Dark Fantasy Normalized

10 – Jinjo

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▶Another Tale◀

This is another story.

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[Fear]

[The first emotion the girl felt when she realized her change]

[When did it begin]

[When I no longer yearned for the world outside the shadows]

[When I no longer craved the warm, soft white bread]

[It felt as if a giant hole had been pierced through my soul]

[The girl forgot how to yearn]

[And she found something new to yearn for]

[It was blood]

[The girl, who had no home, no parents, no guardians, was ignorant and uneducated]

[Yet she knew it was strange to find comfort in darkness over light]

[She knew it was strange to crave red blood over white bread]

[The girl ran away from her new yearning]

[It was not a long escape]

[The girl, freed from hunger and deprivation, was like a single flower blooming in the darkness]

[All sorts of insects swarmed to covet her]

[The rough and ugly hands that had taken her food and shelter now reached for the girl]

[Insignificant]

[That was the first feeling the girl had towards the desires of the adults she had so feared]

[The girl realized]

[That the lack of desire was not a curse but a blessing]

[That the new yearning was an expression of her innate superiority]

[She commanded]

[They obeyed]

[Like a natural order, the relationship of master and servant was established among them]

[In the slums, filled with screams and desires, the pure white girl walked out gracefully]

[Hungry]

[The smell of blood wafted from behind]

[It should not be]

[For dignity must be accompanied by appropriate decorum]

[The girl no longer feared her own desires]

[For now she knew what they meant]

[“I’m special.”]

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[“I’m special.”]

[What is the dignity befitting a being as special as oneself?]

[How should one conduct oneself to enjoy it?]

[There was a time when she constantly pondered these questions.]

[Restraint was the conclusion she reached.]

[She remembers the nobles tearing at meat with greasy hands, their eyes glazed over as they indulged in drink and women.]

[How repulsive they were, dominated by their desires.]

[If she were to indulge in blood and power as much as she wanted, how would she be any different from those beasts?]

[She absolutely did not want to be seen in such a light by others.]

[She was honest about her desires but careful not to be consumed by them.]

[“Miss, that might be a bit difficult…”]

[She restrained herself from completely stripping her servants of their selfhood.]

[“I’m sorry… I’ve been feeling tired lately for some reason…”]

[She restrained herself from fully satisfying her thirst for blood.]

[It was an effort to maintain her dignity as a superior being.]

[The girl herself believed so.]

[But the truth was different.]

[The girl was not as special as she thought herself to be.]

[She was just a girl.]

[A girl from the slums who had never had a home, parents, or friends.]

[A girl who no longer felt deprived—]

[A girl who could now indulge in what she wanted—]

[Her twisted game of make-believe seemed like it would continue forever.]

[But the girl did not understand how powerful desire could be.]

[And there were no adults around her to guide her onto the right path.]

[Still.]

*

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[There lived a harmonious family]

[She was the apple of her family’s eye]

[There lived a lovely girl]

[…She was adored by everyone]

*

*

*

[The crimson sky, as if sculpted by someone, rendered the distinction between night and day meaningless]

[The city was desolate and eerie]

[Upon entering the city gates, the first thing that caught the eye were the towering pillars scattered throughout the city]

[Drip] [Drip] [Drip] [Drip]

[The liquid dripping from the ends of the pillars soaked the city and flowed somewhere]

[The hero followed the liquid through the streets]

[The destination was a mansion located in the deepest part of the city]

[When the mansion door opened, a crimson liquid gushed out like a tidal wave]

[Something submerged in the liquid revealed itself]

[It was a mountain]

[A mountain of flesh formed by countless heaps of meat]

[At the summit lay a pure white girl, naked]

[The scarlet and the pure white, seemingly incompatible, blended perfectly]

[The pure white girl awoke from her slumber]

[She smiled an innocent yet ominous smile]

▶ Character 3: Pure White Girl

*

“This is impossible… This can’t be happening… My power… for something like this…”

I know well how tumultuous the emotional swings of adolescents can be.

After all, I grew up to be one of them. In fact, I went through it twice.

Is there anyone else in the world who has gone through puberty twice, besides me? In that sense, I could proudly claim the top rank in puberty.

Thanks to that, perhaps.

The reason for Pien’s emotional fluctuations now. I had a rough idea.

“Pien. Don’t be too sad.”

I said, making eye contact with Pien, who was sitting on the floor, muttering in despair.

“There are plenty of other men in this world besides me.”

This is what they call the pain of heartbreak.

“What nonsense is this…!!!”

Pien couldn’t hold back the surging emotions and started to sob uncontrollably.

This is what they call an emotional flood.

My consolation had seeped deep into her soul, opening the firmly closed door of the adolescent girl’s emotions.

I gently patted Pien’s back.

“Yes. Cry. Cry endlessly. That’s how you grow up.”

“My, my power is wasted on a man like this…!!!”

…Well.

Let’s stop teasing her here.

The little bird that used to follow me around.

The emotionally unstable young lady who repeatedly acted out.

Which one is the real Pien?

Probably the latter.

I tapped Pien’s back to demand an explanation.

“Hey! Step away from the girl!”

It was then that I heard Gallant’s shout.

“…!”

I shrank back like a criminal caught at the scene of the crime.

It was inevitable, as Gallant was Pien’s guard.

If Pien reverted to her little bird form and made me out to be the bad guy again?

Then it wouldn’t end with just a fierce glare and a threatening sound from his fist.

As I was pondering how to smooth over this situation.

“…Wait.”

Gallant’s reaction was somehow strange.

“Isn’t it Sir Lysir of the Vendel family…? What brings you here…”

It was as if all the memories of coming here together had vanished.

Moreover, he prioritized me over Pien, who was lying on the floor.

A small flash.

Pien’s eccentricity.

Gallant’s eccentricity.

There was certainly some connection between the two.

With that judgment, I took action.

“I was just trying to help this person who seemed to have difficulty moving.”

“…Is that so?”

Gallant looked quite suspicious.

I was convinced by that look.

Gallant doesn’t recognize Pien right now.

It’s certain.

Otherwise, he would have already pointed his sword at me and gone wild.

Now the problem is how Pien will react-

“…What this person says is true.”

It was an unexpected development.

Pien matched my story and asked for support.

We stood up and had a brief conversation with Gallant.

Gallant seemed uneasy, sensing something strange in the atmosphere between us, but eventually accepted it and left.

Thus, the situation was settled for the time being.

It was settled, but my doubts grew even bigger.

What on earth is this situation?

Pien, who was an innocent fledgling, suddenly became a strange woman.

Gallant, who was obsessed with Pien, suddenly didn’t know who Pien was.

“This, this!”

“?”

What broke my reverie was Pien’s trembling voice.

“I did help you, right?!”

“Help?”

“Y-yes, I did! I could have made things really difficult for you, but instead, I helped you, didn’t I?!”

It was a sudden outburst, but I understood what she wanted to say.

“Strictly speaking, I guess so.”

“!!!”

Her face, which had been so restless, lit up when I acknowledged it.

“Then-“

“But that’s like a mugger saying, ‘Be grateful I only took your money and didn’t kill you,’ isn’t it? So don’t go acting like you’re doing me a favor.”

“N-no…! I mean…! What I mean is…”

After a moment of floundering, Pien suddenly pressed herself against me and said,

“R-Richel, you don’t actually dislike it, do you?”

“Huh?”

“I know. I know how pretty I am. How much men like me. Do you know, when my maids wash my body, they’re always in awe? They say they’ve never seen such clean skin before. They tell me how lucky I am.”

Pien’s frail hand stroked me.

It was similar to what happened before.

An overtly entwining touch.

It was so cloying, it was hard to believe it was actually Pien’s hand.

But this touch now-

It’s clumsy. Awkward. Hesitant.

This definitely felt like Pien’s touch.

Like the touch of an innocent, pure girl, struggling to seduce a man.

The sensuality that Pien possessed, the confidence that was its source, seemed to have completely vanished.

“If Richel wants it… I’ll let you do anything you want with me…”

“No-“

“You should be honored!!!”

Pien, her eyes flickering, stopped herself as if she was scared to hear the answer.

“H-how many men have wanted this…!”

Then she caressed my face with a sensual(?) touch.

“But I never allowed it with anyone. Do you understand? How special I am. How special this situation is.”

“…”

It was like a child, convinced they were an adult, trying too hard to seduce you.

It was undeniably an uncomfortable situation, in a different way than the sticky atmosphere they’d created just moments before.

“So please…”

Pien squeezed their eyes shut.

They puckered their lips.

Wait. Fish lips.

Pien? That’s not it.

You’re putting too much force into your lips.

‘This is driving me insane.’

That’s not a kiss, not even a peck.

That’s a smooch.

I pushed Pien away, feeling 100% pure guilt.

Pien’s expression mirrored the full force of the shock they’d just experienced.

“Why…?”

“Pien, how about when you’re a little older, then you can date me, your big brother?”

“What the heck are you saying!!! Lisir, you’re eighteen! I’m older than you!!!”

“Oh, is that so? Then, how about we decide that you’re my older sister now, Pien?”

“You’re not listening to me, are you!?”

While I was bickering with Pien, a familiar voice cut in.

“Lisir~ Didn’t you say you were going home to rest?”

My master stood at the end of the alley, holding a bread basket.

“Ah. Master. It’s nice to see you. I didn’t expect to see you again today, but to meet you like this is like experiencing two fresh mornings in one day?”

“Oh, dear~ Duran~ I was going to give Lisir a good scolding, but now all thought of that has vanished cleanly~?”

＜That’s a terrible way to teach. Why don’t you just break your teaching staff already.＞

“Anyway-“

My master’s gaze turned to Pien.

“My student? And who is this young lady?”

“Ah. Let me introduce her. Remember when I mentioned that I might have to go through with an arranged marriage? The person I’ll be marrying is this kid, Pien.”

“Oh my.”

The master’s expression suddenly hardened as he looked Pien up and down.

“Then, have I just interrupted the two of you having a private moment?”

“Ah, that is-“

Just in time.

I sought the master’s advice on what had just happened.

The innocent young lady and her guard.

And the illegitimate child.

About what those three had gone through.

“I think I might know what it is~”

“As expected of the master. There’s nothing you don’t know.”

“Of course, of course~ Is there anything else you’re curious about~? The master knows everything~?”

“In that case, could you tell me my future?”

“Let’s see, let’s see. Oh my. What is that child? It looks like a half-breed of a dark elf and a human?”

＜Lisir. Just take this opportunity to tell him firmly. Unless you want to see me die of embarrassment.＞

Gasp.

Pien’s body trembled.

“W-what… That voice just now…”

“Ah. Pien. You don’t need to be surprised. It’s just an ordinary talking book.”

Pien’s gaze was fixed on Duran, who was hanging from the master’s waist.

“A magic book… speaking so fluently…?”

“It’s a marvelous life that could only have been born because of our master.”

＜A marvelous life, you say. Damn it. Lisir. You’re making me emotional.＞

“…!”

Pien expressed his admiration with his whole body.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.

＜I heard that your fiancée is a true ancestor.＞

True ancestor. It sounds familiar.

A vampire?

Yes. That’s right. I think that’s what they called a genuine vampire.

＜The existence known as Jinjo has the power to captivate people. Perhaps, that Jinjo lady used her power of allure to cause the commotion.＞

Pien being a Jinjo.

I was momentarily bewildered but quickly accepted it.

Because everything made sense according to Mr. Duran’s words.

“Is it true, Pien?”

“Ah, no…?”

“Pien~ Do you know~? When Jinjo deceives, their blood glows red~?”

“Is that so, Master? What color is it originally?”

＜When the Order discovers a Jinjo, they immediately begin an inquisition without question, and it doesn’t end until death. By the way, if it happens, Pamon might do better than the fanatics of the Order.＞

“Y-y-yes…! You are right!!!”

Pien confessed, turning pale at the grim stories of the Master and Mr. Duran.

“The reason that guard named Gallant acted that way- it must be because that child’s power was normalized by your inherent color.”

“Normalized…?”

Pien tried to grasp the meaning with anxious eyes.

Leaving Pien behind, I asked the Master another question.

“Then, Master. Does that mean Pien’s power of allure is currently gone?”

“Considering Gallant’s reaction- it’s safe to say so, right?”

The Master’s tone seemed somewhat excited.

“Really, what an absurd inherent color? To normalize Jinjo’s power.”

“Master, it’s not normalization but restoration…”

“But, this can’t be explained by restoration, can it?”

“…”

“Wait a moment?”

The Master grabbed my wrist.

“…”

That elegant face, rarely losing its usual liveliness, showed confusion.

“My disciple? Did you drink some kind of elixir?”

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▷ Character 3: Pure White Girl – Deactivated.

Special reward granted.

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