Dark Fantasy Normalized

29 – Bondales (2)

To put it bluntly, it was a failure.

A sudden thought that came to mind during the process of recreating the lucky coin and acquiring the enchantment.

‘Wouldn’t it be profitable if I mass-produced and sold this!?’ The plan was ultimately scrapped.

As my understanding of the act of enchantment increased, I realized the true nature of this ‘lucky coin.’

A vessel of power in the form of an object.

It wasn’t some grand item like the ‘holy relic’ they spoke of.

To put it metaphorically, it was like ‘heated iron.’

It temporarily took on the same properties under the influence of my power, but those properties were extremely unstable.

If I didn’t continuously infuse it with power, it would cool down in real-time and disappear quickly.

Selling such an item would be no different from a scammer saying, “It was fine when I sold it. No refunds.”

Ultimately, I concluded that the lucky coin business was an impractical business item.

‘Why did they make me expect something like a holy relic?’

It was quite painful. The dream of duplicating money had flown away right before my eyes.

The only consolation was that there wasn’t a complete lack of income.

I looked at the coin in my hand.

Although I ultimately failed to imbue the coin with the power of purification, it was different with mana.

The coin was clearly imbued with the properties of mana.

I had succeeded in making the technique of enchantment completely mine.

Of course, it was just barely at the level of taking baby steps-

‘But that’s something.’

I was simply satisfied with the fact that my magical abilities had expanded.

“Did you think that was possible?”

Pien, who had heard my story, scolded me in disbelief.

“Dreaming is free, isn’t it?”

“Free?”

Pien was now sitting next to my bed. To wipe the blood off my face with a warm towel.

Pien held out the blood-stained towel for me to see.

“Enchanting is a technique where you take a part of your own power and imbue it into an object. It’s like tearing off pieces of your mental and physical strength, like dough falling apart! How burdensome it is to do it in such a crude way-“

“Still, I managed to control it somehow. If I felt it was really dangerous, I would have stopped.”

“What do you mean by ‘really dangerous’? Death? Fainting? Exhaustion? Stop with the nonsense and just say it. Promise you won’t overdo it next time.”

I know what Pien wants to say.

I’m not a fool either. After all, this magic training is ultimately about preserving one’s own body, so what meaning does it have if it harms your health?

This time was just a bit special.

I felt certain that if I went all the way, I could gain something.

“Don’t be so harsh. Here, take this.”

I handed Pien the result of my monumental first enchantment.

“Goodness. What am I supposed to do with this? You don’t think of this as an artifact, do you? This is just a coin with mana on it. It’s perfect for hammering nails without a hammer.”

“It’s my first enchantment result. Maybe it’ll become a premium item when I become a famous enchanter later?”

“Whatever.”

Pien scoffed but still took the coin.

A moment later.

“Done.”

Pien moved away from me, having finished cleaning my face.

“Thanks, Pien. As expected, you’re the only one who worries about me.”

“Whatever. I never worried about you.”

Hmph. Pien snorted and got up from the bed.

“So. What are you going to do now?”

“Huh?”

“You said thanks. So what are you going to do now?”

“…Should I hug you?”

Whack. A towel flew at my face.

I guess that wasn’t the right answer.

“…Did you have breakfast?”

“After causing this ruckus since early morning, you ask if I had breakfast? No? Of course, I didn’t. Thanks for asking.”

“In that case, may I have the honor of buying you breakfast, Pien?”

“Ugh. What should I do with that mouth of yours.”

Pien said that and left the room.

Leaving behind the words to hurry up and get ready to leave.

It must have been the right answer.

I immediately started getting ready to leave.

Despite the fatigue from training all night, thanks to Pien’s power, I was so energetic that it didn’t take long to prepare for departure.

“Got everything?”

Finally, I placed a coin on the blood-soaked blanket and left the room.

At that moment, almost simultaneously, a woman came out from the next room.

“…”

“…”

Our eyes met, caught by the timing.

I couldn’t help but stare at her face.

A face with the left side disfigured, as if burned.

…And the sense of incongruity I felt from her.

*

A woman with a well-trained, solid, and long body, and dark red hair-

And, the hideous scar on her face was impressive.

Salana.

She didn’t like anyone staring at her face.

Because of the hideous scar that consumed the entire left side of her face.

It wasn’t hard to guess. Who would like someone staring at their flaws?

“…”

So Salana was dumbfounded.

The man from the next room, whom she encountered the moment she came out, was staring at her blankly.

‘What is this guy?’

Normally, Salana would have already brushed past his shoulder.

And much later, the man would have realized that his shoulder was dislocated.

But Salana decided to hold back.

She unconsciously touched her face.

She didn’t know why, but her skin condition had somewhat improved overnight.

Could it be that the efforts she had put in until now had finally! For the first time! Paid off?

How long has it been?

Since these dreadful marks didn’t crack and burst overnight.

Since waking up on a dry pillow instead of one soaked with pus.

Since enjoying dressing up in front of the mirror in the morning.

Now, she felt good.

Good enough to overlook such a slight discourtesy,

“Is there something on my face?”

Salana said in a cheerful tone.

It was the appearance of her public persona, the high-ranking adventurer.

“Oh? Ah! I-I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.”

The man, as if coming to his senses, apologized to Salana in a fluster.

There were those who openly stared and showed contempt.

For such people, breaking a few fingers usually elicited that kind of reaction-

At least, the man didn’t seem like the type who needed such shock therapy.

“Haha. I understand. As you can see, I’m quite a beauty, right? It’s not unusual for men to stare in a daze.”

Salana said in a more relaxed atmosphere.

“I’m Salana. I’m an adventurer. High-ranking.”

“Oh! I’m Rishir. By the way, you’re a high-ranking adventurer…? That’s impressive-“

From what Rishir knew, the average level of high-ranking adventurers was equivalent to the 5th rank.

Salana looked to be in her twenties- reaching the 5th rank at that age wasn’t easy, even for nobles with full support from their families.

“I agree. At this age, with this beauty, and a high-ranking adventurer. So, I’m letting it slide. You staring at me in a daze.”

“Oh…! I apologize once again.”

“Hey. No need to apologize. You were just mesmerized by my beauty, right? Anyway, Rishir. It was nice meeting you- let’s meet again if we get the chance.”

Salana turned away from Rishir and started to leave.

“Ah, wait a moment! Miss Salana!”

“…”

Salana frowned inwardly.

Damn it-

Why is he being so annoying?

So irritating.

She replied with a brazen smile.

“What? Are you trying to ask me out on a date?”

“Ah- It is indeed an attractive proposal, but-“

Of course, it wasn’t a date proposal.

He should say he already had a prior engagement.

Rishir did not forget the presence of Fien, who would be waiting for him outside the inn.

Nevertheless, the reason he called out to Salana was because of the sense of alienation he felt from her.

It was the same as with Todina.

Rishir felt a sense of ‘purification’ from Salana.

He was convinced that the power he possessed would be of help to her.

Rishir thought based on that conviction.

‘She must be an advanced adventurer.’

If he could help someone of the level of an advanced adventurer and establish a good relationship, it would surely be of great help in the future.

Moreover-

Rishir realized one thing during the process of refining his power yesterday.

That his power had undergone a remarkable growth.

In fact, it might be more accurate to say he confirmed it rather than realized it.

He had already vaguely guessed that he had undergone a total of two growths.

The exact timing and reasons as well.

The first was right after the Rona incident-

The second was right after the Todina incident.

Through this, Rishir inferred one thing.

He didn’t know the principle, but-

Purification directly leads to an increase in magical power.

That was the reason he held onto Salana.

Meeting her was an opportunity.

“What? Speak.”

“…”

Rishir pondered.

How should he bring up the topic?

Every time this happened, it was nothing short of awkward.

Sensing the other person’s problems with a power he didn’t fully understand-

Providing help with a power he didn’t fully understand.

How could he explain this process to the other person?

‘It’s not a lucky coin.’

It was different from the time with Todina.

In Todina’s case, the problem was apparent. The person was also in a state of seeking help.

Just subtly handing over the lucky coin was enough to make the story work.

Salana was different.

‘I know the scar on her face is the problem, but-‘

She wasn’t showing the problem outwardly, nor did she need help with it.

If he suddenly handed over a lucky coin saying it might help with the scar on her face-

What he might get in return was not a thank you, but a duel challenge.

“Haha. What? Did I hear that wrong? If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now?”

Oh well, whatever.

It’s do or die.

“Miss Salana!? Please, don’t take this the wrong way. But, are you suffering from any chronic illness?”

“Chronic illness? You mean this?”

Salana rubbed her face.

“If I could help cure that chronic illness- would you believe me?”

“…”

In an instant, Salana’s demeanor changed.

Sensing that subtle change, Rishir’s hair stood on end.

It was too sharp for the atmosphere created by a high-ranking adventurer-

A 5th rank ability user.

“What is it? Tell me.”

She spoke with a smiling face, but inwardly, Salana was serious.

It wasn’t just rude appearance discriminators who were drawn to the scar on her face.

There had been a few.

Those who approached claiming to know how to heal the scar on her face.

Without exception, they were quacks or swindlers aiming for the wealth of high-ranking adventurers.

They all paid the price.

To the master of the Black Hand Assassin Guild, the Black Snake.

A sinister energy lingered at the tips of Salana’s fingers, which were clasped behind her back.

Colorless. Odorless. Formless.

Only the result remains, without symptoms or signs.

It was a poison that only those who had mastered the ultimate art of assassination could handle.

If Salana willed it and touched the man before her, he would meet an inexplicable death tonight.

“Shall we move to another place for now?”

Salana exited the inn through the back door with Rishir and entered a deserted alley.

*

“I know this is really rude, but may I touch your face for a moment, Miss Salana?”

It was the first thing Rishir said after pondering throughout their journey.

Here, Salana fell into contemplation.

‘Should I just kill him?’

Her eyes were filled with such anguish.

Interpreting her gaze in his own way, Rishir nodded and reached out to touch Salana’s face.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

A fine crack appeared in the mask of the ‘easygoing high-ranking adventurer’ that Salana had created.

A part of her that she herself was reluctant to touch was now being touched by another man’s hand.

Salana looked at Rishir with a chilling gaze.

Let’s see how far this goes.

What nonsense will he spout?

All the quacks and swindlers Salana had met so far had tried to deceive and entice her, an outsider, with plausible words.

Through those experiences, Salana had come to a realization.

Three minutes.

If the spiel went beyond three minutes, it wasn’t worth listening to anymore.

Thus, the time given to Rishir was also three minutes.

Rishir nodded his head.

Soon, his closed mouth opened.

Salana entered the countdown.

With the intention of personally observing how the foolish swindler before his eyes would use the remaining three minutes of his life.

“It’s done. Would you like to check?”

“?”

*

──────────

■Salana

Level: 61

Race: Human

Class: Assassin

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*