lol

: for real, I don’t remember any Koran

: where you even find him?

-[OP] : bro was making drugs for money in Todilan

: whew lol so he expanded from Bondalles to Todilan

: yeh bondalles’ crime scene is already flooded with mages thanks to gerhen

: Gerhen bros truly a beacon of hope for the crime world, coz itss always struggling with mage shortage T.T

: So how did that Koran’s end life get so fucked?

[OP] : Gerhen took him in from outside the tower

one day Koran made some decent achievements so he reports it to Gerhen

Gerhen just changes the name and submits it to the tower as his own work. yeah.

for extra, he framed Koran to shut his face and got him locked up.

: dayum Gerhen really keeps things clean

: his achievement theft skills are just o.obb

: How does this guy keep being a master when he’s causing all this shit in and out the Tower?

: coz he at the top

: He’s a master of picking on the weak.

: He only screws over easy targets and makes sure to stay tight with the powerful nobles.

: ikr anyone from a no-name family in the tower

they can get kicked out just for getting on Gerhen’s bad side

-[OP] : Didoa?

: yeaaa her

: u prolly right since Gerhen invested a shit ton into ‘Master’ Tulan

trying to make her his side since Tulan was rising fast with no backer

: Gerhen organized the hunting party to take down Didoa after she killed Tulan and ran right

: dam Gerhen really takes care of his people

: ruins lives on a daily basis

but will never take a personal loss fr

***This happened a few days after Risir had exposed the black mage hiding within the Gray Tower.

A crowd of mages had gathered in the courtyard, drawn by the summons of Gerhen, a figure backed unwaveringly by the noble faction of the Gray Tower.

Gerhen had stepped forward and addressed the assembly.

“Respected students.

An outsider—a mere nobody without even a family name at that—has no right to meddle in the affairs of our tower. And to do so while disregarding our laws? Unacceptable!

I trust you are all aware, that we wise mages of the Gray Tower resolve any issue within our ranks through the proper legal procedures—through trials.

Tulan. She should have stood trial. Not for her own honor, but for ours!

No one, I repeat, no one in this tower has the right to pass judgment outside the bounds of due process!

Respected students.

What that outsider has done is nothing less than a challenge to our authority. And yet, we would officially acknowledge and even commend his actions in the Tower’s name?!

If we do not uphold our own laws, who will respect them? It is no different from spitting on our own faces!

Respected students.

We cannot afford to take this matter lightly. We must protect our authority and our order, and so I will humbly speak on your behalf.

Please lend me your strength.”

Thunderous applause had followed Gerhen’s speech.

Of course, not every pair of hands clapped with sincerity. Some students merely went through the motions, whispering to their peers. Others were apathetic, while still others scoffed.

“Do you think the ones clapping actually agree with him?”

“I don’t want to believe idiots like that belong to the same tower as me.”

“He talks a good game...but it only takes a moment of thought to see through it.”

“A man caught and took down a black mage red-handed, and we’re supposed to condemn him in the name of law and order? Who are we, the Black Tower?”

“Hehe! Well said.”

“I bet even the ones clapping probably know how ridiculous Gerhen looks right now.”

“It’s still best to humor him...He’s a pain in the ass on a good day. Imagine how much worse he is, now that he’s desperate.”

“True, he still has enough power to make trouble...Yikes!”

“Let’s go.”

Gerhen quietly observed them from the podium.

Damn it. How did I end up like this...?

He lamented the fact that he could do nothing but stare.

As the leader of the noble faction within the Gray Tower, Gerhen had been one of the most influential master mages. By all rights, there should have been no more than five people in the Tower whose opinions he had to consider.

But now, he was forced to care about the opinions of low-ranking noble students he would have never spared a glance at before.

It wasn’t just because he had been played by a black mage. Nearly every master had been deceived in some way, so he alone had no particular reason to be singled out for blame.

No, this was merely a catalyst.

“I heard when Tulan was posing as a master, one of her biggest backers was none other than Master Gerhen.”

“Just look at the research papers he submitted. It’s an open secret.”

“You know, I got curious and requested access to the records myself. There wasn’t a single mention of Master Didoa, who likely did all the actual work. It was full of nothing but references to Master Gerhen.”

“So the real researcher was left in the dust while third parties split the credit...”

“If I suddenly find all the research with Gerhen’s name on it suspicious, am I just being a bit paranoid?”

“Who are we to judge that so carelessly?”

“Sounds like we need a trial.”

“Pahahah!”

People had begun to scrutinize Gerhen’s past actions. His authority was visibly crumbling, and this was only the beginning.

That bastard...

Gerhen wasted no time formulating a countermeasure and came to a conclusion.

No matter what, the outsider Risir’s achievements could not be acknowledged. No—more than that. He had to completely deny them.

If there was any silver lining, it was that Gerhen already had a long history of eliminating rivals and prey from both the Tower and society.

Bringing others down was one of his greatest talents.

“By the way, who exactly is that guy?”

“Was his name Risir?”

“He saw through a black mage’s tricks on the spot, and even broke her magic. Even the masters failed to notice, you know.”

“Only the Church’s high priests or white magic experts should be able to pull that off, right?”

“Well, I do feel like they could do it, but at the same time...could they really?”

“Or what if it’s like this? That man’s actually the same kind as Tulan.”

“Huh?”

“A fellow black mage. Or maybe an ex-ally who turned on her to use her plan for his own gain.”

“Girl, you’re insane...”

“Heheh. I’m just joking, alright?”

“I guess it is an interesting take.”

“Anyway. His power is too extraordinary to just accept with an ‘Aha, so it’s just your Intrinsic Color’.”

Gerhen had already settled on his approach to this matter.

***Deep beneath the Gray Tower lay an enormous underground prison. It was where the Tower stored dangerous materials or beings.

Inside one of the cells sat Tulan, the black mage.

Her Blue Heart, the source of her mana, had been destroyed. She could no longer hear the voice of her master, the Parasite.

Her hollow eyes stared blankly into the void. Then, suddenly, a flicker of light returned to them.

“A so-called master of the Tower, and this is what you resort to?”

Gerhen stood before the bars, speaking to Tulan. This meeting was off the record.

“Mark my words, you will die. The Tower will soon conclude its investigation and interrogation, then hand you over to the Church. Even I can’t interfere in that process. However, as I said before, I can make sure you have company on your way out.”

“You want me...to say that Risir guy...was my traitorous comrade?”

“That’s right.”

Tulan dropped her head, wheezing with laughter. Her voice was cracked, and her flesh had melted away. Nothing remained of the Master Tulan who had once captivated the hearts of the Tower’s students.

“I’ll admit it’s an interesting offer. But do you really think the Tower’s students will buy it? Taking a black mage’s word and executing the hero who defeated her? Even the most ignorant peasants wouldn’t fall for that.”

“There are those who are foolish because they know too little—and those who are foolish because they know too much.”

“What?”

“I’ll lay the kindling. You just need to toss in a small spark.”

...Madman.

Tulan let out a hollow chuckle.

And that was all. She didn’t bother asking Gerhen for his motives. Since she was as good as dead anyway, nothing could satisfy her more than to tarnish that wretched man’s name as her final act.

***“Why aren’t you eating?”

The food(bead) and drink(saliva) were freshly prepared for Risir, steaming with heat.

After going to the trouble of preparing a feast, Feryn was deeply upset to see him not eating, but instead stowing the food away. Risir took a moment to calm her down.

Once that was settled, he and Fienne were about to leave the mage tower, with Meltas and Feryn seeing them off.

As they neared the main gate, crossing the courtyard, they were stopped.

“You all...?”

A group of mages was waiting for them. At the front of the group was Gerhen, who spoke first.

“Master Meltas, I ask that you provide that outsider’s identity immediately.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Risir and the others exchanged confused glances.

Risir spoke up.

“Are those the ones? Er, the noble faction that dislikes me?”

“...Yes.”

“Is it okay for them to just up and attack as a group in this manner? Aren’t they nobles?”

“It’s disgraceful. But still, it is best to be cautious. He is a treacherous fellow, not one to act without a plan.”

Meltas immediately raised his guard against Gerhen. He knew that the latter had been working tirelessly to maintain his position recently—to undermine Risir’s achievements.

But even Meltas didn’t think Gerhen would go so far as to cause a disturbance in such a public place.

“Gerhen. What is this nonsense?”

“To get to the point, we’ve made progress in the interrogation of the black mage, Tulan.”

“What?”

Following Gerhen’s order, one of the mages stepped forward. She was part of Gerhen’s faction and had been assigned to interrogate Tulan on behalf of the mage tower.

“The black mage Tulan has revealed new information.”

She began reading aloud the contents of the document in an impassive voice.

“...Hah!”

As the reading finished, Meltas loudly scoffed in disbelief.

“You are telling me that everything related to the black mage Tulan was part of a plan to have Risir infiltrate the Tower? You are implying that Risir is a spy for them?! Speak some sense, Gerhen! Have you lost your mind?!”

“I do recognize there are certain far-fetched aspects.”

“Then stop this absurd charade at once!”

“No, we cannot. Since a confession has been made, it is our duty to verify its truth.”

“That should not be your authority!”

“Indeed. It’s all of our responsibility.”

“...!”

Meltas glared at the group standing behind Gerhen. The mages, hailing from high noble families, were not those he could afford to disregard.

“It is not too late. We must correct the Tower’s rules. On behalf of our students, I am formally requesting the immediate initiation of a trial.”

“What on earth...?”

As time passed, more eyes turned toward them. The gathering crowd’s interest and curiosity only grew.

Sensing Gerhen’s intentions, Meltas looked increasingly flustered.

Just as it seemed like the right moment, Gerhen was about to take out something he had prepared.

But then, a commotion rose behind the group, who had their backs to the main gate.

“Master Didoa, what is this—?”

One of the group sounded stunned.

Having just finished a conversation with the Church’s officials, Didoa walked through the main gate, accompanied by a priest.

The priest was a middle-aged woman, her striking black eyes standing in stark contrast to her pure white robes. A distinctive symbol on her chest marked her as different from the other clergy members.

“...!”

Gerhen’s eyes widened in realization. That symbol was none other than a high priest’s mark, signifying that she held the authority to represent the Church’s position.

Why is a clergy member here?!

Gerhen forced himself to calm down, stepping in front of her.

“High Priest. Halt immediately and state your business.”

Not even members of the Church could just enter a mage tower freely, except under very specific circumstances.

“We have received information that a black mage is hiding within the Gray Tower.”

“That alone should not grant you the right to interfere with us.”

“Quite. However, we are here at the direct request of the witness, Master Didoa, to carry out post-investigation procedures.”

And such circumstances included a direct request from a senior tower member.

“...!”

Gerhen looked aghast. He whipped around to glare at Didoa.

“Master Didoa! Do you have no pride as a mage?! This is an internal matter of our tower! It is something we must resolve ourselves!”

Didoa tilted her head, her expression as emotionless as ever.

“Hasn’t it already been resolved?”

“...!”

Gerhen went momentarily speechless, but he tried to regain composure.

Calm down.

The crowd around them had grown even larger. His plan was still in motion.

Gerhen presented the document he had prepared, outlining the events for everyone present.

This actually works in my favor.

The Church’s clergy were just as confident in their position as tower mages.

The priest claimed they had received information about a black mage hiding in the Gray Tower.

In other words, they had embarked on a special mission, traveling all the way to Bondalles, only to find a mere wandering mage had performed their task in their stead.

Much like some of the tower’s mages, they surely had doubts about the abilities of this wandering mage. And with the black mage’s testimony to back it up?

Gerhen watched eagerly for the high priest’s reaction.

“...”

The priest’s dark gaze shifted, locking onto the wandering mage—Risir.

“...!”

For a fleeting second, her eyes seemed to glimmer white.

The high priest spoke to Risir.

“Allow me to ask you this. Is the content of that document true?”

“It is not true.”

Gerhen couldn’t help but snicker inwardly.

The Church’s interrogations were notorious for their cruelty. It would take more than a fervent plea of innocence, yet here he was, offering such a nonchalant response.

Gerhen’s heartbeat quickened, feeling as if an opportunity were unfolding before him.

After hearing Risir’s unceremonious reply, the high priest turned to Gerhen.

“So he says.”

“?”

Gerhen stared blankly for a long minute.

He failed to comprehend the meaning behind her words.