[Title: But Seriously, Why Are Dark Elves Discriminated Against?]
Content:
It’s not just because their skin is dark, right?
: But it is?
: Do you even need another reason?
: That’s apparently why people oppose their independence declaration, lol.
: You racist bastards.
: The skin color thing ca later. They’re treated this way because of their karma, period.
-[OP]: Karma?
: But honestly, their "karma" isn’t that much.
-[OP]: What do you an?
: Imagine if Dark Elves had like… two Hitlers in their history.
-[OP]: What the hell.
: Yeah, no big deal. Just two Hitlers, that’s all.
: Even Churchill would be turning in his grave.
: They nearly destroyed the continent, rember?
: Forest’s Night < This guy was a literal legend, though.
[Title: Forest’s Night < This Guy Was an Absolute Madman]
Content:
Clouded Truth
Speaking Nightmare
Unerasable Dishonor
If you check the origins of all the shady stuff in-ga,
it’s always tied to this guy.
Who even is this guy?
: Apparently, he’s a Demon King.
: Been retired for over a century but still gets ntioned more than current Demon Kings…
: If soone’s got “Night” in their title, they’re pretty much treated as a Demon King, lol.
: The crazy part about Forest’s Night is, unlike other Demon Kings who had to shout “I’M EVIL” to earn the Night title,
this dude got it purely based on raw power.
: “What happens if I turn an entire forest into plant zombies?” (One of the Nine Great Calamities of the continent.)
: “What happens if I make con artists into heroes?” (All 13 beca legends and broke the foundation of history.)
: “What happens if I give wild beasts human consciousness?” (Another of the Nine Great Calamities.)
: “I’m bored. Let’s invent a poison without an antidote.” (Created one of the Six Deadliest Poisons.)
: “What if I resurrect a betrayed hero as a Death Knight?” (Wiped out a high noble house and turned their territory into a cursed land.)
: Night of Conflagration: “I’m gonna burn this filthy world to ashes.”
-[OP]: Sounds like Night of Conflagration wants to weigh in here?
: It’s the difference between true insanity and pretend insanity, lol.
: That’s why when people hear the na Witch of the Western Forest, they freak out.
-[OP]: Witch of the Western Forest? Isn’t she the final boss of Bondales?
: Yeah, she’s Forest’s Night’s disciple.
: The Witch of the Western Forest was originally Forest’s Night’s title. She inherited it.
***
"An Antidote for Clouded Truth? Does Such a Thing Even Exist?"
"My master said it wasn’t fun to make antidotes, so they gave up."
Pamon stared at the parchnt, deep in thought.
"But why would they be asking about an antidote for Clouded Truth?"
The reason the Witch of the Western Forest carried Sahila’s parchnt.
Rembering the debt her master owed them, Pamon chuckled softly.
"How sudden~ To think an opportunity like this would co out of nowhere~ Lately, it feels like only good things have been happening, ever since I t Lisir. Could this be related to my disciple sohow?"
"Oh my, how touching~ That’s my disciple for you."
At that mont, Pamon covered her mouth and let out a stifled laugh.
"It’s nothing. I just suddenly thought of Lisir."
"You think so too, don’t you, Duran?"
"Duran, you’re just addicted to my disciple’s charm."
"Introduce my disciple, who’s in Bondales, to the Dark Elves of Kehlrin? Do you think they can et within the deadline?"
"Which is why I’ve co up with this instead."
"While an antidote for Clouded Truth doesn’t exist, there is a way to suppress it."
Pamon scribbled details of the suppression thod onto the parchnt.
"Well, yes, but the herb is destructive because of the overwhelming energy it contains. Normally, it’s refined into an elixir to temper its effects. You’ve heard of Tears of the Desert, haven’t you?"
"Exactly. Saebaekryeon is the main ingredient of that elixir."
"Yes. It’s poison against poison. The herb’s intense energy will temporarily suppress the effects of Clouded Truth."
Pamon shrugged.
"That’s it. This thod is just about buying ti, turning the worst-case scenario into a slightly less awful one."
With a whoosh, the parchnt caught fire.
At that mont, the debt owed by the Witch of the Western Forest to Sahila vanished.
"Yay~!"
Pamon gleefully grabbed her wine glass again.
Thinking of her disciple, Pamon chuckled softly.
"If my disciple finds out, he’ll probably faint from shock. Hmm~ Talking about him so much makes miss him. My dear disciple. I hope he’s doing well."
"That’s not true~ He’s doing just fine~ Lisir is a strong child. By now, he’s probably reached the 4th Rank—no, the 5th."
"Right? You think so too, Duran? That’s why I’m worried. Has Lisir acquired a Vision yet?"
Unlike basic or generic magic, Vision Magic was a unique system tied to the user’s identity.
It exponentially expanded the practitioner’s understanding and solidified their individuality as a mage.
As such, possessing a Vision often beca a benchmark for distinguishing exceptional mages.
"Of course, my disciple doesn’t need a Vision to realize his limitless potential...~"
Even so, she couldn’t help feeling regret.
"Really, it’s such a sha~ If my Vision Magic were a more dignified power, I could have passed it on to Lisir. If that were the case, I would’ve stayed by his side and taught him, no matter the cost. Well, it’s fine. Considering Lisir’s talent, there will surely be many lining up to share their Visions with him."
"What’s wrong with my disciple’s personality~?"
"So, you’re saying my disciple won’t take on a new ntor or a Vision because he hates being tied down?"
"Maybe, just maybe~ there’s soone out there who admires Lisir’s magical talent enough to pass on a Vision without expecting anything in return~"
"You’re so an~"
***
“Miss?”
“Huh...? Oh—”
Katria, who had been staring blankly, snapped out of her daze at Kairen's call.
But only for a mont.
She soon turned her gaze back to the void, muttering absentmindedly.
“Kairen. How many days has it been now?”
Katria glanced down at the bracelet on her wrist.
The Hand of Verdandes.
Ever since using the demon’s power to delay Lisir’s demise, Katria had been plagued by intense self-reproach.
Was this truly the right thing to do?
It felt as though every step she took to fix the situation only tangled things further, a cascade of errors stemming from a single misstep.
But now…
Now, her choice seed to be proving itself correct.
“…It’s been three days,” Kairen answered.
“Three days…”
On the third day of their investigation, Katria and Kairen had yet to find the mysterious object that had purified Clouded Truth.
If not for Verdandes’ power, Lisir would have long since succumbed to the poison, reduced to an empty husk.
“Thank goodn—”
Katria stopped herself mid-sentence.
“…What nonsense am I spouting?”
“Miss…?”
A bitter self-mockery laced her voice.
“What am I even doing…?”
After three grueling days of fruitless investigation, Katria had reached a single conclusion.
To uncover the hidden artifact in the mage tower, she needed the help of soone familiar with its workings.
But Katria couldn’t ask for help.
Here, in the mage tower, she was nothing more than a lowly Dark Elf slave.
Even if she revealed her identity as a noble of the Sahila family, it wouldn’t change anything.
What could she possibly say to convince them?
That she had fed one of their mages Clouded Truth and now needed their help to cure him?
They wouldn’t listen.
The situation could be summarized in one word:
Hopeless.
And it was all her fault for misstepping at the very beginning.
Her foolish resolve to return the hatred she had received in kind had led her here.
“Miss…?”
“…”
In the depths of her turmoil, Katria forced a cheerful smile onto her face.
“Ah! It’s nothing. I was just feeling a bit tired and spaced out for a mont. Kairen! Let’s resu the investigation!”
Because, right now, she didn’t even deserve the luxury of sadness.
***
Day 6 of the Investigation – Early Morning
Maid Katria was in the kitchen, busy preparing breakfast for her master.
“...”
She stared into the pot of simring soup, a single herb held in her hand.
The herb, known as Saebaekryeon, was a rare plant found only in the southern deserts.
Its most well-known use was as the primary ingredient for the Dark Elf elixir Tears of the Desert.
In other words, it was a dicinal herb—when used properly, that is.
The sprouts of Saebaekryeon grew atop sun-drenched cliffs, absorbing the sun’s energy for years before finally blooming into a plant.
The energy contained within it was so vast that, without refinent, it could act as poison.
In Katria’s personal storage, a single sprig of Saebaekryeon had been preserved.
It was ant for a distant future when all the necessary ingredients could be gathered to craft Tears of the Desert.
Yesterday, Katria had retrieved the herb using an artifact.
Following the Witch of the Western Forest’s advice, she intended to feed the unrefined Saebaekryeon to Lisir.
To delay his impending end once more, just as she had done before.
“Is this really the right thing to do?”
Katria questioned herself, and the answer ca imdiately.
“Of course not…”
She had poisoned Lisir with Clouded Truth, turning him into a ticking ti bomb.
She had forcibly infused him with a demon’s power, and now she was about to feed him a toxic herb.
The more she tried to save him, the more harm she caused.
But what choice did she have?
This was all she could do.
Plop.
The Saebaekryeon slowly dissolved into the soup.
“That slls great. Tia, is that today’s breakfast?”
“...Yes! You’re going to love it!”
Katria forced a cheerful smile.
But there was sothing unsettling about it.
“I’m nothing but a hopeless wretch who keeps hurting him.”
──────────
[You have resisted!]
[The radiant energy of the sun imbues you!]
[You have gained a new trait!]
──────────
Whoosh!
“?”
“?”
Lisir was baffled.
And so was ltas.
In the middle of their sparring session, Lisir’s signature wind magic suddenly beca infused with the essence of fla.
“When did you learn fire magic?”
“Oh, this is fire magic?”
“?”
“?”
***
Day 7 of the Investigation – Late Night
The large topaz embedded in the bracelet shimred under the moonlight, its murky brilliance on full display.
Katria issued a command to The Hand of Verdandes.
“Verdandes. This is my final order. Transfer all your existence and power to the owner of this hair.”
-No, you can’t!!! Sahila!!! Rescind that command!!!
“…I know. I know how foolish this decision is. But I have no other choice. I’ve co too far to turn back now.”
-No!!!
Crack.
The topaz shattered into pieces.
Thus, Lisir not only inherited the imnse power of the desert demon but also its very essence.
“…Kya-ha-ha-ha!”
Katria forced a cheerful—too cheerful—smile.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Lisir. Please, just a little more. Please endure just a little longer…”
──────────
[You have resisted!]
[The Desert’s Forgotten mories have been imprinted!]
▶ A new system has been unlocked.
System: Unique Skills
[You have gained a Unique Skill.]
▶ Unique Skill: Scream of the Desert (Grade C)
[The Unique Skill reacts to your customized traits!]
[The radiant sun shines upon the desolate desert!]
[The Unique Skill has been enhanced.]
▶ Unique Skill: Song of the Desert (Grade B)
──────────
“…!”
ltas couldn’t conceal his astonishnt.
A swirling sandstorm imbued with a mysterious and unexplainable energy surged forward, shattering his barrier.
Today, for the first ti, Lisir’s magic reached ltas.
And it wasn’t just any magic—it was Vision Magic, a monuntal feat.
“Lisir, you…! When did you learn Vision Magic?!”
“Oh, so this is Vision Magic?”
“For the love of—stop ssing with .”
Day 8 of the Investigation – Early Morning
Katria pondered as she prepared breakfast.
“Tia, do we have any more of that white, flower-like vegetable? I don’t know what it is, but it slls great.”
What.
The man who had been poisoned with Clouded Truth, who was being consud by the power and essence of a demon, and who had even ingested a toxic herb, was acting… strange.
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