Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 9: Political Marriage (2)

“Master?”

After a moment of shock, Master covered her mouth and started fussing.

“Duran, can you believe it? My disciple is getting married~ It feels like I only just met him days ago, and he’s already becoming a groom~”

<It hasn’t been long, yes. And we met just yesterday.>

“Oh right. Was it? I guess I was confused, since Risir already feels so special to me.”

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“Truly? We only met yesterday, Master? I thought it had been at least 10 years.”

“See~ Risir’s saying the same thing.”

<What a riot. Why don’t you two just get married then?>

“Oh my. Should we, Risir?”

“Unfortunately, I’m already spoken for...”

“So that’s how it is. Hm, a political marriage. With Diltan.”

Master pondered to herself, listing keywords related to the matter.

“Risir?”

“Yes, Master.”

“What do you think?”

“Being an adopted son-in-law? I’m not sure. As an illegitimate child, I don’t think I have much say in family matters. But personally I do feel quite troubled.”

“Oh my. Do you perhaps have someone else in mind? Who? Who, who? Is she perhaps not human? Quite tall for a woman? Does she have rare silver hair? Is she impressively intellectual? Does she have fair skin from living in a dark forest, avoiding the harsh rays of sunlight? Not to brag, but does she have quite an alluring figure?”

<Don’t be so silly, Pamon. You’re making me blush, even though I’m just a book.>

I continued the conversation while calming down my excited Master.

“It’s not that exactly, but er, being an adopted son-in-law is basically like cattle for sale. I’m already uncomfortable where I was born, so going to another region with my bastard label intact—how much worse would that be? That about sums up my concern.”

“Hmm~ Still, as a son-in-law in name, they probably can’t bully you openly. But as you said, you’ll face your own challenges.”

“And above all, I was planning to leave this place soon.”

“Leave?”

“You could say I intended on giving up the bastard status and start a new life. The bastard career tree does have a clear ceiling, after all.”

“...”

“...”

Master and Duran looked at me curiously. Duran’s just a book, but anyway...

“I’ve thought this from the start, but you sure are quite unique, my disciple.”

“Is that so?”

“Mhm. People in your situation normally tend to be quite fixated on status and the like.”

<By the way, ‘people in your situation’ here means illegitimate children.>

“Oh, Mr. Duran. I wasn’t particularly curious, but thanks for the clarification. Anyway, is it really so rare for an illegitimate child to escape their family?”

Master stroked my hair.

“Being illegitimate is just a paper-thin difference from being noble, isn’t it? It’s all about whether you can use the family name.”

“That’s true.”

“Usually, their goal is to get permission for that from family members.”

I’m the same. Or rather, my past self was.

I used to live solely to gain that recognition from my father.

“Even with permission, you still have to subtly imply your illegitimacy, but at least it’s something. Scorning a recognized illegitimate child is tantamount to challenging the family, which means you can only be ignored by your own. In essence, that grants you a certain noble appearance.”

Master shook her head.

“I’m not sure if I should say this in front of you, but I don’t understand. Is it worth pursuing to that extent? That noble name? Even if it’s just an empty shell?”

I agreed with her in the present. But as for who I used to be...

<But that’s because you’re special enough without any noble title.>

Duran interjected.

<There are those who are nothing. Those who think they’re nothing without nobility. Those who consider aristocracy to be everything. For them, it might be their once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a world we don’t know, so we shouldn’t speak carelessly. Pamon, you should understand this.>

“...Yup. I see. I was thoughtless.”

Duran’s words didn’t fully represent my past thoughts, but they did to some extent.

I used to think that so long as I could use the family name, even as a bastard, everything would be alright.

It’s a tad extreme, but you have to understand. Adult prejudice and discrimination can turn an innocent child into a monster dominated by inferiority.

“My disciple? Did I say something wrong?”

Master watched my reaction carefully.

“Ah, no. I think what you and Duran both said have merit.”

<Look at you, talking like it’s about somebody else.>

“My dear disciple, how can you be so broad-minded?”

Master continued stroking my head.

“Well, coming back to the point. I support you, Risir.”

“About leaving the family?”

“Mhm. Diltan isn’t a good place to develop your potential. Neither is Hayeren.”

“Then where would be suitable?”

“There’s no set path for learning. However, the Imperial Capital is certainly the best place to broaden one’s horizons.”

“Then I’ll follow your advice, Master.”

“Oh my. Is it okay to decide so easily?”

“I trust your wisdom.”

“My oh my oh my. Dear disciple, do you only spend all day thinking of pretty things to say~?”

Pat pat pat pat pat!

Master’s affectionate touch grew in intensity.

Has my magic lessons begun already? And we’re focusing on fire?

Boy it’s hot.

“By the way, Master. Once your work in Hayeren is over, are you also going to the Imperial Capital?”

“No. I might stop by briefly, but not right away. I have many places to visit.”

“What about when you’re done with everything?”

“I’ll probably have to return where I came from. The forest. There’s unfinished business there.”

“Then should I follow you, Master?”

“That would be too nice~”

<Too nice? Dragging Risir’s corpse around halfway through?>

“Come now, Duran. Why do you talk like that again~ I know, I know. It was just a joke.”

Master looked me in the eyes.

“Risir, you can live your own life. You don’t have to follow me just because I’m your master.”

“...That’s wonderful advice, but should it really be coming from someone who’s abandoning their disciple after a week?”

“Wince~”

Verbally wincing, Master inched away from me.

“But don’t worry. Our week will feel like a year, you know?”

<Pamon. I highly appreciate that expression literarily.>

“Oh my~ My literary quality has been recognized by a book~”

“Wow~ A week that feels like a year~”

I can’t help but feel I’ve chosen the wrong master.

***After walking about 20 minutes from the library, we reached a residential area.

“We’re here.”

Master entered one of the houses as if it were her own.

“Oh. Master, you have a residence in Hayeren? You must come here often.”

“Of course.”

<It’s an empty house. We found one with old traces of inhabitance while wandering around yesterday using magic.>

“Duran~”

“...Master?”

“Are you disappointed? That your master is a lacking adult who can’t even own a house in the city?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I’m disappointed that you’re a lacking person who breaks into empty houses.”

“No~”

Nevertheless, I silently followed Master into the living room. There was no point in being surprised or pointing out such trivialities. She was above all of that.

“Risir? Take this.”

Master placed a silver bead on my palm.

“Can you try moving that silver bead, imagining it as your hand?”

“Understood.”

“For the next week, we’ll focus on moving that silver bead. As for what it is... Actually, I should first explain the significance of this training. As I said, we only have a week—“

“Master?”

“—so we need to... Yes, dear disciple?”

“Is it supposed to float in the air like this?”

“Indeed, that’s our ultimate goal. To make that silver bead float in the... Wah?”

“Wah?”

<Wah?>

The three people in the room all exclaimed at once.

The book isn’t a person, but anyway.

“...?”

Master tapped the silver bead that was floating slightly—ever so slightly—above my hand.

“Master?”

She muttered blankly in shock.

“Guess I need to rework the curriculum~?”

I could hear a bit of excitement in her voice.

***It was right bloody unexpected... that learning magic turned out to demand tremendous stamina.

“Ugh. I’m dying.”

Though my muscles were fine, my entire body was screaming. Even my soul.

How tired am I? I’m tired in 3D.

As in, tired enough to die three times over.

It’s been three days into Master’s magic lessons. After a round of training, I staggered back to the Bendel manor.

Master emphasized the importance of rest, saying magic isn’t something you achieve by mindlessly pouring time into it. Thanks to that, even after training, the sky was still blue and clear. It might be just about lunchtime now.

It’d be perfect to take a nap before reading the book Master transcribed for me. With that idea in mind, I headed back to my sweet home annex.

But out of nowhere...

Clatter!

I heard the noise of someone jumping up from a chair.

“My lady, just a moment—”

Then an urgent voice trying to restrain someone.

“Sir Risir!!!”

And a clear voice ignoring it.

Thump.

It felt as if some baby bird had flown into me. That’s about the weight I felt on my back.

Next thing I knew, slender, delicate arms appeared in front of me, hugging my body. When I turned around, I found a girl of pure white.

“I missed you!!!”

She looked up, gazing into me with infinitely clear eyes.

“Ah...!”

I immediately recognized her.

Who’re you again?

For the stranger she was.

***

[You have resisted]

[Resisted effect: Mental Manipulation]

***