Dark Fantasy Normalized

55 – Mage and Priest (4)

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[Title: Excuse me, but I have 361 Karma???]

Content: This body feather cut-off is BULLSHIT

I heard I needed to pass the body feather cut-off to start the Saintess’s fate quest, so I’ve been prioritizing fate quests that give a lot of Karma

But goddamn when the hell does this thing open up?

– : Tail feathers are 100, Wing feathers are 300, Body feathers are 500, I think

-[OP]: Dude WHAT THE FUCK is 500

-[OP]: Wouldn’t that mean you’ve basically cleared almost all the fate quests?

– : Apparently there are incident quests that give way more Karma than fate quests

-[OP]: How the hell does that make sense? They’re on totally different scales?

– : There’s this incident quest where you rescue a pile of sacrifices from a dark wizard, that gives you a crazy amount of Karma

– : What’s the criteria for that

– [Writer]: Wait, is that it? Like, the fate quests are already after the shit hits the fan, so even if you solve it, you don’t get much karma. But preventing the shit from hitting the fan gets you a ton of karma?

– : Sounds about right.

– [Writer]: Well, FUCK, then they should’ve designed the system around that!

– : Who the fuck told you to play this game, you wanna die?

– [Writer]: Why the sudden swearing…

– : That, is the developer’s intention.

– [Writer]: Ah, okay.

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***

The purity feather was gradually fading.

Bardross’s dark eyes trembled.

‘This is a, body feather?’

The purity feather that Gerhen had claimed was a tail feather.

It was, in fact, a body feather modified to look like a tail feather.

Bardross, having grasped Gerhen’s despicable intentions hidden within the object, first looked at Lishir.

Into her Sanctuary, which could discern the true nature of any subject.

He was the same as when she first saw him.

He was still a mysterious man whose essence her Sanctuary could not fully penetrate.

The Sanctuary offered its master only a single, fragmented piece of information.

That he was a being that could never be linked to evil.

Something indescribable seemed to be imprinting his goodness onto the very core of Bardross’s being.

For the Sanctuary itself to define someone’s existence… it was a first.

Even the most lucid information only provided the basis for judgment, at best.

That was to say, Bardross was already aware of his extraordinary nature.

…But she hadn’t expected *this* level.

‘The body feather hasn’t faded even a little.’

Bardross reflected on the days she had spent devoted to the Order.

It was a long time, an ocean of experience, and countless good deeds that would feel immense to younger people.

Her good karma was at a level a normal priest would have to traverse multiple lifetimes to achieve.

Yet, this man, Lishir, had already, at his young age, amassed good karma that surpassed even that.

Just how the hell…?

Did they save the city from destruction or something?

Did they vanquish some great evil threatening the world or what?

Whatever it was, it was a fantastical tale.

And then, in that moment.

The faces of those accompanying Lishir entered Goje’s field of vision.

‘Good lord.’

As Goje took in the sight of that pure white girl, he couldn’t help but be shocked.

How was he supposed to accept her existence, the existence of Lishir by her side?

Goje’s questions about the young wandering mage only continued to grow.

“Goje-nim?”

Barodros snapped back to his senses at Lishir’s voice.

He’d been unintentionally lost in thought, but now wasn’t the time for that.

Barodros returned the pure feather to Lishir and addressed the crowd.

“The pure feather is genuine.”

There was no need to emphasize Lishir’s uniqueness, nor to expose Gerhen’s vile plan.

“The tail feather didn’t react at all…”

“Isn’t that something only the priests of the Order can do?”

“To be precise, only ordained priests. That’s… it’s one of the conditions for becoming a proper priest.”

Lishir’s pure feather, maintaining its purity.

“The tail feather burned away…?”

“That’s absurd. What in the world has he been doing?”

“Even if it were a wing feather, a criminal’s tail feather would only darken, at most?”

Gerhen’s pure feather, having lost its purity.

That clear contrast completely captivated the onlookers.

It distorted the truth, forcing them to choose sides of support or condemnation.

Exactly as Gerhen had planned his nefarious scheme.

“No…”

Gerhen muttered in confusion.

He wanted to scream in frustration.

These goddamn idiots!

I’m not a moron, why would I throw away my own dignity to highlight someone else’s brilliance?!

Think, you fools!

This situation! Isn’t it obvious to anyone that something’s wrong?!

But the moment he opened his mouth, the “idiot” would be referring to himself.

-Isn’t this something you started? Why are you yelling at us?

That was the reaction he was bound to get.

“Master Gerhen.”

Rishir addressed Gerhen.

“Are you somewhat satisfied now?”

Rishir spoke with ample formality.

But that glib smile.

It was as if he could hear that very voice.

Ugh.

That tiresome b*stard.

Just go away already.

*Click*

Gerhen, in the end, lost his reason to rage. He began blurting out the words that sprang to mind, unfiltered.

“Respected scholars! Please, listen to me! I know nothing about this! This pure feather, my assistant, Coran, procured it!”

“…!”

A small man, tucked away in a corner amongst the aristocratic faction, widened his eyes.

Coran, an apprentice mage and Gerhen’s assistant.

A commoner mage who had entered the mage tower thanks to Gerhen’s strong recommendation.

-You must never forget, not even for a moment, how much my will has impacted your remaining at the tower.

-Be mindful not to forget your place.

Gerhen constantly reminded Coran of that fact, successfully subjugating him entirely.

Indeed, even in the current situation, the moment Coran was pointed out by Gerhen, he cowered like a frog caught in a snake’s gaze. His lowered head and slumped back trembled minutely.

“Coran! Explain this situation right this instant!”

He would bear the shame of Master Gerhen here.

To defy Master Gerhen in this place.

Koran’s mind, carefully weighing those two options, tilted surprisingly towards the former.

For a powerless commoner mage, the most frightening thing was the Master’s animosity, he who led the noble faction.

After all, in this tower and city, there would be no one to take his side over Gerhen’s.

Koran recalled all those unjust moments, the faces of those who had turned away from him.

It was just then, as Koran was about to accept his fate, that:

“There was nothing wrong with the pure quill. Was there?”

Lissir said, looking at Koran.

“Y-yes, yes!?”

Startled, Koran’s body jolted back.

‘Could he be talking to me?’

He turned his head this way and that, searching for any cues from those around.

Then, things he hadn’t seen before came into view.

Those turning their backs on him to avoid upsetting Gerhen were gone.

The tower’s acolytes were looking at him with sympathy.

Gerhen’s shadow was no longer so vast as to completely engulf his world.

Numerous acolytes were siding with Lissir, the b*stard and wandering mage, rather than Master Gerhen, leader of the noble faction.

Koran willingly threw himself into that atmosphere.

He faced Gerhen with difficulty and said,

“I, I don’t know about that…”

It was obvious.

There was no way Gerhen would entrust his prestigious plan to a mere assistant.

“But, I do know something…”

That day, too, Koran had spent the night buried under the mountain of busywork Gerhen had dumped on him.

Then, to shake off his fatigue-soaked mind, he’d taken a stroll on the grounds and spotted Gerhen’s figure, secretly heading somewhere.

“Master Gerhen… Master, there are mainly two reasons why you might move in that direction at that time… the research storage and the underground maze… If it were the research storage, you would have assigned it to me as usual, so I’m curious as to why you went there yourself on that day… especially at such a late hour when everyone is out of sight…”

Koran’s words threw a spark amongst the acolytes.

A sudden confession from the dark mage who accused Lissir.

If someone stood to benefit from that, then who would it be?

“Master Gerhen.”

This time, for sure, the Inquisitor’s eyes gleamed.

To save his own skin, he’d demand perjury from a black mage, slandering an innocent.

He was a clear subject for correction.

“I’d like to hear the details.”

“Y-you have no right to!”

Then, as if he’d been waiting for it, Meltas immediately raised his hand.

“I am Master Meltas. Before formally requesting the Order’s cooperation regarding the matter of the black mage, I would like to hear your opinions.”

“I agree.”

Didoa followed suit, and soon, one by one, the mages in the room began to raise their hands.

“I agree.”

“…Perrin, do you even know what you’re agreeing to?”

“Nope. Didoa agreed, so I’m just gonna agree, whatever.”

Finally, every mage except Gerhen raised their hands, aligning themselves with Meltas’s opinion.

Even the noble faction that had followed Gerhen was no exception.

“How could you…”

Gerhen, feeling a bitter betrayal, glared at them for a moment.

“…”

Ultimately, all his hatred focused on one person: Ricir.

It was the moment his resentment was about to take form and be enacted.

“Don’t do anything foolish, Gerhen.”

That chilling voice made Gerhen regain his reason, and he looked around.

“…”

For a fleeting instant, Gerhen forgot everything that had happened and felt pure bewilderment.

To him, the Magic Tower was a closed-off group that symbolized the uniqueness and authority of specific mages.

But now.

The mages of the Tower were all displaying hostility towards Master Gerhen.

All for the sake of a single outsider of humble birth.

Gerhen lowered his head, feeling a bewildering defeat.

***

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▷Event 44: Consumed Mage – Deactivated.

Perk Granted.

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▷Event 56: Violated Dream – Deactivated.

▷Event 94: Taxidermied Butterfly – Deactivated.

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…

…

…

…

…

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…Perk Granted.

…Perk Granted.

…Perk Granted.

…Perk Granted.

…Perk Granted.

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▷Location: Grey Magic Tower – Deactivated.

Perk Granted.

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***

“Hah.”

This, this shitshow, it demands an absurd amount of stamina and drive.

Exhausted from this shitshow, Gerhen finally gave up and lowered his head.

Seeing that, a deep sigh escaped my lips.

I came to check on his condition, and now I’m tangled in this irritating mess.

Sir Meltas, standing beside me, smiled bitterly and spoke.

“Sorry for getting you tangled up in this mess, Rishir. It might not be much comfort, but this whole thing should clear up any other issues related to you real quick.”

“Oh, comfort. Yeah, real comforting. Suddenly, my energy’s just, like, surging-“

Guess “speak of the devil” means something like this.

The moment I said it, energy really did start surging through me.

No.

Wait.

This isn’t energy, it’s *that*, isn’t it?

“This guy. Here we go again.”

“Good grief, Rishir. Get a grip on your magic levels, would you? You’re just constantly letting them rise.”

“Hey, come on, guys. Don’t blame me-”

And there it goes again, suddenly, my magic spikes.

I’m past used to this; I’m sick and tired of it.

The three of us just kept on with the usual meaningless banter.

“Cough!”

That is, until I was reminded that I was in the middle of an overload.

“…”

“…”

The two of them stared at me, eyes wide.

“Shit- cough! Hack!”

The back of my hand, covering my mouth, was instantly covered in blood.

There were a few weird looking clumps stuck there, too, and I prayed they were just globs of phlegm or some other bodily fluid.

I couldn’t hide my panic.

Wasn’t the rise of magic supposed to come *after* the normalization?

But I hadn’t even used my normalization power *once* today.

“Huh- huh-“

My eyeballs felt like they were about to pop out, so I squeezed my eyelids shut hard.

And then, I could feel lukewarm liquid oozing from under my eyelids.

Please. It’s tears, right?

Tell me it’s tears.

“aaagh! RISHIR!!!”

Shit, guess not.

My legs gave out, and I pitched forward.

*Tap tap.*

Something with four legs rapidly approached, and then I felt a warm sensation on my face.

It felt like Perrin was licking my face.

Surprisingly, I felt a surge of energy centered on the spots being licked.

But, it wasn’t nearly enough to improve my current state.

“G-Gozey! Help m-“

“Help me!”

It felt like my hair was standing on end.

That feeling of my body entering a state I couldn’t control.

“Cough- Cough-“

It was getting harder to breathe.

It’s painful.

I never thought I’d feel pain like this in my life,

and the more I forced myself to breathe, the clearer the pain became.

“Hah…! Hah…!”

But the more it hurt, the more I focused on breathing.

I didn’t know why, but I just felt like I had to.

A struggle driven by instinct.

Then, at some point, I realized.

Magic was trying to force its way out of the narrow confines of my body.

That it was reacting to my breathing.

It was an unfamiliar sensation.

After all, magic was a technique that manipulated mana through the mind.

Mana reacting to the body like this?

This was clearly a phenomenon beyond the scope of mana.

Then what was it?

‘Blue breathing…’

What came to mind were the memories from my b*stard days.

A fundamental technique, contrasting with magical arts.

The knights’ skill, which the b*stard yearned for but never attained.

Instinctively, I was wielding it.

The mana, threatening to shatter my shell, was gradually fusing with my body.

***

“Master Goje, please…!”

Pien, near tears, pleaded anxiously with Barodros.

Meanwhile, Barodros was already close to Rishir, poised to unleash the power of divinity.

“W-wait a moment-“

Then, it was Rishir, of all people, who held back Barodros.

Huff.

Huff.

He struggled to catch his breath, forcing out the words.

“Just a little, just a little while…”

“Rishir!? What are you saying!!!”

“Just a little… Just a little…”

Muttering, Rishir seemed lost in his own world.

Barodros saw echoes of past patients in him.

Perhaps he was experiencing delirium right now.

She couldn’t leave the decision to him.

Barodros was about to force the healing.

“…”

But, a sudden bewilderment surfaced on her face.

Her gaze was fixed on Rishir’s chest.

A quick, yet rhythmic rise and fall.

His breathing synced with the rise and fall-

His mana moved in time with his breathing.

Barodros saw another echo of her past patients in him.

The figures of superhumans who controlled their bodies and injuries with breathing.

“Blue Breathing…?”

Goje, rarely, lost his composure.

Because the mage was displaying martial arts techniques that were completely out of place.

“Lisir?”

Next to notice the anomaly were Pien, Meltas, Perrin – Lisir’s companions.

As if entranced, they began to observe Lisir’s state.

Following them, one by one, other mages also noticed the strange phenomenon(?) occurring in Lisir’s body and approached.

All the while, Lisir’s breathing was steadily becoming more stable.

Not through mental imagery, but through breathing.

Not merely holding mana within his body, but fusing mana with his body.

Accordingly, the disintegration of his body, unable to withstand the magical power, was delayed.

The leak of vitality that was causing his weakening was being replenished by newly created vitality.

One of the mages surrounding him murmured.

“Could it be… Is he mastering mana breathing in real time…?”

Everyone pretended not to hear, but internally they were all replaying the words.

In the strange silence, only Lisir’s breathing flowed rhythmically.

“Kuhk-“

It was Lisir who ended the silence.

No longer possible.

Judging that, Lisir let out a single death rattle and promptly lost consciousness.

“Now! Please save him!”

It was the most bizarre plea for help they had ever heard.

Goje, flustered but acting immediately, began the healing process.

Meanwhile.

Again, someone murmured.

“But… Didn’t they say this guy had just reached the entry point of the 4th Circle? The report from Tulan must have said so…”

Everyone pretended not to hear, but internally they were all replaying the words.

***

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■Lisir

Level : 38

Race: Human

Lineage: Mage, Knight

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***

How much time had passed since that incident that had rocked the magic tower?

Lysir awoke in a strange bed.

He nodded solemnly.

“An angel… is that so… have I… died?”

He said this, looking at Pien who sat beside him, watching him.

Haa.

Pien, as if unable to bear it, let out a sigh laced with a chuckle.

“It seems Rona and Goje’s efforts weren’t in vain. Seeing you spew nonsense the moment you come to your senses.”

“Rona and Goje…?”

“Yes. Those two ‘priests’ really did go to great lengths while you were unconscious. You’ll have to thank them properly when you see them later.”

Alright.

Pien clapped, changing the atmosphere.

“To celebrate your awakening, I have a piece of good news and a piece of bad news for you. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“First, could you tell me how long I’ve been out?”

“About two weeks.”

“…There’s worse news than that?”

“Your magic tower supporter qualification is still on hold.”

“Did I wake up too early? Should I have slept for another 100 years or so?”

“Be my guest.”

“…The good news?”

“It’s the reason why your supporter qualification is on hold.”

“What?”

“The magic tower wants you to be an honorary mage, not just a supporter.”

“…Out of the blue?”

Pien looked into the distance and chuckled.

“Our sleepy princess. You have no idea what happened while you were sound asleep.”