Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 11: Progenitor (1)

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▶Another Tale◀

This is a different story.

***Fear. That was the first emotion the girl felt upon realizing her transformation.

When had she ceased to yearn for the world beyond shadows? When had she lost the craving for warm, soft white bread?

It was as if a vast hole had been pierced through her soul. The girl forgot how to long for simple things. Instead, she found a new desire—blood.

Homeless, and parentless, bereft of guardian and education. Yet for all her ignorance, the girl knew it was unnatural to find comfort in darkness rather than light, to crave red blood more than white bread.

She tried to flee from this new hunger... but not for long. Once freed from deprivation and lack, the girl blossomed in the dark like a flower, attracting all manner of unsavory attention. The same brutish, vile hands that once stole her food and shelter now reached for her body.

Her first impression of the adult desires she had once feared so greatly...was how pathetic they were.

The girl realized then, that her lack of conventional desire was not a curse, but a blessing. Her new craving was a sign of innate superiority.

She commanded, and they obeyed. A natural hierarchy formed between them.

The pure white girl strode nobly from the slum, leaving behind a cacophony of shouts and base desires.

As the pang of hunger struck, a bloody stench wafted from behind her. That wouldn’t do. Proper status must be accompanied by befitting dignity.

The girl no longer feared her own desires, for now she understood their meaning.

“I’m special.”

***“I’m special.”

What dignity befits such a special being as herself? How should one behave to fully enjoy it?

She once pondered this constantly, eventually concluding that restraint was key. She recalled the sight of a nobleman tearing at meat with greasy hands, lusting after alcohol and women with clouded eyes. How repulsive he was, to be so dominated by base urges.

If she freely indulged in her thirst for blood and power, how would she differ from those beasts? She vehemently refused to be perceived that way.

The girl was honest about her desires but careful not to be consumed by them.

“My lady, I think that will be slightly difficult...”

She resisted the urge to completely strip her servants of free will.

“Apologies... I’ve been feeling tired lately, for some reason...”

And she held back from fully sating her craving for blood. This, she believed, maintained her dignity as a superior being.

Yet the reality of it differed. The girl wasn’t as exceptional as she imagined. She was just a girl. A slum child no longer deprived, now able to indulge her wants, who had never known home, parents, or friends.

Her misaligned teenage fantasy seemed set to continue, for she didn’t understand the true strength of desire, and there were no adults to guide her onto a better path.

And that remained unchanged.

***Once upon a time, there was a harmonious family, and a lovely young lady. She received all their love... All the people’s love.

***The sky had shifted to an unnatural shade of red, dissolving the boundary between day and night. The city grew quiet and gloomy.

Upon entering the gates, one first saw tall stakes scattered throughout the streets. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. A viscous liquid dripped from the things impaled upon them, seeping into the ground and flowing somewhere.

The hero followed this trail through the streets, reaching a manor in the city’s heart.

When the manor door opened, a wave of dark red liquid poured forth. As it receded, something emerged—a mountain of flesh composed of countless pieces.

Atop this gruesome peak lay a naked, pure white girl. The scarlet and white seemed to blend perfectly despite their stark contrast.

The girl awoke, and a smile played on her lips, infinitely innocent in nature...and equally ominous.

▶ Character 3: Pure White Girl

***“This makes no sense... It’s impossible... My power... For something like this...”

I’m well acquainted with the extreme mood swings of teenagers. For one, I’m the grown-up product of one. And two, it happened to me two times over.

Now where else in the world could you find somebody who suffered puberty twice? In that sense, I could claim the honor of being first in puberty rankings.

Thanks to that experience, I had some insight into the cause of Fienne’s current emotional state.

“Don’t be too disheartened, Fienne.”

I met her bewildered gaze as she sat on the ground.

“There are many other men in this world besides me.”

Indeed, this is what you call the pain of unrequited love.

“What nonsense are you spitting again...!!!”

Unable to contain her surging emotions, Fienne collapsed face-down, wailing. Indeed, that’s what you call an emotional flood.

My consolation had apparently struck a chord, opening the floodgates of her adolescent feelings. I gently stroked her back.

“That’s right, cry. Cry it all out. This is how everybody becomes an adult.”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёnovelkiss.com.

“My, my power wasted on a man like this...!!!”

...Well. That’s enough teasing.

The fragile bird in pursuit of love, or the emotionally volatile strange young lady. Which is Fienne’s true self? Likely the latter.

I tapped Fienne’s back, silently demanding an explanation.

“Hey! Get away from the girl!”

But suddenly, Galant’s shout interrupted us.

“...!”

I flinched like a criminal caught red-handed. He was, after all, Fienne’s guard. What if she reverted to her helpless persona and painted me as the villain? It wouldn’t end with just fierce glares and threatening gestures.

However, as I pondered how to defuse the situation, something unexpected occurred.

“...Wait.”

Galant’s reaction was oddly disjointed.

“Aren’t you Risir of the Bendel family...sir? What brings you here...?”

It was as if all memory of our arrival together had vanished. Moreover, he seemed more concerned with me than with Fienne lying on the ground.

A small spark of realization hit me then.

Fienne’s strange behavior, and Galant’s strange behavior. There had to be some connection between the two.

With that assessment, I took action.

“This lady seemed to be having difficulty moving, so I was about to help her.”

“...Is that so?”

Galant looked dubious, which convinced me I had the right idea. Galant didn’t recognize Fienne.

If he did, he’d be pointing his sword at me in a rage by now.

Now the question was how Fienne would react...

“...What he says is true.”

Unexpectedly, Fienne went along with my story, asking me to help her up.

We exchanged a brief conversation afterward. Galant seemed wary of the tension lingering between us, but he ultimately accepted our explanation and departed.

The immediate situation was resolved, but my doubts had only grown. What on earth was going on?

Gone was Fienne the Harmless Little Bird, suddenly replaced by Fienne the Hysteric. And her diehard fan Galant just completely forgot her.

“Y-you know!”

The girl’s trembling voice broke my reverie.

“I helped you, didn’t I?!”

“Helped me?”

“W-well it’s true! I could have made things difficult, but I helped you instead, no?!”

Though rather unexpected, I did get what she was implying.

“I suppose that’s true, strictly speaking.”

“!!!”

Fienne’s face lit up.

“Then—”

“But you know. Isn’t that like a robber pretentiously asking for gratitude for taking your money instead of killing you?”

“N-no...! I mean...! What I mean is...”

Fienne floundered, then suddenly pressed against me.

“I know you don’t really dislike me, R-Risir.”

“Eh?”

“I know. How pretty I am, how much men like me. Did you know my servants are always so envious when they wash me, saying they’ve never seen such clean skin?”

Fienne traced her slender fingers across my skin, the same way she did before, feeling me up in an unmistakably, uncharacteristically intimate manner.

Except this time round... she was clumsy, and hesitant. Yet it felt so natural coming from her. It was like the awkward attempt of a pure girl trying to seduce a man. All her previous sensuality and confidence seemed to have vanished.

“If Risir wants... I’ll let you do whatever you want with me...”

“Uh I mean—”

“You should be honored!!!”

Fienne cut me off anxiously, as if afraid to hear my answer.

“D-do you even know how many men have wanted this...!”

The girl paused to use her sexy(?) touch on my face.

“But, I never allowed anyone. You understand? How special a woman I am. How special this situation is.”

It felt like a little child imitating adulthood was trying hard to appear seductive. Unlike the earlier sensual atmosphere, it was discomfiting in a different way.

“So please...”

Fienne shut her eyes tightly, leaning her lips forward.

Hold up. I’m seeing a duck face.

Fienne? That ain’t right okay? You’re trying way too hard. Holy Jesus. It’s not a kiss or a Frenchie.

That’s just a pecker.

Feeling 100% pure guilt, I pushed Fienne away. She didn’t hide her shock at all.

“Why...?”

“Fienne. We can date when you’re a bit older, mkay?”

“What are you saying!!! Risir, you’re eighteen! I’m older than you!!!”

“Okay, why not? Then shall we say you’re the elder sister from now on?”

“You’re not listening to me, are you?!”

Suddenly, as we argued, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Risir~ Didn’t you say you were going home to rest?”

Master was standing outside the alley, holding a bread basket.

“Ooh, Master. Hello, I really didn’t expect to see you again today. It’s like waking up to a refreshing morning twice, if you get what I mean.”

“Oh my~ Duran~ I was going to give Risir an earful, but the urge is all gone now~”

<What a hopeless way of teaching. You may as well resign.>

After exchanging pleasantries, Master noticed Fienne.

“My disciple? Who is this young lady?”

“Ah, let me introduce her. Didn’t I mention that I might be having a political marriage? Well this girl here, Fienne, is my partner to be.”

“Dear me.”

Master’s expression stiffened as she looked Fienne over.

“Then have I just interrupted a private moment?”

“Oh, about that...”

I took the opportunity to seek Master’s advice about the strange events I had just experienced, about the innocent young lady, the guard, and the bastard.

“I think I know what happened~”

“Impressive as ever, Master. There’s nothing you don’t know.”

“Why yes of course~ Is there anything else you’re curious about~? Your master knows all~”

“Then could you please read my fortune?”

“Let’s see now. Oh my, what’s this. A child? Seems to me like a half-blood between dark elf and human!”

<Risir, please. Just take this chance to set this woman straight, unless you want to see me die of embarrassment.>

Fienne flinched at the book’s voice.

“H-huh...? What was that voice...?”

“Ah. No need to be surprised, Fienne. It’s just an ordinary talking book.”

Her gaze was fixed on Mr. Duran, hanging by Master’s waist.

“A grimoire... speaking so fluently to express its own thoughts...?”

“It’s a miraculous life form that only managed to be born thanks to my master.”

<Miraculous life form, huh. Damn, Risir. You’re moving me.>

“...!”

Fienne expressed her admiration with her whole body. Her legs gave out and she ended up sitting down on the spot.

<From what I hear, this supposed fiancée of yours appears to be a Progenitor.>

Progenitor. I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before. Vampire?

Right, that’s it. I think that’s what they called those original brand vampires.

<Progenitors have the power to bewitch people. Probably, that Progenitor young lady used her power of enchantment to cause trouble.>

Fienne’s a Progenitor?

Though surprisingly, I quickly accepted it. Everything made sense if Duran spoke the truth.

“Is that true, Fienne?”

“N-no, it’s not...?”

“Miss Fienne~ Do you know~? When Progenitors practice deception, their blood glows red~?”

“Is that so, Master? What color is it originally?”

<It’s a metaphorical expression. When the church discovers a Progenitor, they immediately begin an inquisition regardless of the reason, which doesn’t end until death. By the way, if it were to happen, Pamon might do it better than those church maniacs.>

“Y-y-y-y-yes...! What you all say is true!!!”

Fienne confessed, turning pale at Master and Duran’s frightening words.

“The reason that guard Galant behaved that way...it’s probably because this girl’s power was normalized by your Intrinsic Color.”

“Normalized...?”

Fienne gauged the meaning contained in those words with anxious eyes.

Setting her matter aside, I asked Master about another doubt I had.

“Then Master. Is Fienne’s, you know that enchanting power. Is it gone now?”

“Judging by Galant’s reaction, I think it’s safe to say yes?”

Master’s seemed somewhat excited as she spoke.

“Really, what an outrageous Intrinsic Color. Who knew it could normalize a Progenitor’s power?”

“Master, it’s restoration, not normalization...”

“But this case can’t be explained by restoration, can it?”

“...”

“Oh, hang on?”

Master grabbed my wrist.

“...”

Unusually enough, her elegant face lost its characteristic vivacity and showed bewilderment.

“My disciple? Did you happen to drink some kind of elixir in this short time?”

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▷ Fate 3: ‘Pure White Girl’ has been deactivated.

Perks will be awarded.

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