Dark Fantasy Normalized

5 – The Witch of the Western Forest

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▶Another Tale◀

This is another story.

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[She was a woman who could smile as brightly as a field full of blooming flowers]

[The woman who was smiling looked pure, as if not a speck of dirt had touched her]

[The woman who was smiling looked kind, as if she could embrace all the mistakes and flaws of others]

[There was always a smile blooming on the woman’s face]

[It’s the same now]

[The hero lifted his head out of the blood-soaked sack]

[The citizens cheered]

[The witch of the western forest is dead]

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The day was slowly showing signs of darkening.

The master and the disciple parted ways, promising to meet tomorrow.

Pamon left the Vendel mansion and stepped directly into the street.

Her steps, bouncing lightly to the swaying rhythm, were more than light, they were lively.

The hem of her purple robe swayed in time with her steps.

＜Good grief.＞

Duran clicked his tongue in disbelief at Pamon’s appearance.

Though he was a book, he clicked his tongue nonetheless.

＜Have you gotten used to it already?＞

“Huh? What?”

＜This city. When you first came to the city, you were disgusted.＞

“Me?”

-Oh Duran. Don’t you smell something strange?

-I am a book.

“Did I say that~”

-Duran, do you see that sculpture over there? It’s hideous… What do humans find so beautiful about it that they proudly display it? Human aesthetic sense, I swear.

-By general standards, it may have low artistic value, but aesthetically, it’s not bad. Especially compared to the things you have hanging all over your hut.

“I don’t remember~”

-Ugh~ The ground feels weird~

-Does it? I think it’s a well-paved road.

-My mistake. I should have worn higher heels.

-You can get new ones while you’re in the city. There are shoes everywhere here.

-No way~ They’re probably hideous things made from the rough leather that brutal hunters have crudely skinned. You want me to wear those~?

“…Hmm~”

– It’s suffocating. Why are there so many humans?

– Because it’s a city.

– Don’t they feel suffocated living in such a cramped place? Doesn’t it feel like long-legged spiders living in a narrow burrow?

– You used to say those creepy things were cute, and now you’re comparing them to humans you despise?

– What I mean is~ humans live together like those spiders even though they’re not close to each other. So they end up backbiting and fighting all the time-

“…”

– Hey, Pamon. You said you wanted to go to the library.

– Yeah. That’s why we’re here, right?

– What? If you’re going to the library, you should go to that main building we passed by first.

– Duran, you might not know, but the really interesting books are usually hidden in places like this.

– Then why did you sigh when you saw the line of people at the main building?

– Maybe because I was out of breath from walking too long?

– Then why did you sigh while looking around the books here?

– …Oh my~ Look at this book, Duran. It claims to be by an herb expert, but nothing is correct~ It’s so funny~

– Look at this dust. Is this a library? It’s a warehouse. You’re really something. You hate meeting people so much that you hole up here.

Feigning ignorance in front of a book?

Duran recalled each conversation they had with his impeccable memory that matched his appearance.

Pamon, though hesitant and cautious, would-

“Ah~”

The moment Duran mentioned the usual place, the library annex, Pamon clapped his hands excitedly.

“That’s right! That book. The one Rishir was reading. I completely forgot. I’ll have to borrow it when I have time~ A book about cats. As expected, a city is a city. It has everything, doesn’t it?”

Duran snorted at Pamon’s reaction.

Though a book can’t snort, he did anyway.

＜So. What are you going to do?＞

“Huh?”

＜This evening. What are you going to do? Didn’t you say you were going to stay in that warehouse?＞

“Warehouse~ That’s rude to your friends, Duran.”

＜Who are my friends?＞

“And, come to think of it, that’s not quite right. Since it’s been a while since we left the forest, shouldn’t we enjoy the city’s culture?”

＜You were nitpicking and hating everything just a while ago?＞

“The forest people have always had a bit of a rough side, haven’t they~”

＜Have you become a city person already?＞

“You know, dark elves are a race of adaptation. That’s why they survived in that harsh forest, right?”

＜How impressive.＞

Tap, tap.

The constant rhythm of Pamon’s footsteps finally came to a halt.

“Ah, here it is.”

The last conversation Pamon had with Lisir before they parted ways was about Heyern.

Suddenly, and for some unknown reason, Pamon became interested in Heyern and asked his disciple various questions about the city.

– In Lisir’s opinion, what is the most wonderful place in this city?

At first, the conversation mostly proceeded in that manner.

Every question began with Lisir.

In Lisir’s opinion-

According to Lisir-

The disciple answered sincerely, hoping that his master would have a good time.

Seeing his disciple’s earnestness, the master felt a sense of competitiveness.

– Then, is there such a place? A place Lisir hasn’t been to yet but is interested in.

As a master, of course.

He thought he should experience a place his disciple hadn’t yet experienced and then share his impressions.

Isn’t it a great way to tour the city?

Sharing experiences and adventures with a local disciple.

“Haa~ If I had known, I would have brought more clothes. Lisir must be thinking that. Ah, seeing the master wearing the same outfit for a week, he must not be financially well-off~ My master’s social status isn’t that high~”

＜Really? That kid has a keen eye.＞

This was the place Lisir mentioned as ‘a place he hasn’t been to yet but is interested in.’

“A cafe, huh? So this is what’s trendy among humans these days?”

When Lisir heard the word cafe, the first thing that came to mind was a shop with a mermaid sign selling bitter water brewed from burnt beans.

But the cafe Pamon faced now was quite different from Lisir’s imagination.

In the city, a cafe was a place of social gathering.

A place where people with some degree of knowledge, etiquette, and status gathered to discuss and socialize.

“There are a lot of kids around Lisir’s age here, huh?”

At that moment, as Pamon was about to enter the café.

Thud!

Her body was pushed to the side.

A woman brushed past Pamon’s shoulder.

“Oh, excuse me.”

As a noble, she was known around as Lady Moila.

Moila turned back and seemed to apologize to Pamon, but then-

“What is this? A Dark Elf?”

She stared into Pamon’s eyes and gave a sadistic smile.

Moila’s entourage gathered around Pamon, encircling her.

-What is this? How can they see you?

-I lifted the cognitive interference spell.

-What? Why would you do that?

-Well? I wanted to vividly tour this place.

-This is too vivid.

Their voices, hidden by magic, reached only each other.

After finishing the conversation, Pamon gracefully nodded to Moila.

“Sorry. I must have been lost in thought for a moment.”

Pfft.

What came back was an uncontrollable sneer.

“A Dark Elf pretending to be a noble?”

Moila looked at Pamon’s robe as if appraising it.

“What’s this? Hey, look at this. Have you ever seen such fabric?”

“Is it from the East? I heard Eastern goods are trending in the capital these days.”

“How elegant. Whoever it is must be quite wealthy.”

“Indeed.”

Moila leaned in close to Pamon and whispered.

“Where would a Dark Elf get such precious items, huh?”

“Don’t be so harsh. Maybe she bought it with money she earned from hard work? Thievery can be quite profitable.”

“Or did she strip some country noble? Scaring them with all sorts of spells and curses.”

Pamon’s expression remained unchanged.

She still wore a lively smile.

“If the conversation is over, I’ll be on my way.”

Pamon took a step forward. Moila blocked her path.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m interested in the shop behind you.”

“Oh really? But how unfortunate. This is not a place where someone as lowly as you can come and go.”

Moila signaled to her bodyguard, Garon, who was standing behind her.

He approached Pamon and spoke in a firm, dry tone, emphasizing the sword at his waist.

“Hey, Dark Elf. Show me your pass.”

The hostile atmosphere drew the attention of those around them.

Moila gracefully addressed the onlookers.

“Sorry everyone. I seem to have caused a disturbance. I’ll resolve this quickly, so please bear with me.”

At Moila’s signal, Garon nodded.

“I’ll take her to the guards.”

Just as he roughly grabbed Pamon’s arm to drag her away…

“…”

The light vanished from Garon’s pupils.

He immediately stopped all actions and stood still.

“Excuse me, everyone. Is there anyone among you from the Vendel family?”

Pamon asked.

“What? Vendel?”

“How dare you utter their name with that filthy mouth?”

“Ah, thank you for your polite response.”

As soon as Pamon finished speaking, Garon moved.

Slap!

A rough but crisp sound echoed.

Repeatedly.

“Ahhh!!! Garon!! What are you doing?!”

“What are you doing right now- Ah!!! You hit, hit me!? You hit me!?”

Garon’s hand moved with precision.

Thus, one by one, he left a huge handprint on the cheeks of the noble crowd.

“It’s Lady Moira’s order…”

“What!? How dare you-“

“No, no! Garon, are you crazy!? What are you talking about!!!”

A spectacle unfolded.

The daughters of noble families began to scream at each other, slap each other, and pull each other’s hair.

In an instant, the front of the café turned into a mess.

“Why is it so noisy outside?”

“I heard Moira and Rodan are fighting each other right now?”

“…Let’s go!”

Passersby on the street and café customers all came out and were engrossed in the rare spectacle.

The dark elf had already been neatly forgotten from their memories.

The dark elf, once again cloaked in cognitive interference magic, pushed through the crowd and entered the café.

The staff who were supposed to hand over the drink and the customer who was supposed to receive it had both gone out to watch the fight, leaving the cup abandoned on the counter.

The dark elf placed a gold coin on the counter and picked up the cup.

“Mmm~”

The dark elf, sitting by the window and taking a sip, hummed contentedly.

＜How is it, Pamon? This city’s culture.＞

“Not bad? No, honestly, it’s quite good. What kind of tea is this? It’s black, bitter, but has a unique flavor.”

Ha.

Duran chuckled at Pamon’s sly answer.

To the book, the master’s state seemed very abnormal.

If it were the master he knew, she would have felt immense disappointment and disgust at the situation she had just experienced.

And the rude and vulgar humans would have paid a very high price.

A price far greater than losing friendship, honor, and being humiliated by fighting disgracefully in the middle of the street.

But now, she was thoroughly enjoying the human place and culture with a face full of joy.

＜The sun will rise in the west tomorrow.＞

“Right? I can’t wait for tomorrow to come~ My disciple must be waiting for tomorrow just like me, right?”

＜Driving me crazy.＞

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▷ Character 3: Witch of the Western Forest – Deactivated.

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