Dark Fantasy Normalized-Chapter 93: The Briber (1)
[Title: No ffs, the Briber Fate Quest is actually kinda insane LOL]
Content: Wait, is this played from Ran’s perspective?
: Yeah, it’s a party defense sequence from Ran’s POV, trying to stop Gadum from stealing your people.
[OP]: This is actually fun LOL
: ...It’s probably not gonna be.
[OP]: What, again?
[OP]: Don’t tell me it turns to shit again? Spoil it, ffs.
: Is it really a spoiler if every route in this game turns to shit?
: People die (not a spoiler).
[OP]: Goddammit ffs
[Title: Wow, Briber Fate Quest is absolute b@llshit LOL]
Content: Bro I filmed a full mad montage collecting resources
Thought it was in the bag, all lined up—
And then f—ing Gadum.
Where the hell is this guy getting his resources??
Dude’s playing with dev cheats or something.
I dumped my entire stash just trying to keep one party member—
: Yeah bro he’s out here human-trafficking, drug-dealing, black-marketing, doing all the f@cked up s@it you can imagine. That’s why he duplicates gold.
You don’t get it?
: The “money” in-game is just the visualization.
The offers that mf drops when bribing your party members?
Bro. It’s unreal. No way you don’t get bought.
[OP]: Same city councilor—how tf is the scale gap this huge ffs.
: Ran... that idiot only cares about orphans and moral choices lol
: Gadum’s the kind of guy who’ll sell drugs to the parents, traffic their kid, then if they can’t pay back, conscript them into crime—
Dude’s the god of unethical value chains. How’s Ran even competing?
: Ran: “Make all the orphans you want, I’ll keep funding orphanages!”
: Gadum: “Fund all the orphanages you want, I’ll just keep mass-producing orphans.”
: Like seriously, who wins that?
: Be real, who the hell’s winning that matchup.
[OP]: I’m losing my mind
[OP]: But ffs—is there really no way to stop party members from leaving?
: Try holding a knife to their neck, idk.
: Gadum’s better at that too, though.
[OP]: Can I bribe Gadum’s minions back then??
: LOL sure, good luck with that.
***
Ran opened her mouth, steeling herself.
But she closed it again just as quickly.
The price Gadum had promised them—she couldn’t top it.
She couldn’t even think of a reason why they should stay with her.
No reason she could give would be enough.
Invoking justice and honor would just sound childish.
In the end, there was only one thing she could say.
“I respect your decisions.”
“Sorry it turned out like this.”
[ ...has left the party. ]
“That’s how it is. I won’t ask you to understand.”
[ ...has left the party. ]
“I have no excuse.”
[ ...has left the party. ]
“My lady... I’m sorry. I pray for your safety.”
[ ...has left the party. ]
“You know my family’s situation!! Don’t look at me like that!!!”
[ ...has left the party. ]
“...”
[ City Councilor Ran has left the party. ]
▶ Fate 10: The Briber
***
“...”
Ran sat at her desk, lost in thought.
The worst-case scenario she’d feared had come true.
Gadum.
He had made contact with the three titans.
Ran never doubted their friendship. Never doubted their honor.
But she knew—
For people like them, who represented entire factions, there were times when personal bonds and ideals had to come second.
And Gadum would have known that perfectly. That’s why he approached them the way he did.
Ran couldn’t stop them. She couldn’t even ask them not to leave.
“Please...”
There was only one thing Ran could do—
Pray that the price Gadum offered them was something she could somehow meet.
“Lady Ran.”
Her butler entered a moment later, announcing the return of the three mercenary leaders.
Ran rose immediately and went out to meet them.
She made it look as casual and unburdened as possible.
“Ah.”
“...Ahem.”
“...”
Even so, the air between the four of them was stiff.
Eventually, the trio exchanged glances.
“Councilor Ran. May we have a word?”
Shakan spoke on behalf of the others.
So, it had finally come.
“Of course.”
Ran, carefully composed, led them back to her office.
They skipped all small talk. Everyone knew this wasn’t a time for preambles.
“Truth is, Councilor Gadum approached us. He asked us to let him take credit for the cultist purge.”
She’d expected it.
“...And what did he offer you in return?”
“That’s—”
As the details came out, Ran clenched her teeth.
The terms Gadum had laid out were beyond what she had anticipated.
She didn’t have his massive funds.
She didn’t have his black market networks.
She didn’t have political leverage over the other noble houses.
There was nothing she could counter with.
Ran opened her mouth to respond—then closed it.
She couldn’t find a reason why they shouldn’t side with Gadum.
No reason that would truly convince them.
In this situation, trying to rally them with talk of justice and honor would only sound like a weak plea.
In the end, she could only do one thing.
“I respect your decisions.”
Councilor Ran bowed her head, powerless.
“Wait—”
“No. You don’t need to explain. I said it already. I understand. I respect your choices.”
Her trembling voice wasn’t for them—it was to convince herself.
Her clenched fists trembled like leaves in the wind.
She stood in silence, enduring the shame, the despair—waiting for them to leave.
“No, it’s not like that. We turned him down.”
“?”
Ran lifted her head again, dumbfounded.
“W–Why... would you make that decision...?”
Her voice came out like an accusation. She looked like no answer would ever make sense to her.
“Lisir—”
“Ah.”
But as soon as Balod said the name, Ran nodded, unconsciously.
It was the product of long conditioning.
Ran realized something inside her had shifted. That her own judgment was becoming warped.
“We decided—he’s the one with the right to make the final call on this.”
“What?”
“I mean, we didn’t actually do anything in the operation, right?”
“...”
No! Don’t say that! You all did so much!
Ran should have denied it. But instead, her eyes drifted awkwardly to the side.
It was true Lisir had provided the decisive intel for the purge.
But the ones who carried it out in practice were the three titans.
Still—if Lisir hadn’t been there?
The operation likely would’ve failed.
And if they hadn’t been there?
...
Maybe it still would’ve succeeded. If it was Lisir alone.
There was no evidence.
But it felt plausible.
A veteran mage might nod and say,
“He’s not quite the same—but yes, that too is Lisir.”
“So, we’ll wait for his decision.”
The three glanced at one another in awkward silence.
***
Knock knock.
“Hmm?”
Lisir, as usual, was training in the garden attached to his room.
He turned toward the sound of the knock.
“Sir Lisir. Sorry to bother you. Do you have a moment?”
The woman at the door was the maid assigned to assist Lisir during his stay at the mansion.
“What is it?”
“Councilor Gadum has sent you a gift.”
“Gadum...”
Lisir’s gaze sharpened.
Councilor Gadum.
Lisir remembered the man as one of the highest-risk figures in Bondales.
The city’s security chief. One of the key players behind the cultist web. A true powerbroker.
Ran even had to bow her head to him, if I recall...
And now Gadum was sending him gifts.
So, it’s finally started.
Lisir recalled what Shakan had told him the day before:
“Councilor Gadum might approach you soon—to try and steal the cultist purge credit from Councilor Ran.”
“It’s entirely up to you, of course. Whatever your judgment is.”
So let me get this straight:
Gadum’s making moves, Ran’s stressing out—yeah, that’s about where we’re at.
Two of the city’s biggest powers fighting over him.
Just thinking about it made his chest flutter.
But the situation—once you looked closer—was anything but simple.
As an honorary mage of the Grey Tower, Lisir had taken it upon himself to properly acquaint himself with all relevant matters. That included the current state of affairs in Bondales.
"Miss Ran is honest, but that makes her weak in power. Conversely, Gadum is powerful, but that also means..."
Lisir was well aware of the rumors surrounding Gadum.
"I wear the name of the Grey Tower. I can't afford to tarnish it by associating with someone like that."
Thus, Lisir’s decision had already been made.
But even so...
There was one thing he was worried about.
Lisir didn’t consider himself a morally pure person. Nor was he particularly ascetic.
"But what if he offers me a really big sum of money? What then?"
Would he still be able to make the right choice?
Lisir’s face contorted with conflict.
Maybe misunderstanding that silence, the talking crystal sphere that had been quarreling with Clana moments earlier shouted out.
—You wench!!! How dare you trouble Chuinny like this!
"...!"
The maid, a mere servant of the mansion, didn’t know what to make of the talking crystal. Startled, she jumped, and Lisir hastily tried to reassure her.
"Oh, don’t be scared. It’s nothing dangerous. Just a sealed demon. As you can see, it doesn’t even have a mouth, so it can’t bite."
"A—a demon...!"
—Wench!!! Chuinny told you not to be frightened, didn’t he!?
"I-I’m sorry...! I apologize!"
"Could you maybe just... stay quiet?"
—You heard that! Wench, cease all movement this instant! Until Chuinny gives his command, not even a shallow breath shall be allowed!
"Seriously..."
With a sigh, Lisir headed to his bed. He pulled back the blanket and sealed Dangaléon inside it.
—This... this is Chuinny’s bed!? Oh, Chuinny! To be granted such a sudden reward—this Dangaléon is speechless!
<So that’s why you turned into a crystal orb? Because you didn’t know where to put your damn body?>
—Ha ha ha!!! You inanimate slag! Jealous that I’ve claimed Chuinny’s bed, are you!
<What are you talking about, you dull lump? I’m not jealous. You’re annoying, so I stuck you in there. Got it?>
—Ohhh!! I can clearly feel Chuinny’s body warmth, which some lifeless piece of metal will never know!!
<Creepy bastard. Savor it while it lasts. Hey, Lisir. Let’s go.>
—Chuinny!! If you’re taking that hunk of metal, then I must come too!!!
"..."
Lisir rubbed his forehead.
Sword training?
Magic training?
He had absolutely no intention of putting up with the petty squabbling of this demon and sword—even outside training hours. Tired of their nonsense, Lisir shoved the Blue Lotus in under the blanket too.
<Hey!!!>
—Chuinny!! Why!? What has that inanimate slag done to deserve the same reward as me!?
Leaving behind the shouting of the two "inanimates," Lisir exited the room with the maid.
Eventually, they arrived at the mansion’s reception hall.
There, the three major figures were already waiting.
"You’ve arrived."
The proxy representing Gadum, who had been in discussion with the three, rose and gave Lisir a polite nod.
Lisir returned it and asked:
"What were you discussing?"
"You, of course."
After having his initial proposal rejected, Gadum had returned with an even more tempting offer—one that included a reward specifically for Lisir.
Because of that, the three big figures were visibly more conflicted.
"Please, take a seat, Sir Lisir. As a busy man, let’s get straight to the point."
Once Lisir sat, the proxy turned the ornate box on the table to face him.
"On behalf of Councilor Gadum, the city of Bondales, and the city guard, I offer this gift in recognition of your accomplishments in purging the cult. We sincerely hope you’ll accept it."
Lisir didn’t miss the implication behind those words.
"On behalf of Bondales and the city guard," huh...
If he accepted this gift, he would be implicitly recognizing the cult purge as an achievement of the city guard and Gadum—stripping Ran of her claim to the credit.
Trying to buy off people from Ran’s household, here in her own mansion, no less...
Lisir was honestly amazed at how brazen they were. His inner conflict deepened.
"I really don’t want anything to do with this guy—"
But also—
"What if there’s something in that box I can’t say no to?"
And then, the proxy opened the box.
The contents were revealed—and explained.
"...!"
The three great figures gasped in unison.
It wasn’t something a single individual should be handling.
It was the kind of treasure that should be strictly guarded by the Tower itself.
A treasure capable of benefiting the entire Tower.
They instantly grasped the intent behind it.
"He’s not trying to win over Lisir as an individual... he’s trying to curry favor with the entire Tower!"
A proposal so generous, it would be near-impossible to reject for the sake of the group—had been laid at Lisir’s feet.
Sure enough—
"..."
Even the extraordinary Lisir was visibly taken aback.
"I see you recognize it. Yes, it’s the core of a High Spirit."
***
At that same moment, in the Grey Tower—Didoa’s lab:
"Hmm?"
A young wolf lying on a sun-drenched sofa near the window suddenly sat up. Then, she transformed into a humanoid form and—
"Ack—ghkk! Hkk!"
Coughed up a glowing orb onto the floor.
"Ferine, are you okay?"
A young half-demon woman, Didoa, hurried over and gently patted her on the back.
"Been a while since I coughed up a core."
"Well, it’s been a while since you last saw him."
"Maybe that’s why. It feels a bit weak, though. Should we classify this as mid-tier?"
Didoa opened a drawer.
From a three-sectioned compartment, several other orbs clinked together noisily.
At first, Didoa had panicked at the growing number of spirit cores. But by now, she had gotten used to it.
Even the Tower mages working on plague medicine—using Ferine’s cores as catalysts—were floored when the second core appeared. When she produced a third, their reactions changed entirely.
"Lisir is..."
"...Ah!"
Didoa stored the new core in the center drawer and closed it.
Dozens of marbles rattled noisily inside.
***
"This is a gift from Councilor Gadum. Are you sure you want to refuse?"
Faced with Lisir’s firm rejection, the proxies were visibly shaken.
"Lisir, my boy...!"
Balod, a mage himself, clearly understood the value of the treasure.
Lisir just offered a bitter smile.
He couldn’t exactly say “Yeah, our house spirit coughs these up now and then.”
So he said something more palatable.
"I just believe... this is the right thing to do."
"...!"
"...!"
"...!"
All three figures looked thunderstruck.
"...Lisir, my boy—you’ve made an old mage like me reflect on himself."
"?"
"Could it be... I’ve used the ‘group’s best interest’ as an excuse to turn away from what was right...?"
"??"
"Damn it, Lisir... what am I supposed to say if you go and talk like that...?"
"...???"
The three were suddenly misty-eyed and inspired.
What the hell...?
Lisir, unable to make sense of what just happened, gave a crooked smile.
And meanwhile—
The proxy left the room with a displeased expression.
***
"He refused my gift?"
Gadum couldn’t hide his surprise.
"That little punk really ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) doesn’t know how the world works, huh? How could he turn down something like that—"
But he didn’t stay flustered for long.
Gadum had already considered the next step.
If bribery failed, he’d just move on to the next tactic.
"Summon Kadogan."
***
Kadogan, shaman of the White Scale Tribe. Heir to the forbidden ritual “Treading the Karma.”
It was a spell that allowed one to glimpse a target’s karmic burden—Gadum had used Kadogan’s power to find the weaknesses of his enemies and use them to steer negotiations his way.
"..."
Kadogan began the ritual in a prepared underground chamber, splashing beast blood in all four directions.
At last, the magic circle was complete.
Standing at its center, she murmured the target’s name:
"Lisir..."
In her hand was a lock of Lisir’s hair—smuggled out by a spy Gadum had planted in Ran’s estate.
She focused for a moment, then bit down on the hair and swallowed.
***
"...!"
Kadogan was immediately struck by a bone-chilling aura.
"This place—"
Shrouded in thick mist, she squinted, trying to make out where she was.
And then...
Through the fog, something approached.
An army of the dead.
"A necromancer...!"
That foul and wretched being was leading a charge of the dead.
But then—the necromancer’s body passed through her own.
"...!"
In that instant, Kadogan caught a glimpse of the necromancer’s emotions through his eyes.
It wasn’t the look of a hunter.
Then the fog lifted—and Kadogan saw what the necromancer had been fleeing from.
She understood immediately.
But accepting it took much longer.
Necromancer. Running away.
Putting those two concepts together... wasn’t easy.
And that was only a fragment of the karma that man carried.
***
"Hahk...!"
The karma-vision failed.
Kadogan forcibly snapped herself back to reality.
She couldn’t handle the rest of it.
Her eyes were shaking violently.
"Gadum, you insane bastard—what the hell did you just poke at...?!"
She began packing in a rush.
It wasn’t too late yet.
She now knew exactly where she stood.
***
[Kadogan has left the party.]
