Dark Fantasy Normalized Chapter 95: The Briber (3)

—Even in a sewer of a city like this, there are proper insects after all! No flattery, no effort to draw attention to themselves! I sense only pure sincerity in this tribute! Jjuinni, don’t you think this one might be worth accepting?

“This bundle had that kind of aning behind it?”

—Still, it is insolent. To dare leave an item behind without even a proper greeting. No matter the intent, I cannot help but view them as a worm too ignorant to observe courtesy. Therefore, Jjuinni, the punishnt should be determined based on the contents.

“...So is it praiseworthy or disrespectful? And why is punishnt already assud?”

—This is precisely how one should handle those beneath them!

“What if I handled you that way?”

—To think you’d spare such emotion for ...! I, DanGalleon, feel rapturous ecstasy just imagining it!

“...What am I supposed to do with you.”

Lisir found himself, unexpectedly, feeling a strange sympathy for demon cultists.

Even he couldn’t shake the impression that this demon who followed him had an insufferable personality. What must it be like for worshippers who were openly treated as vermin by their demons?

In any case—

Lisir briefly debated—Could this be sothing Gadum sent?

But {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the bundle.

Inside were several notebooks, well-worn and smudged from use.

—How dare they!

DanGalleon erupted in fury. The greyish light within the crystal orb thrashed violently.

“Whoa—what now. What’s the problem this ti?”

—Those! Those aren’t grimoires!

“Yeah, they don’t look like it to either.”

—Which ans they’re nothing but shabby, neglected garbage!

“That’s... a little extre.”

—Books are vessels for the treasure of knowledge! If their outward appearance is that disgraceful—surely there’s nothing of value within!

“Extre, but... you do have a bit of a point.”

—If you but grant the command, I, DanGalleon, shall incinerate that trash on the spot and curse the fate of the insect who dared offer it!

“You’re not wrong, but again—way too extre. We can always categorize it as junk after checking the contents. Just look at this—”

Lisir pulled out a sword manual he had received from Rodan.

Though it wasn’t as ragged as the books in the bundle, it still resembled an old notebook more than any kind of antique to.

Things like that existed sotis.

Books that looked like junk on the outside but held trendous value within.

After all, treasure wasn’t always kept in gold-plated chests encrusted with jewels.

“The more precious the treasure, the more likely it is to be hidden—disguised and unassuming.”

—Jjuinni! Open your eyes!!! That trash too is garbage!

“What’s he saying now. Clarna, you hear this? He’s calling your student’s sword manual trash.”

“So the trash wasn’t the manual. It was this conversation.”

Lisir had hoped the swordmaster would step in and explain the value of Rodan’s manual for him, but was sorely disappointed.

In the end, he had to personally enlighten DanGalleon.

“Hey, DanGalleon. You don’t get it. Just say ‘Rodan’s sword manual’ in front of a swordsman and they’ll imdiately flip and chase after it.”

—And that’s why it’s garbage! Since when does moving your body require study?!

“No, it’s not just about flailing aroun—”

—Swordsmanship is the path of beasts!

“...Clarna. Are you really just going to let him say stuff like that?”

“...Should I really be learning swordsmanship from soone like this?”

—A wise being such as yourself, Jjuinni, ought to draw closer to magic—the pursuit of the truths of this world! So today, please set that inert tal aside and focus on your magical studies!

“...Fine.”

—Jjuinni!

“I an, fine—I’ll just ignore what you said.”

To think this entire long-winded speech had been a setup for ‘squeak squeak, play with today.'

Lisir decided to tune DanGalleon out and began reading the notebooks.

—Jjuinni!!! No! You mustn’t defile your noble intellect with such filth!

“...?”

Soon, Lisir’s expression shifted to one of confusion.

The content of the books was nothing like he’d expected.

A series of numbers.

Cryptic combinations of suggestive words.

“Left Hand Holds Liquor? Where have I heard that before?”

He paused in thought—

“Ah.”

Lisir nodded.

He rembered what Left Hand Holds Liquor was.

The largest tavern in the red-light district—wasn’t that the na?

Bondales was not a city heavily influenced by the Church.

At establishnts like that, it was perfectly legal to pay for friendly, enthusiastic drinking companions.

As far as Lisir knew, [Left Hand Holds Liquor] was a “legitimate business” that only dealt in those legal services.

But—

Could this be... their ledger?

The notebook—presud to be the ledger of [Left Hand Holds Liquor]—was filled with passages that went beyond what a normal record would contain.

[On the 17th, around 7 PM, the second son of House Hallomia, Gorek, visited with acquaintances (Harlan of House Volcan, Karuchi of House Ronce) and remained for approximately 4 hours.]

[On that day, the visitors’ appearances were as follows:]

[On that day, the guards and attendants accompanying them were as follows:]

At first glance, it was a detailed account of important guests.

But the excessive specificity of the records gave rise to an eerie sense of discomfort.

It felt like there was an ulterior motive.

After so deliberation, Lisir decided to share the notebook with Clarna.

“It seems to be the ledger of a certain tavern in this city.”

“I thought maybe you’d recognize sothing in it.”

“Well... it reeks of illegality. Of cri.”

So why are you bringing that to , then?

Clarna’s expression twisted inside their shared ntal space—but she still examined the text without protest.

It wasn’t written in a script she was intimately familiar with, but since she shared Lisir’s consciousness, interpreting it wasn’t difficult.

“A black ledger?”

Clarna then began to explain to Lisir the unique patterns and structure that characterized black ledgers.

“Whoa...”

And from there, Lisir was able to glean even more from the contents.

“Why would anyone keep sothing like this? Isn’t it just handing your own cris over on a silver platter?”

“Huh...?”

“Oh... So it’s both a form of blackmail and a safety asure. A way to keep your shady friends close—”

Lisir skimd the black ledger again, now with a markedly different gaze.

He recognized a few of the nas ntioned—families, factions, individuals.

“Gerhen? What’s his na doing here again? He was eyeing that male beastkin slave who was serving at the tavern... Oh.”

They were the nas of Bondales' power players—nas Lisir had morized for survival in the city.

According to the ledger, the services they received from [Left Hand Holds Liquor] were very clearly beyond the bounds of legality.

Money and alcohol.

And friendly, attentive drinking companions.

Even that might have been forgivable.

But—

“Drugs... contract violence... illegal trafficking... This book’s more dangerous than most grimoires.”

Lisir muttered in dismay.

It turned out [Left Hand Holds Liquor] was a cesspool of cri and corruption.

And a majority of Bondales' elites were its patrons.

If the contents of this ledger were ever made public, the entire city would erupt.

Lisir closed the ledger with a short, incredulous laugh.

“...Why?”

He murmured.

Why had sothing this enormous landed in his hands?

Why had soone, whose na he didn’t even know, chosen to deliver this to him?

If Lisir had no affiliation to speak of, he might have agonized over this for days.

But—

“...Maybe I should take this to Lady Ran.”

He served soone who could shoulder this burden—and leave him with nothing but the reward.

Councilor Ran was so upright that even Master ltas vouched for her integrity.

Lisir had no doubt she would use the ledger as it ought to be used.

—Jjuinni! You must not trust humans so easily!

“Lady Ran is trustworthy.”

—But that woman has less than that Gadum bastard!

“Just checking—do you even know what trust ans?”

Ah.

Just then, Lisir looked up, eyes falling on the blue lotus.

“...Still, Clarna. I knew you'd be the one to understand sothing like this! If it weren’t for you, how would I have figured any of this out? Thank you!”

—Damn it... To see Jjuinni so happy... I never imagined I’d feel envy toward you, you damned object. If I had just been so worthless criminal like you, perhaps I could’ve made him smile like that!!!

It wasn’t sarcasm.

They were genuinely impressed.

Clarna wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be pleased.

***

Early morning.

Councilor Ran was eting with the Three Giants.

They were briefing her on what had happened between Gadum’s representative and Lisir.

“A high-tier spirit core...?”

She wasn’t deeply versed in magic, but she understood enough to grasp the rarity and value of such a treasure.

It wasn’t just a personal gift—it could win the favor of an entire mage tower.

Lisir had rejected such a thing.

“Why...?”

Ran felt ashad.

She couldn’t offer Lisir anything greater than what Gadum had proposed.

All the more reason for her to be shocked by his choice.

“Ran.”

One of the giants spoke up in Lisir’s stead.

“He said he was certain it was the right thing to do.”

“...!”

Ran’s expression said everything she felt.

And the giants responded with the sa look—of full understanding.

They exchanged long, silent glances.

All of them were thinking of that one young man.

And made a vow:

That he must never co to doubt his own pure and noble will.

Their eting began in earnest.

Shortly after, Ran spoke a na.

“Do you think Cadogan would try that shamanic ritual on Lisir too?”

Shakan’s face turned grim.

“If we brought in a shaman from our tribe, maybe we could counter it. But... by then, it’d be too late.”

“Then what do we do?”

“...What if we go confront them directly? We’ve got just cause. That woman used the ritual on us. Peeking into soone’s karma without their permission? In the north, that’s a stabbing offense.”

“But, my friend. This is a civilized city.”

“Maldad. What are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to respect you and understand. But not everyone here is like . If outsiders like us make a commotion in the city over so ritual, what do you think will happen?”

“...”

Shakan bit her lip.

That wasn’t even the only issue.

Cadogan was Ragan’s sister.

And Ragan managed the red-light district, including [Left Hand Holds Liquor].

He had enough personal muscle to rival an entire rcenary company, and dozens of “friends” throughout Bondales.

“To go after that shaman... we’d have to be ready for war.”

“And in that war, the city would stand entirely on their side.”

They realized, once again, how massive a corruption they were up against.

It felt like the entire city was trying to stop them.

But they couldn’t give up.

They had made a vow.

To protect the will of that young magician.

“No matter what it costs, we won’t let them lay a finger on Lisir.”

Shakan’s declaration was t with firm agreent from the others.

The four giants steeled themselves around the boy.

At that very mont—

—Lady Ran. Lord Lisir has arrived.

A knock. The butler’s voice from beyond the door.

They all rose as one to welco him.

“Huh? Oh—everyone’s here. Am I interrupting sothing?”

No!

They all denied it—each in their own way, and far too strongly.

They’re mad...?

Lisir blinked, confused by the overreaction, and could only nod.

“I-I see...”

Let’s just say what I ca to say and get out.

Lisir quickly took out the item he’d brought and handed it to Ran.

“It’s nothing much, but—I have sothing I’d like to give you, Councilor Ran.”

“To ?”

Ran pointed to herself in surprise.

She was known for refusing any and all gifts and bribes without hesitation.

But this young man—she couldn’t bring herself to reject a gift from him.

In fact, a strange sense of anticipation had already ford in her eyes.

Her gaze settled on the old, worn book in Lisir’s hands.

“...”

Ran let out an involuntary smile.

That shabby book fit him so well.

This is... the cutest bribe I’ve ever received.

What kind of content could possibly be in a book that this young mage was presenting to a councilor?

“What is it?”

Ran asked, voice light and patient—like a parent kneeling to et a child’s eye level.

“It’s the secret ledger of a tavern called [Left Hand Holds Liquor].”

“...”

Ran’s face went pale.

Then panicked.

Why is that in your hands?!

The Three Giants all had the sa stunned reaction.

Then—

“Lady Ran!!!”

A retainer ran in, breathless with urgent news.

Gadum’s barbarian rcenaries, the very ones in charge of [Left Hand Holds Liquor] and the rest of the red-light district, had fled the city overnight.

“...”

All eyes turned to Lisir.

“...What happened?”

He blinked innocently, clueless.

That was the expression of a boy who knew nothing.

No way. Don’t tell —did he go there alone last night...?

To singlehandedly take down the rcenaries who ruled the back alleys?

Without a sound?

Even a military detachnt from one of the towers would’ve struggled.

So they all tried their hardest to deny the absurd possibility.

“Oh, by the way. This was a gift from soone anonymous. I had nothing to do with that incident.”

...It wasn’t easy.