Dark Fantasy Normalized-Chapter 83: The Burning Black Flame Dangaleon (2)

"We've done enough, so let's hand the case over to the City Guard now!"

The words sounded thoroughly proper.

It was the sort of attitude one might expect from a councilor who truly cared for the city.

However, the reality of a councilor’s nature was not so commendable.

Whether their motives were to genuinely serve the city,

or to shamelessly protect their own interests,

they needed corresponding power in order to realize their will within the city.

Thus, the councilors fought tooth and nail in fierce struggles over rights and interests surrounding Bondales, desperate to seize even a little more.

This was why Ran could not so easily hand the case over to the City Guard.

Officially, the City Guard were the honorable ones responsible for the peace and safety of Bondales;

in truth, they were a group that actively wielded their authority under the pretext of maintaining order.

Since the City Guard had fallen under the jurisdiction of Councilor Kadum, the back alleys of Bondales had entered an era of unprecedented prosperity.

All manner of illegal businesses flourished, and vast sums of money flowed in from unknown sources, only to vanish into equally unknown pockets.

It was around that time that Kadum began expanding his influence within the city by leveraging his immense financial power.

So what would happen if this heretical cult case were handed over to Kadum?

Would he duly commend Ran’s hard work for striving to protect the city’s peace?

"Like hell he would."

This case with the heretical cult had occurred within Ran’s district.

Ran could say with absolute certainty:

If she failed to resolve the incident herself and instead handed it over to the City Guard, they would seize the opportunity to encroach upon her jurisdiction.

Once the City Guard began running rampant in her district, it would only be a matter of time before every corner turned into a hotbed of illegal activity.

On the other hand, if she succeeded in resolving this incident herself?

In that case, she would not only protect her district but also gain a legitimate excuse to strip power from the City Guard.

"While you lot in the City Guard sat on your thumbs, we were the ones who captured the cultists plotting to throw the city into chaos."

Such a beautiful and irrefutable justification.

Thus, Ran desperately wished to handle this heretical cult case on her own.

Was it practically impossible because the White Shadow Church was deeply involved?

In that case, she at least wished for her contributions to be clearly acknowledged.

To achieve that, she still needed the help of Shakan, Maldad, and Balrod.

Even if the City Guard took over, if those three led the suppression operation as responsible agents, Ran’s achievements could still be secured.

And so, Ran had separately called the three together to conduct further negotiations.

Promising unprecedented terms, she earnestly sought their cooperation.

However, the three were not responding favorably.

"Hmm..."

"..."

Balrod and Maldad hesitated, falling into deep thought.

"Councilor Ran,"

Amidst the silence, Shakan opened her mouth.

"I like you. Honestly, I really want to help you if I can."

"If that's the case—"

"But let me be blunt. I have no desire to get involved in the political squabbles of someone else’s district."

"...!"

The beastkin warrior woman from the barbarian tribes spoke with pure sincerity.

And that sincerity expressed exactly what Maldad and Balrod had been struggling to put into words.

Now that it was judged correct to hand the case over to the City Guard, Ran’s further requests amounted to little more than asking them to directly bolster her power in the council’s internal power struggle.

For colossal figures like them, involving themselves in the factional disputes of a major city like Bondales was no easy matter.

No — precisely because they were colossal figures, it was even harder.

Each of them held significant influence within their own respective groups.

Any action they took risked being interpreted as a decision made by their entire faction.

"Ah—"

The young councilor Ran found herself at a loss for words.

Her face flushed red with embarrassment.

She had been so absorbed in her role of protecting citizens from cultists and corrupt officials that she had only now realized she was trying to force her will onto others.

"I'm sorry. I was being unreasonable."

The young, upright councilor who had only wanted to shield her people and her citizens from corrupt powers finally bowed her head.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Even the three who had successfully "persuaded" Ran couldn’t help but look somewhat uncomfortable.

Ran was unlike most councilors of Bondales; she genuinely strove to remain clean and honorable.

They had maintained personal ties with her and rushed to her call ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) because they knew that side of her very well.

It was, without a doubt, Ran’s greatest strength.

...And also her weakness.

The Fellos family, Ran’s lineage, had once been the greatest house of Bondales — but that was now ancient history.

Bondales had changed.

Those in power had begun to display their ambitions more openly, and competition had grown ever fiercer and ever more sordid.

In that tide, the prestige of the Fellos family dwindled day by day.

Had Ran been the type willing to discard honor and dignity for power, she might have found a far more effective path than pleading and being rejected by these three.

She would not have suffered repeated losses, clashing against other corrupt powers in her idealistic quest to protect her people.

Because of this, the authority of Councilor Ran and the Fellos family would diminish further.

And Bondales would drift even farther from the virtues of honor and integrity.

It was unfortunate — but for these three outsiders, it ultimately wasn’t their concern.

Regrettable, yes — but not reason enough to stake their safety or their factions' well-being.

"Tch. If only we could get an accurate grasp of their forces, there might’ve been a chance to intervene."

Shakan muttered this, knowing it was an impossible wish.

The White Shadow Church operated in such scattered cells that rooting them out completely was virtually impossible.

Even someone like the priest Gol Dinaj probably didn’t know exactly who all the contacts were.

Given that, how could they hope to accurately assess the cult’s forces?

The atmosphere of the room continued sinking, like a stone dropping into a swamp.

It wasn’t hard to picture the grim future awaiting Bondales.

"Everyone. It seems we’ve identified the composition of the White Shadow Church members expected to appear at the meeting place."

"..."

That was when an unexpected voice broke into the room.

They all turned toward the door at once.

There stood a cautious young man, nervously watching them while holding a crystal ball.

"So... should we strike first?"

"No..."

***

The hearts of the three had already left Bondales.

Now, all that remained was for their bodies to follow their hearts.

But those three hearts were forcibly summoned back to Bondales.

They moved once again to the audience chamber and took their places.

Shakan perched by the window.

Balrod settled into a chair.

Maldad leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

Though their postures differed, all their gazes were fixed on Lisir.

And for some reason, the look in their eyes was unmistakably one of shock.

"What did you do this time?"

Shakan asked in a tired voice.

At that moment, the crystal ball in Lisir’s hand caught her eye.

'Huh? Was it always that color?'

Setting aside her suspicion, Shakan spoke.

"Don't tell me, that damned demon told you?"

—You filthy mongrel woman!!!

At the word "demon," Dangaleon, the resident spirit of the crystal ball, roared.

—You would do well to watch your tongue! It was none other than I, the Burning Black Flame Dangaleon, who even your ancestors struggled against!!!

"...!"

The overwhelming presence contained in that shout made Shakan unconsciously straighten her posture.

Balrod and Maldad did the same.

The Burning Black Flame Dangaleon. freewёbnoνel.com

That name, etched clearly into the history of the continent, was not one to be taken lightly by fire mages of the Red Tower, demon hunters, or warriors who traced the paths of their ancestors.

They shuddered, remembering the status of a demon they had momentarily forgotten.

Why had I ever forgotten that demon?

"Hey, Dangaleon. What's with your language? 'Filthy mongrel woman,' really?"

—But look at those grotesque ears and tail!

"I think they look great."

—Now that you mention it, perhaps they are quite splendid! Such lustrous fur! It would burn magnificently if set alight! Woman, rejoice! Your worthless body has finally found value thanks to my Lord Chuinni discovering it!

"Ha... Enough already. Just stay quiet."

Ah.

That was it.

Once again, they felt a profound confusion.

How could such an arrogant demon, who looked down on mortals as little more than insects, have become bound to a human?

The sole reason they had not yet left Bondales was entirely because of this absurd spectacle.

No matter how often they saw it, it never ceased to amaze and thrill them anew.

"Returning to the main point, yes. That's correct. This guy here is the one who provided the composition of the White Shadow Church members expected to appear at the meeting."

"Lisir, my friend, let me say this out of caution: it's never wise to trust the words of a demon unquestioningly."

At Maldad’s words, Balrod nodded in agreement.

"The creature was in Councilor Ran’s custody for some time. Even if it is speaking the truth now, the information could have been corrupted during that period. Meeting places and times are things that change easily with circumstances."

"Oh, you don’t need to worry about that."

"And how can you be so sure?"

"Because I just obtained the information moments ago."

"...?"

Lisir explained what had just happened.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Not just the three, but even Ran was left drawing question marks across her face.

A demon pledging loyalty to a human?

And even sacrificing most of its power to prove that loyalty?

Infiltrating the heretics to steal their information?

If a storyteller spun a tale like that, they'd be pelted with rocks.

But—

"Very well. Since it's you saying it, I’ll believe it."

Since it was Lisir saying it, they chose to believe.

At this point, they began to worry.

Were they becoming fools who would believe absolutely anything, so long as it had the name "Lisir" attached?

If any mage from the Gray Tower were to learn of this, they would surely smile in satisfaction at having gained a kindred spirit.

"Could you share the information the demon obtained?"

***

There are few who understand the nature of demons better than demon worshippers.

They know just how arrogant and self-centered demons truly are.

And so, it was beyond their imagining—

That a demon would betray its followers and submit to a human who disrupted their ritual.

Thus it was.

The cultists were startled by Dangaleon's sudden appearances at the sealing stone, but did not truly suspect anything.

Despite a minor hiccup in the ritual, they accepted Dangaleon's assurances that all was proceeding smoothly, and even agreed to share information with him.

Strictly speaking, they had no obligation to share any information with Dangaleon.

In their grand scheme, Dangaleon was merely a part, not the whole.

However—

—How dare you contemptible humans scorn me!!!

—If you treat me thus, I too shall refuse to cooperate with you!

The petty tantrums of a demon who had lived through eons were too much even for the cultists to withstand.

In the end, Dangaleon successfully extracted information regarding their entire plan.

According to him—

On the day when Goldina and the cultists were set to meet,

the cultists intended to execute their plans simultaneously across Bondales.

First was the meeting with Goldina, who was in charge of the ritual to free Dangaleon.

A priest came to the meeting to share updates on the ritual’s progress.

"If you so much as utter a word, I’ll incinerate your lungs immediately, heretic."

"...!"

He was subdued by Lisir and Balrod, who had lain in ambush.

Next was the retrieval of the fragment of the demon Maltael, hidden in the warehouse of a merchant’s estate.

Another priest had been dispatched to infiltrate the estate, eliminate witnesses, and retrieve the fragment.

"Shit— What the hell is this...?! I was sure the man was just an ordinary merchant— Something’s wrong... You, slave girl! Move aside—Ugh!"

He, too, was subdued by Maldad and Shakan, lying in wait.

...The demon’s claws were reaching for the throats of its own worshippers.

***

High Priest Dranoff of the White Shadow Church felt as if his head were about to split open.

"..."

What had proceeded smoothly up until now was beginning to unravel at the final moment.

It was as if some invisible hand hovered above them, mocking them from the shadows.

After much agonizing, Dranoff reached a conclusion he scarcely dared to believe.

"There is a vile traitor within our Church..."

Anyone capable of leaking such extensive information would have to be of at least priestly rank.

Yet no suspect came to mind.

All the priests close to him were people of unwavering faith.

Dranoff needed guidance.

"O great Maltael..."

But the demon he served did not answer.

The ritual was not yet complete enough to summon Maltael’s will.

In the end, he sought counsel from another exalted being.

"Dangaleon. Barda, who was supposed to meet with Goldina, has gone silent. And now, even Gashuel, who was tasked with retrieving Maltael’s fragment. Do you have any idea what is happening?"

—Actually, Goldina passed along a warning to Barda.

"What warning?"

—Recently, there's been suspicious movement from Fordran. If he approaches, he should be treated with caution.

"...!"

Fordran. One of the three priests Dranoff himself had brought into Bondales.

Also one of his own disciples.

"No, that’s impossible!"

Dranoff denied it vehemently.

—If not Fordran, then who? Who is sabotaging our grand design from right under our noses?

"..."

The White Shadow Church was one in name, but not in spirit.

Within the Church lurked countless factions, many of them so hostile toward each other they might as well have been enemies.

'Could it be—?'

Fordran was indeed Dranoff’s disciple, but he was not wholly subordinate to him.

'That damned woman, Lapita—!'

Dranoff bit his lip hard.

The demon’s whisper had planted a seed of doubt within him.

—Goldina’s situation isn't stable either. Interference continues. Dranoff, it’s time for you to act.

"..."

The demon worshipper nodded to the demon’s voice.

***

—Chuinni! He’s alone now!

"Didn't you say there was still one more priest left? And that even a single high priest wouldn’t be easy to handle?"

—Those fools killed each other because of my scheming! Now the final high priest is wounded too! If you're going to strike, now is the time!

"Really?"

—Remember this! It was I, Dangaleon, the faithful servant of Lord Chuinni, who achieved all of this!

"Yeah, yeah. I’ll definitely remember."

—Kyaaaaah! Ultimate ecstasy!!!

The black—no, the gray mist inside the crystal ball swirled wildly.

"Everyone. You heard him, right? Let’s move now."

"..."

Was it really okay to purge demon worshippers like this?

At this point, who was the real demon worshipper, anyway?

They were suddenly struck by a crisis of identity and a pang of guilt.