Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 61: The Talk of the Tower (4)

“Here. Eat.”

Feryn handed over the freshly made bead, warm and moist.

Her expression brimmed with such confidence that if I hadn’t personally witnessed the manufacturing process, I might have expected a divine delicacy and swallowed it whole without hesitation.

I hesitated, recalling the last bead I had ingested. What exactly was that liquid coating its surface, dripping in slow, sticky trails?

I wasn’t one to care about masochistic rewards, but I sent up a desperate prayer. Please, let it be saliva. Anything beyond that would be too hardcore.

Then I remembered that this wasn’t the time to worry about such things.

“Feryn, are you okay?”

“Why?”

“You know, that bead. Is it really safe to keep infinitely producing them like that?”

Contrary to my concern, Feryn remained completely unfazed. Her expression all but said, What’s with the fuss?—as if she were magnanimously choosing to let it slide.

Damn. How irritating. If worrying cost me, I’d be bankrupt by now.

Isn’t that thing really some kinda hairball?

I briefly entertained the thought, but dismissed it just as quickly. I had seen and felt something far too substantial for it to be mere waste.

Trying to realign our derailed conversation, I brought up the topic of elemental cores.

Given the circumstances, I had a suspicion. Feryn was artificially created, abandoned by her kind, and raised by elves. Maybe she simply didn’t know much about elementals. Maybe she was mass-producing cores without realizing it could kill her.

“Are you stupid? Are you seriously explaining elemental cores to me, an elemental? Or what? You assumed I wouldn’t know basic common sense because I was treated like a defective retard by my own kind?”

It was an unfounded worry. And worse yet, I had unintentionally struck a nerve with Feryn. Like the wounded baby wolf she was, her temper was extremely volatile.

Feryn completely misinterpreted my words, and her anger steadily climbed—rising in a smooth, unwavering arc—until she was baring her teeth in open hostility.

I spoke in a calm tone, careful not to provoke the wounded baby wolf.

“I meant no harm. I was just worried about you.”

Feryn flinched, her body trembling as her anger momentarily wavered. But she quickly regained her momentum and pressed me again.

“Worried? Who asked for your worry? Ha. Is it because I keep acting like a fool in front of you? Did that make you think you matter to me? Don’t get the wrong idea. I hate humans. Especially ones like you who—”

She advanced slowly, like a wolf cornering its prey.

But the shrinking distance—that seemed to be the problem.

“...”

Suddenly, she shuddered and froze in place.

“D-damn it...don’t misunderstand...This is...just because I spat out all your energy...”

Feryn muttered grimly, like a villain delivering her final line before making an exit. Then she made a fierce lunge at me.

Not like a wolf hunting its prey, but like a dog greeting its owner.

Nestled in my arms, she buried her face into my chest, rubbing against me with frantic intensity. Thump,thump,thump. Her tail wagged furiously, latching on tight.

“Sorry for getting mad...”

Feryn’s voice was soft and airy, almost like an extension of her contented whimpers.

“After hearing what you said...I suddenly started wondering what you think of me. What if you look down on me too, like my kin..? The thought suddenly made me so anxious...”

At this moment, what I felt was pure guilt.

What’s going to happen once you’re fully recharged Feryn?

Could I really call this force—which drew her to me—pure energy? At this point, it felt more like a hypnosis app.

If I were in Feryn’s shoes, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in public.

But whatever the case, I decided to soothe her, gently patting her back...doing my best to ignore the way she wriggled her rear in hopes of a spanking.

“You’re a wonderful wolf, Feryn, and you’re my precious friend. That’s why I was worried.”

“Worried...?”

“Mhm. The person who told me about elemental cores said they’re crucial for elementals, so losing one could be fatal.”

“...Isn’t it strange?”

“Hm?”

“The fact that I’m different from other elementals...Doesn’t it bother you?”

“Not at all. It’s actually the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I think you’re incredible. You can do something no other elemental can.”

“Something no other elemental can do...”

“You’re not wrong, Feryn. You’re special. At least, that’s how I see it.”

“...”

A moment later, the pressure on my chest disappeared as Feryn swiftly backed away from me.

“You little...”

The prickly wolf girl had let her guard slip, revealing more of her feelings than she meant to. She glared at me, tearing up from the embarrassment.

“Son of a bitch...”

It was unfair, but I didn’t protest. Whatever I felt, it couldn’t compare to how Feryn must feel.

It took quite a while before Feryn could act as if nothing had happened.

She gave an explanation about the core replication incident.

“As you can see, I’m a mutant with a physical body despite being an elemental. So, there’s no problem even if I take out my core.”

“Ooh...”

“...Don’t look at me like that. I’m warning you.”

The corners of Feryn’s growling mouth twitched ever so slightly upward.

“Besides, it feels refreshing to spit out cores.”

“Refreshing?”

“Whenever I meet you, the core reacts and takes form, and each time it makes me feel bloated.”

“What the, so it really is like a hairball.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, is it okay to just spit them out like that?”

“That’s none of your beeswax. It’s my core, I’ll spit it out as I please. What’s it to you?”

“I’m just worried. What if something goes wrong?”

“...”

Thud. Feryn kicked the ground for no reason.

“Actually, it is a bit painful.”

“Then—”

“But I rather like that.”

“What?”

“This level of pain, it actually makes me feel alive.”

Feryn let out a stifled chuckle.

“...!”

A chuunibyou-afflicted, mentally unstable, half-elemental wolf girl who periodically coughs up hairballs. Isn’t that too many attributes?

I was shocked looking at Feryn, yet she smiled with satisfaction.

“Ordinary guys like you wouldn’t understand. Well, not that I want you to understand anyway.”

Feryn suddenly lifted her gaze to the sky.

“What a breathtaking moon... It’s as if it shines down on my filth, yet embraces me all the same.”

Both her words and posture felt staged—like something she’d practiced countless times before.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I mustn’t laugh. Feel that delicate mental landscape. Feel the vibe and the edge.

“Feryn...you’re unexpectedly poetic. I see you in a new light.”

“...”

Feryn chortled, casting a bitter smile at me. The smugness curling at her lips was likely meant to be secret, so yes, all I saw was pure bitterness.

“It’s nothing so fancy. It’s rather the opposite.”

“O-opposite...?”

“Ahh...You see, only a worthless loner can be the moon’s true friend.”

“I-I see.”

It seemed my sincerity had reached her, because by the time the performance ended, her mood had noticeably lifted.

“Hey.”

Feryn indifferently held out her core.

“Take it. This core was basically formed thanks to your energy. Oh, and just so you know, it’s probably weaker than the last one. That was my first core, after all.”

First core. I couldn’t help but imagine how other elementalists would react if I told them.

First heart. First testicle. To them, it would probably sound just as unsettling.

“In exchange, since it’s made purely from your energy, it should be much more refined.”

“If I eat it, can I expect the same effect as before?”

“...”

Feryn stared at me for a moment before shaking her head.

“No. My power is already flowing inside you. Eating it won’t do much.”

“Then doesn’t that mean I don’t need it anymore?”

“Huh. Elves were desperate to get these. Seems like humans are different?”

“Uh...I’m not particularly different, but...”

“What? Then just take it.”

“Will you be okay, Feryn?”

“I have no interest in material possessions.”

After handing me the core, Feryn left without any hesitation.

I’ll admit that was genuinely cool. Even more so because she gave me the very item she had no interest in.

“I knew it. There’s never any harm in worrying.”

With an unexpected gain in hand, I returned to my quarters with a light step and happily drifted off into sleep.

***The next morning, upon being summoned, Risir stepped into the conference room in the main building of the mage tower.

Inside, several Gray masters, Church officials—including Bardros—and members of the investigation team, represented by the Blue and Green masters, were already assembled.

This was the formal occasion for the investigation team to present their findings.

“Therefore, in the name of the Blue Tower, I officially declare that the investigation has been concluded.”

“Therefore, in the name of the Green Tower, I officially declare that the investigation has been concluded.”

In other words, it was little more than a perfunctory ritual, a final touch on a superficial procedure. The meeting wrapped up in less than ten minutes.

Risir glanced around in confusion. Had these esteemed figures really gathered just for this?

Of course not. It was rare for representatives from various mage towers and the Church to convene in one place. Even after the meeting ended, they remained in their seats, chatting among themselves.

“Is the Holy Maiden still in seclusion? That’s quite troubling.”

“Now that you mention it, the Blue Tower still hasn’t filled its Tower Lord position, has it?”

“Ah, right. I heard the World Tree’s roots have been afflicted by an unprecedented disease. If the Church can be of any assistance...”

“Speaking of which, rumors say the Gray Tower Lord still hasn’t settled down...”

Their conversations drifted to Risir’s ears, and he listened closely, taking it all in.

SUPER EMERGENCY!!!!

Risir regretted not making a swift exit the moment the meeting ended with a, “Alright, g’day all, I’m off now.”

These representatives of massive organizations, bound by tangled political ties, slipped effortlessly into a psychological standoff party.

Rattled?

Yeah, not a chance. You?

TOTALLY unfazed, not even a bit.

Under the guise of polite conversation, they lobbed deadly barbs at each other like it was nothing.

Stuck in the crossfire, Risir endured long minutes of silent terror.

Only after confirming that no one present was weak enough to be an easy target did they finally move on to actual discussion.

The reclusive Holy Maiden, the infected roots of the World Tree... Could any of those just mentioned be candidates for normalization?

As Risir subtly engaged in the conversation, a topic emerged that caught his interest.

“Come to think of it...Master Rassiel, I have a matter I’d like to inquire about while we’re here.”

Master Ladros, who had maintained an air of unwavering confidence as the representative of the Gray Tower, cautiously addressed the Green master, Rassiel.

“It concerns the recent delivery of elemental marks.”

Elemental marks—degraded versions of elemental cores infused with elemental energy—were widely consumed across various magical disciplines.

Whether for magical research or elixir crafting, they were essential resources for the Gray Tower, which delved into a broad spectrum of arcane studies.

For most of its supply, the Gray Tower depended on the Green Tower. This reliance was inevitable, as the distribution of elemental marks was largely controlled by minority groups within the Grand Forest.

Among them, the Green Tower held the largest share.

“The issue is that the quality and quantity of elemental marks we received this time have noticeably declined, causing significant difficulties for many within our tower. If only to find a solution, I’d like to hear the Green Tower’s official stance on the matter.”

“I will only say that there were unavoidable circumstances.”

The firm response stood in stark contrast to Ladros’ urgency.

“Ahem...”

Ladros’ displeasure was evident, but he refrained from pressing further. When it came to matters involving elementals, at least, the Green Tower held absolute superiority. Aggravating them unnecessarily could only make things worse.

Having observed the exchange, Risir cautiously spoke to Ladros, who was seated beside him.

“Master Ladros. May I ask you something?”

“Ooh, you have a question for me?! Ask away, don’t hold back.”

“From what I hear, our tower is currently struggling due to a shortage of these elemental marks. I wonder if this could be a suitable substitute?”

Risir retrieved Feryn’s elemental core from his pocket and held it out to Master Ladros.

“Hm? This is...”

Ladros examined the core closely.

“...!!!”

A moment later, he let out a sharp gasp.

All eyes in the room instantly focused on him.

“...!”

The Green master, Rassiel.

“Oh my goodness.”

The Blue master, Enna.

“Risir, don’t tell me that’s...”

And High Priest Bardros.

All of them expressed shock in their own ways.

The elves of the Green Tower showed emotion for the first time in front of the humans.

Rassiel lurched forward, his voice ringing with urgency.

“W-where did you get that?!”

Had he been any closer, he might have snatched the Elemental Core outright.

Risir was bewildered. He had known that Feryn’s elemental core was something special—but he never imagined that even this second, degraded version would hold such great value.

“I received it as a gift from an elemental I know.”

“A gift? A core?! Preposterous!”

“...”

Risir felt unfairly accused but had no way to argue. To the elf, his words must have sounded as absurd as, “This testicle? Oh, it was a present.”

Yet in reality, it was nothing more than a glorified hairball.

“That item was most definitely acquired through improper means. I strongly urge you to hand it over to the Green Tower immediately!”

Risir was all too familiar with this tactic. The elf had pulled the classic move that went, “An elemental? That falls under our jurisdiction.”

“I object!”

Surprisingly, it was not the Gray master who spoke up in protest, but the Blue master, Enna.

“You elves have no such authority! On what grounds do you assume that it was obtained unlawfully?!”

“Precisely! Young Risir’s rights must be respected! Therefore, the Church will formally request that he—”

“What are you all doing?! Maintain decorum!”

The atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

“I refuse to accept this!”

“Then what do you propose?!”

“What else? It’s only natural that we hear the rightful owner’s opinion—Risir’s!”

In the end, the master mages and the high priest engaged in a heated argument—all over an elemental’s hairball.