Dark Fantasy Normalized

32 – Kaig’s Tower

“Balaka?”

Glia’s plaintive voice sought the necromancer who had manifested through her body. There was no response from the necromancer. Glia felt the connection between herself and Balaka had been completely severed.

The deceased had returned to where she belonged, the spirit world. From death until now. She had given up all efforts to return to the present world. Perhaps even risking never being able to return again.

“Why?”

The two words popped into Glia’s mind, highly irreverently.

Escape.

In an instant, Glia’s body crumbled helplessly. Salana approached and struck her on the nape.

Thus, the shaman’s scheme, which had the necromancer on its back, ended in a minor commotion.

“Salana, excuse me for a moment.”

Rishir moved without delay.

He approached Salana and placed his hand on her scar.

“Ah…”

Unconsciously, Salana placed her hand over Rishir’s. How could she describe the feeling? It was as if the filth clinging to her body was being washed away.

Rishir removed his hand. Salana immediately took out a mirror to check her appearance.

Complete healing. No other words were needed. Salana’s skin had regained its original color. The scars and wounds remained, but with just a fraction of the effort she had put in so far, they could be fully healed.

For a while, Salana looked at her reflection in the mirror, touching her restored skin.

Rishir watched her with a satisfied smile.

At this point, it was safe to say that the initial goal of “making a good impression on the senior adventurer” was a resounding success.

Lishir had high hopes for this part.

“Now that I think about it, being an illegitimate child really gets you nowhere.”

This was something he felt keenly during this event.

Even though he was invited and recognized for his abilities, he was often ignored because of his status as an illegitimate child.

If it weren’t for the full support of the senior adventurer, Salana, he wouldn’t have been able to say or do anything. Moreover, if it weren’t for the name of the high-ranking noble, Durayeg, the power of normalization wouldn’t have been accepted either.

“On the other hand, what if I weren’t an illegitimate child but a grand noble?”

There was no need to think deeply about it. The moment he revealed his abilities during his first meeting with Salana, everything would have been resolved smoothly. Salana would court him, Meltas would be cautious, and Glia would be anxious.

Thus, Lishir reached one conclusion.

“Should I aim for a rise in status?”

He thought that escaping the life of an illegitimate child would free him from the constraints of status, but it was quite the opposite.

One more essential element was added to Lishir’s idea of a happy life.

Money. And status.

In that sense, this connection with Salana was very significant.

If he could just get a touch from the senior adventurer, it would be much easier to establish himself in Bondales and lay the foundation for a rise in status.

While Lishir was organizing his thoughts, Salana, who was also organizing her thoughts, opened her mouth.

“Lishir. Once again, let me formally introduce myself. I am the master of the Black Hand, the Black Serpent. The term ‘master of the assassin guild’ might resonate more with you.”

“?”

What.

Lishir was flustered.

When she said she would formally introduce herself, he thought she might give him a full course experience as a senior adventurer. But what? The master of the assassin guild?

“If you really think about it, she’s a much bigger deal than a senior adventurer… a much bigger deal… tsk…”

Lishir’s pupils trembled uncontrollably.

Salana found Lishir’s reaction cute and burst into her characteristic cheerful laughter.

“I owe you a huge debt. I thought about how to repay this debt, and this is the only thing that came to mind.”

Shhh.

Salana handed Lishir a piece of parchment she took out from her bosom.

“If there’s someone you want to kill, write their name on it. Then, even if it means breaking the rules, I’ll fulfill your wish.”

“?”

Rishir was dumbfounded.

‘A Death Note…!’

It was a reward far different from what he had expected.

‘If I had to compare, it’s an incredible reward that can’t even be compared to the connections of a high-ranking adventurer… but still…’

Seeing Rishir’s confused expression, Salana handed him the parchment.

Put it away.

Put it away.

Rishir was horrified by the way Salana handled the ominous item as if it were a travel expense.

It was then that Meltas’s voice came from behind.

“Is it appropriate for someone who calls himself a master to be so worldly?”

He seemed more flustered than when he saw a necromancer reincarnated from death.

Assassins were reclusive beings. They killed solely for their beliefs and isolated themselves thoroughly from the outside world.

Contrary to their fearsome reputation, they lived lives closer to monks.

But to act as a high-ranking adventurer in the secular world and distribute kill lists? And someone as high up as a guild master?

“Blind faith is a noble thing.”

His humble nodding made it seem like he was saying, ‘I’m not noble, so I’ll do as I please.’

Meltas thought Salana was a true assassin who deserved to be feared.

“Meltas. Just out of curiosity, do you plan to take what happened here today outside? Even a little?”

Salana spoke in the cheerful manner of the high-ranking adventurer Meltas remembered. But those eyes. The dead eyes that seemed to absorb the surrounding light sent chills down Meltas’s spine.

Undoubtedly, she was a 6th-rank mage, someone even the elite of the Kaig Tower like Meltas couldn’t easily handle.

“I must be getting old. My memory is hazy… I can’t even remember why I came here.”

“Haha. They say the old should die. No need to be so self-deprecating.”

“…My memory is really hazy. When did I say that?”

Salana slung the body of Glea, who had collapsed on the floor, over her shoulder.

Then she approached Rishir and tapped his face affectionately.

“Do you know? Thanks to you, I lost my excuse to wander outside.”

“Uh… Did I do something unnecessary?”

“Haha. I’ll let it slide. Honestly, I was getting tired of it too. Anyway-”

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Salana stroked Rishir’s face with her palm.

“Hey. Your skin’s amazing?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I could practically trade mine for yours, if possible.”

“…It’s a bit scary to say that after revealing you’re an assassin.”

“Haha. What do you think an assassin is?”

Salana took Rishir’s hand and placed it on her scarred right cheek.

“One last time. Can you do that just one more time?”

It probably wasn’t an order to use the power of normalization–

Rishir carefully rubbed her cheek.

“…”

Salana closed her eyes and surrendered to his touch.

“Mmm~ This sensation. I feel like I could get addicted. Should I just take it for myself?”

“…My arm, you mean?”

“What do you really think I am?”

Salana savored Rishir’s touch for quite some time after that.

Rishir thought her movements, following the rhythm of his hand, made her look like a big puppy for a moment.

“Okay. That’s enough. Rishir. If we get a chance, let’s meet again sometime.”

Salana left those words behind and departed without looking back.

Rishir, dumbfounded, pulled out the parchment he had tucked away and checked it.

“You. Remember this. You must be extremely careful when using that item.”

Meltas said from beside him, looking fed up.

“Of course, I will.”

“Ahem. Well then, let’s be going, shall we?”

Meltas said, fidgeting with his braided beard.

” ‘We…’ you said.”

“Why? Do you have other business after this?”

Rishir recalled the schedule he had planned before meeting Salana.

Originally, he was going to have a meal with Pien, then part ways and visit the Adventurer’s Guild.

Today, Pien and his shared goal was to find work.

Ahem.

Meltas continued speaking before Lysir could respond.

“Let’s get to the point. Lysir. I’ve taken an interest in you.”

“…”

Lysir hugged himself with a serious expression.

Meltas glared at him with an even more serious face.

Lysir released his hands and nodded, then continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

“What business does Sir Meltas have with this b*stard?”

“…Ahem. I understand. You must still hold a grudge for the way I treated you initially. But. This is something that will benefit you as well, so I hope you listen positively. What do you think of the Kaig Tower?”

Kaig Tower.

Also known as the Grey Tower.

Among all the towers, it was the most free-spirited group and one of the representative institutions of Bondales.

“I want to recommend you as an apprentice to the Kaig Tower. Let me be clear, you must understand that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Meltas was right, and that’s why Lysir was flustered.

“I have neither a family nor a school to boast of.”

There were few places like the tower that cared about status and origin.

Even Meltas, who had raged at the fact that a b*stard like himself had participated in the same place, was relatively open-minded compared to the wizards affiliated with the tower.

“The minimum requirement to be affiliated with the tower is not about family or school. The third level. You somehow meet that condition, don’t you?”

“As far as I know, the tower doesn’t accept just anyone at the third level.”

“Of course. Reaching the third level at your age is something anyone can do. It’s undoubtedly the realm of the ordinary. And, the tower is never a kind place to the ordinary. Nevertheless- I intend to recommend you to the tower. Do you know why?”

“Is it because of the power of normalization?”

“Exactly! Fortunately, you’re not foolish enough to overlook the uniqueness of that power.”

When the power of normalization was mentioned, Meltas’s atmosphere noticeably heated up.

“A power that eradicates all unclean energy regardless of its type! My goodness! This Meltas Dradnov! In my lifetime of walking the path of magic, I’ve never heard of such power!”

Meltas’s trembling hand pointed at Lysir.

“You have! An obligation to fully blossom that special talent as a wizard. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you? As someone walking the path of magic!”

“…I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say this in this flow- but magic is actually a means of livelihood for me.”

“What!!!”

A death cry. Meltas’s body stiffened.

It took him a very long time to recover from the shock.

“How could such a special talent be given to someone like this…!”

Meltas’s braided beard and hair trembled.

“Can someone like me adapt to the Magic Tower?”

“…Ahem. Well, come and take a look first. It’s not something you need to decide in a hurry.”

Rishir readily agreed.

It was clear that building a connection with the Magic Tower would be beneficial in many ways.

*

“Ah, wait a moment, there’s a place we need to stop by before we reach the Magic Tower. There’s something I need to find there. Is that alright?”

“Of course.”

The two left the laboratory and headed towards the center of the magical district.

“Here it is.”

After walking a bit further, they arrived at the destination Meltas had mentioned.

It was a magic shop called [Blue Trace].

“Meltas?”

As soon as they entered the building, a woman recognized Meltas and spoke to him.

‘Oh…’

Rishir was inwardly impressed when he saw her.

Wearing a wide-brimmed pointed hat and a splendid robe, she was the very image of a wizard.

The peculiar thing was that her robe was cut low at the chest.

Proudly displaying an overwhelming cleavage.

‘She must have immense pride as a wizard.’

While Rishir was inwardly admiring her, the woman looked Rishir up and down.

“What a surprise! You’re actually bringing along such a novice. Have you finally decided to take on a disciple?”

“That’s none of your concern, Marina.”

“Judging by your reaction, it doesn’t seem like he’s a disciple. Well, a novice who has just entered the fourth rank at his age wouldn’t catch your eye.”

“Stop talking nonsense-…wait, what did you say?”

Meltas, who had been listening to her with a disinterested expression, looked at Rishir in surprise.

“…!”

His eyes widened.

“Oh.”

Rishir also realized a moment later the change that had occurred in his body.

He spoke to calm the astonished Meltas.

“Don’t worry about it. This happens sometimes.”

Before leaving the lab, he had clearly been at the 3rd level, but now he had reached the 4th level.