Dark Fantasy Normalized

“Oh... So it’s both a form of blackmail and a safety measure. A way to keep your shady friends close—”

Lisir skimmed the black ledger again, now with a markedly different gaze.

He recognized a few of the names mentioned—families, factions, individuals.

“Gerhen? What’s his name doing here again? He was eyeing that male beastkin slave who was serving at the tavern... Oh.”

They were the names of Bondales' power players—names Lisir had memorized for survival in the city.

According to the ledger, the services they received from [Left Hand Holds Liquor] were very clearly beyond the bounds of legality.

Money and alcohol.

And friendly, attentive drinking companions.

Even that might have been forgivable.

But—

“Drugs... contract violence... illegal trafficking... This book’s more dangerous than most grimoires.”

Lisir muttered in dismay.

It turned out [Left Hand Holds Liquor] was a cesspool of crime and corruption.

And a majority of Bondales' elites were its patrons.

If the contents of this ledger were ever made public, the entire city would erupt.

Lisir closed the ledger with a short, incredulous laugh.

“...Why?”

He murmured.

Why had something this enormous landed in his hands?

Why had someone, whose name he didn’t even know, chosen to deliver this to him?

If Lisir had no affiliation to speak of, he might have agonized over this for days.

But—

“...Maybe I should take this to Lady Ran.”

He served someone who could shoulder this burden—and leave him with nothing but the reward.

Councilor Ran was so upright that even Master Meltas vouched for her integrity.

Lisir had no doubt she would use the ledger as it ought to be used.

—Jjuinni! You must not trust humans so easily!

“Lady Ran is trustworthy.”

—But that woman has less than that Gadum bastard!

“Just checking—do you even know what trust means?”

Ah.

Just then, Lisir looked up, eyes falling on the blue lotus.

“...Still, Clarna. I knew you'd be the one to understand something like this! If it weren’t for you, how would I have figured any of this out? Thank you!”

—Damn it... To see Jjuinni so happy... I never imagined I’d feel envy toward you, you damned object. If I had just been some worthless criminal like you, perhaps I could’ve made him smile like that!!!

It wasn’t sarcasm.

They were genuinely impressed.

<...>

Clarna wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be pleased.

***

Early morning.

Councilor Ran was meeting with the Three Giants.

They were briefing her on what had happened between Gadum’s representative and Lisir.

“A high-tier spirit core...?”

She wasn’t deeply versed in magic, but she understood enough to grasp the rarity and value of such a treasure.

It wasn’t just a personal gift—it could win the favor of an entire mage tower.

Lisir had rejected such a thing.

“Why...?”

Ran felt ashamed.

She couldn’t offer Lisir anything greater than what Gadum had proposed.

All the more reason for her to be shocked by his choice.

“Ran.”

One of the giants spoke up in Lisir’s stead.

“He said he was certain it was the right thing to do.”

“...!”

Ran’s expression said everything she felt.

And the giants responded with the same look—of full understanding.

They exchanged long, silent glances.

All of them were thinking of that one young man.

And made a vow:

That he must never come to doubt his own pure and noble will.

Their meeting began in earnest.

Shortly after, Ran spoke a name.

“Do you think Cadogan would try that shamanic ritual on Lisir too?”

Shakan’s face turned grim.

“If we brought in a shaman from our tribe, maybe we could counter it. But... by then, it’d be too late.”

“Then what do we do?”

“...What if we go confront them directly? We’ve got just cause. That woman used the ritual on us. Peeking into someone’s karma without their permission? In the north, that’s a stabbing offense.”

“But, my friend. This is a civilized city.”

“Maldad. What are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to respect you and understand. But not everyone here is like me. If outsiders like us make a commotion in the city over some ritual, what do you think will happen?”

“...”

Shakan bit her lip.

That wasn’t even the only issue.

Cadogan was Ragan’s sister.

And Ragan managed the red-light district, including [Left Hand Holds Liquor].

He had enough personal muscle to rival an entire mercenary company, and dozens of “friends” throughout Bondales.

“To go after that shaman... we’d have to be ready for war.”

“And in that war, the city would stand entirely on their side.”

They realized, once again, how massive a corruption they were up against.

It felt like the entire city was trying to stop them.

But they couldn’t give up.

They had made a vow.

To protect the will of that young magician.

“No matter what it costs, we won’t let them lay a finger on Lisir.”

Shakan’s declaration was met with firm agreement from the others.

The four giants steeled themselves around the boy.

At that very moment—

—Lady Ran. Lord Lisir has arrived.

A knock. The butler’s voice from beyond the door.

They all rose as one to welcome him.

“Huh? Oh—everyone’s here. Am I interrupting something?”

No!

They all denied it—each in their own way, and far too strongly.

They’re mad...?

Lisir blinked, confused by the overreaction, and could only nod.

“I-I see...”

Let’s just say what I came to say and get out.

Lisir quickly took out the item he’d brought and handed it to Ran.

“It’s nothing much, but—I have something I’d like to give you, Councilor Ran.”

“To me?”

Ran pointed to herself in surprise.

She was known for refusing any and all gifts and bribes without hesitation.

But this young man—she couldn’t bring herself to reject a gift from him.

In fact, a strange sense of anticipation had already formed in her eyes.

Her gaze settled on the old, worn book in Lisir’s hands.

“...”

Ran let out an involuntary smile.

That shabby book fit him so well.

This is... the cutest bribe I’ve ever received.

What kind of content could possibly be in a book that this young mage was presenting to a councilor?

“What is it?”

Ran asked, voice light and patient—like a parent kneeling to meet a child’s eye level.

“It’s the secret ledger of a tavern called [Left Hand Holds Liquor].”

“...”

Ran’s face went pale.

Then panicked.

Why is that in your hands?!

The Three Giants all had the same stunned reaction.

Then—

“Lady Ran!!!”

A retainer ran in, breathless with urgent news.

Gadum’s barbarian mercenaries, the very ones in charge of [Left Hand Holds Liquor] and the rest of the red-light district, had fled the city overnight.

“...”

All eyes turned to Lisir.

“...What happened?”

He blinked innocently, clueless.

That was the expression of a boy who knew nothing.

No way. Don’t tell me—did he go there alone last night...?

To singlehandedly take down the mercenaries who ruled the back alleys?

Without a sound?

Even a military detachment from one of the towers would’ve struggled.

So they all tried their hardest to deny the absurd possibility.

“Oh, by the way. This was a gift from someone anonymous. I had nothing to do with that incident.”

...It wasn’t easy.