Dark Fantasy Normalized

37 – Parasite (3)

In fact.

Didoa noticed Tulan’s deception before she lost everything to her.

She knew that all the kindness Tulan showed her was false, and that her only interest was in using her position.

Even so, Didoa could not cast Tulan out.

-Didoa. You know you are all I have, right?

-…

-You are my only understanding companion, my most precious friend. Although I meet many people outside, in the end, the person I respect the most will be you.

-…Yeah.

For the half-demon who had lived a lifetime in loneliness, the first kindness and goodwill he received were so sweet.

Perhaps.

That might be Tulan’s way of expressing emotions.

There might be Tulan’s true feelings mixed in there.

It was once the vain hope that Didoa had.

──────────

“Tulan…?”

The first person to react to the sight of the deranged Tulan was Sophia, a follower of ‘Master Tulan’.

Sophia stared blankly at Tulan’s hideously twisted face in anger.

“…!”

Tulan came to his senses at the sight of Sophia.

Now was not the time to leisurely express anger.

‘I can still set things right!’

Tulan sincerely believed so.

If he used his popularity, it would be easy to control the confused ones freed from mental interference.

Tulan approached Sophia, creating the image of the beloved ‘Master Tulan’.

“Sophia-“

“Don’t come near!!!”

Sophia screamed at Tulan.

“What, what are you going to do to me again…!”

“Sophia…! Calm down, I can explain everything!!! You, you alone will believe me! Right!?”

Tulan cautiously approached without stopping.

“I said don’t come near!!!”

Sophia, terrified and restless, swung her arm. The wave of mana she created pushed Tulan’s body away.

“Ugh…!”

Tulan’s body was thrown to the floor in a pitiful manner. Tulan immediately raised his head and glared at Sophia.

“Eek…!”

But as Sophia recoiled in fear, he quickly turned his gaze to the other followers.

“Malay?”

“Brandon?”

“Horen!?”

Originally, they were the ones who never left Master Tulan’s side, trying to stay in his good graces.

They were the ones who openly showed their joy when they received Tulan’s attention.

“…”

“…”

“…”

These same people now showed clear reluctance at Tulan’s call.

They distanced themselves from Tulan, ready to summon their mana at any moment.

“How, how could you all…!!!”

Tulan writhed in betrayal.

“Tulan…”

It was then that Farozan called Tulan’s name in a sinking voice.

“Master Farozan!”

Tulan brightened as if he had found a lifeline from the heavens.

Tulan usually looked down on Farozan.

He had treated him kindly to manage his connections, only to be met with lecherous glances.

He couldn’t stand it, thinking it was beyond the pale.

But now, he couldn’t be more grateful for Farozan’s unpleasant feelings.

“Please, please listen to me, Farozan! Something, something is happening! That half-demon woman and the b*stard child are plotting against me-“

Tulan tried to rush to Farozan, acting like a pitiful woman seeking help.

From past experience, he knew that if he acted this way, that foolish man would lose his mind.

“…Do not move.”

“Farozan!?”

“I’m saying this for your own good. It’s best if you don’t do anything from now on. If you show any suspicious movements, I will take immediate action.”

“Don’t do this, Farozan! How could you do this to me!”

“…”

“When you were always pestering me to have dinner together… Farozan…? Farozan! You- you- vile human…! Like a pig-“

By now, Tulan had even forgotten the friendly facade he had created.

“You, you too! When were you all fawning over me to get on my good side- Do you think I’ll just let this slide!? I will! I will remember this!!!”

She spewed all sorts of curses at her followers, including Farozan, driven by rage.

There was a strange sense of exhilaration on Tulan’s face. She was convinced that her words would strongly push them back.

But that expression soon twisted.

Because they were now looking at Tulan as if she were a hideous bug.

“What, what are you doing…! How dare you look at me with those eyes!? You, mere apprentices!?”

“And what about you?”

Farozan retorted.

“What do you think of yourself?”

“I am-“

Tulan’s confident words got stuck in her throat.

“I am…”

It was then that she realized.

The charm, the reputation, the character she had been so proud of-

All of it was nothing without the name ‘Master’.

She was nothing without Didoa.

A memory from one day flashed in Tulan’s mind.

When her research materials were rejected, and she was worried about her future, her pathetic self.

“No! No no!!! No…”

Tulan now pleaded with a trembling voice.

“Everyone- Please come to your senses…!!! That wicked half-demon woman and the b*stard are scheming together!!! How can you trust them more than me? You’ll regret it- You’ll regret it…!”

Farozan shook his head. Even he, who had once admired Tulan, felt the last bit of sympathy he had for her disappear.

Everyone in the room looked down at Tulan with cold eyes.

Except for one person.

Except for Didoa.

“Tulan.”

“Didoa… Didoa!!! No, Master Didoa-“

Tulan no longer knew what expression she had on her face.

“S-sorry…!!! I- I must have gone mad for a moment!”

“…”

“Please- Please forgive me!”

“Tulan. Can I ask you something?”

“Yes! Yes! Master Didoa! Anything!”

“Have you ever been sincere, even once?”

“What? What do you mean-“

“Have you ever, even once, considered me a friend?”

“…Yes! Of course- of course! Mr. Didoa has always been my friend!”

Tulan tried his best to muster a friendly smile.

Despite his efforts, what eventually surfaced on Tulan’s face was nothing but a servile smile.

At this moment, Didoa realized.

“I see.”

Tulan had never once treated him sincerely.

“…”

Didoa felt a sense of self-bewilderment.

The fact he had tried so hard to deny and ultimately refused to accept.

He found himself accepting it all too easily.

And he felt no emotion about it.

Why?

At that moment, Didoa felt a gaze coming from the opposite side.

Risir. Seeing his past self in Didoa, he directed a gaze of genuine concern towards him.

“…”

Didoa nodded.

And he understood.

How he could not be surprised by the fact that Tulan had never shown him sincerity.

How he could not be hurt by it.

Because there was no longer any reason to cling to it.

Now that he knew what genuine goodwill and kindness were.

Didoa responded to Risir with an awkward and clumsy smile.

Then he returned to his emotionless expression and looked at Tulan.

“Alright. Tulan. I forgive you.”

“…What?”

“The things you did to me. They don’t bother me anymore.”

“…”

Hahaha.

Hahahahahaha!!!!!!

Tulan, who had been staring blankly at Didoa, burst into maniacal laughter.

Then, suddenly, her expression turned icy cold.

Before anyone knew it, a vial appeared in Tulan’s hand.

She poised as if to throw it at Didoa at any moment.

“Didoa! It’s dangerous!”

Meltas and Parozan immediately erected a mana barrier around Didoa.

Tulan was not flustered.

On the contrary, she turned as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Thus, she faced Lysir on the opposite side.

The person Tulan hated the most right now was none other than Lysir.

The b*stard who appeared out of nowhere and ruined all her plans.

Just as Tulan was about to hurl the vial at Lysir with pure hatred.

“Kyahhh!!!”

A scream erupted from Tulan’s mouth. Green flames burst from her body, engulfing her.

The green flames extinguished quickly, but it was enough.

-Clang!

Her grip loosened, and the vial fell to the ground.

Tulan’s body crumpled to the floor, powerless.

The once-revered Master Tulan, admired by many students of the Magic Tower, was no more.

What remained was a villainess with all her hair melted away and her skin burned.

“Huff- Huff-“

Meanwhile, Didoa was gasping for breath, her eyes wide open.

It was an intense agitation rarely seen in her usually emotionless demeanor.

Everyone present immediately recognized it. The one who caused the explosion was none other than Didoa herself.

Didoa could forgive all of Tulan’s actions.

But just one thing. He could not forgive anyone who tried to harm that man.

“Are you okay!?”

Didoa shouted towards Lisir.

“Ah- Yes! I’m fine.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Didoa sighed with relief, placing a hand on his chest.

“Thanks to you, Mr. Didoa! Thank you for your help!”

“…Sure.”

Didoa’s emotionless expression wavered at Lisir’s continued gratitude.

Like a shy sprout blooming on barren land.

*

After the incident was settled and the onlookers dispersed, Didoa’s laboratory regained its tranquility.

“Didoa- no, Master Didoa. I’ll take care of the aftermath of this incident, so you should rest for now. You’ll be busy with the trial soon. In the meantime, please assist Lisir with the elixir intake.”

“Understood.”

Didoa nodded after staring at the restrained Tulan for a while.

“Sir Meltas, did you say trial?”

“Yes, Lisir. The principle is to handle the matters of the Tower within the Tower. Tulan will be tried and punished according to the Tower’s regulations.”

“Do you, uh, also torture and stuff?”

“Do you think the Tower is some kind of cult? Anyway- Master Farozan. Get a grip.”

“…I still can’t believe it. That Tulan was a dark wizard.”

“I find it hard to believe too. To think I considered Master Didoa an apprentice all this time.”

Meltas frowned as he recalled the events involving Tulan and Didoa.

He nodded towards Didoa.

“Didoa. I apologize once again for my past rudeness.”

Farozan did the same. The two masters bowed their heads to Didoa.

“…”

Didoa awkwardly returned the nod to the two.

“Oh, right. Lisir. The Tower will show great interest in you because of this incident.”

“Yes?”

“Of course. You uncovered dark magic that even the masters didn’t notice, and revealed the dark wizard who was the mastermind behind the incident. You can expect to be duly rewarded.”

“Does that mean…! Even if I don’t become Sir Meltas’ disciple, I might still enjoy various rights of the Magic Tower…!?”

“How absurd.”

With that, Meltas left Lysir in Didoa’s care and departed the laboratory with Farozan to clean up the aftermath of the incident.

Lysir and Didoa.

The two of them stood there, alone in the laboratory.

“Would you like to sit down?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

Didoa guided Lysir to the best seat in the laboratory and then headed to the cupboard.

A moment later.

A teapot filled with tea and a box of desserts were placed on the table.

“Here.”

Didoa poured tea into Lysir’s cup and placed a dessert on the plate.

“Oh, thank you.”

Didoa poured tea into Lysir’s cup and placed a dessert on the plate.

“Thank you.”

Didoa poured tea into Lysir’s cup and placed a dessert on the plate.

“…Thank you?”

With each sip and bite, the cup and plate were refilled.

‘Wow. Food duplication bug.’

Lysir was bewildered.

“Do you need anything else?”

Emotionless eyes were sparkling.

Lysir shook his head blankly.

“Alright. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Lysir didn’t know.

That the emotionless girl in front of him was desperate to become friends with him.

That the endless tea and dessert were the tearful and clumsy efforts of that desperation.

That if he asked for her liver and gallbladder as a friendship fee, she would gladly offer them without hesitation.

Didoa’s hands, covered in patterns, fidgeted incessantly.

‘How can I become friends with him?’

She stared at Rishir’s cup and plate with emotionless eyes.

*

The rumor quickly spread throughout the entire tower, thanks to the onlookers present at the scene.

There was someone who was particularly enraged by the rumor—

“You!”

It was an unexpected visitor to Didoa’s laboratory.

Rishir’s sparring partner, Heinya.

She checked Rishir’s condition and widened her eyes.

“It’s true! I can’t believe it! Did you really take the elixir?”

This part of the rumor particularly caught Heinya’s interest.

Rishir.

She remembered, he was the man she was supposed to spar with.

And he took the elixir.

Right before their sparring match.

It wasn’t a duel to the death or for honor, just a mere sparring match, and yet he took the elixir—

Even Heinya, who was born into a noble lineage and had a unique set of values, couldn’t fathom such a luxurious notion.

“Did you take the elixir just to win a sparring match!? No, did you take the elixir even though you were supposed to spar with me?! Do you think this is right!?”

“?”

Heinya, too flustered, started to babble incoherently.

Rishir, who was wrestling with the never-ending tea, answered in confusion.

“I haven’t taken the elixir yet.”

“?”

*

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▷Destiny 44: Parasite – Deactivated.

The corresponding perks will be granted.

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