Dark Fantasy Normalized-Chapter 98: The Incomprehensible Man (3)

After the banquet ended, they moved to the annex that Gadum had generously opened up for the banquet’s attendees.

And there, what had begun at the banquet seemed ready to continue.

Knock, knock.

“Morren?”

The voice broke the silence that had just begun to settle over one of the other guest rooms. It was the name of a man.

He was the young head of House Doringham, someone who maintained a reluctant “friendship” with Gadum so as not to hinder his family’s business.

“Galuan. So? Did you sleep well?”

“...I wouldn’t say well. Seems like you’re expecting me to say otherwise.”

Galuan was someone in a situation not so different from Morren’s. The moment he saw Morren’s face, he seemed to understand everything, stepped into the room, and hung up his cloak.

“If you don’t mind, could we talk for a moment?”

“Sure.”

Knock, knock.

“Who is it? At this hour?”

“Pardon the intrusion, Sir Bellas. It’s me.”

“Morren? And even Galuan—?”

“I was in the middle of a conversation with Galuan, and your name came up, Sir Bellas. If it’s not a bother, would you spare a moment of your time?”

“...Ahem. I’ll prepare to come out.”

Knock, knock.

“Thorne? Galuan? Even Sir Bellas... what’s going on, all of you gathered at this hour?”

“I believe you have a vague idea.”

“...”

“Well then, would you care to join us?”

Knock, knock.

Knock, knock.

Knock, knock.

How much time had passed like that?

Half of the high-ranking city nobles staying at the annex had gathered in Morren’s room.

“Looking at it now, this is a ridiculous building. Eight grown men crammed into a single guest room, and yet it doesn’t feel cramped in the slightest.”

“What’s more astonishing is that this mansion was built solely for entertaining guests and is left unused most of the time.”

“And yet it’s maintained without fail.”

“‘Overflowing with money’—that expression fits to a tee.”

“Anyone who strengthens their friendship with Gadum might just get to pick up some of that overflowing money from the ground...”

The city nobles exchanged loaded glances and spoke in suggestive tones.

A subtle tension lingered in the room.

Soon after—

The eldest among the city nobles present, Sir Bellas, addressed Morren, who had convened them.

“So then, Morren. What reason do you have for calling us all together?”

“Respected Sir Bellas. I imagine you’ve already noted who’s present. Which is why I believe you understand the intent of this gathering without my needing to explain it aloud.”

“Even so, I feel compelled to hear it from your own mouth. That is, your reason for planning a meeting with such unsavory intent inside none other than Gadum’s mansion.”

All attention now turned to the young lord.

He spoke, eyes gleaming with his usual clarity.

“Gadum—he’s wavering. That much, everyone here knows.”

Morren’s words clarified the vague purpose of the meeting.

Though the nobles had expected this direction, they still showed unease.

After all, what he had just said was essentially: Let’s abandon Gadum and switch sides.

They all had one thing in common:

Their families’ power bases were firmly within Gadum’s sphere of influence.

If things went poorly, their family’s safety could be at risk.

Which was why they responded with both concern and interest to Morren’s words.

Gadum’s demands for “friendship” had only been growing more extreme.

For now, they maintained a safe enough distance—but it was only a matter of time before they’d be forced to partake in his “hospitality” or be roped into his business schemes.

They had no desire whatsoever to involve themselves in Gadum’s repugnant operations.

Even if doing so meant immense wealth.

While complex glances were exchanged across the room, it was once again Sir Bellas who spoke on their behalf.

“Indeed. As you say, we’ve seen Gadum waver. He’s recently lost both a major business venture and a crucial partner. Councilor Ran, who once avoided him like the plague, now stands squarely within his domain—and she publicly humiliated him in an official setting. As you said, he is shaken.”

“In that case—”

But—

Bellas added in a flat tone:

“So what do you expect us to do?”

“Sir Bellas?”

“He still has many business ventures. He still has his private guard. It will take a long time for his cashflow to run dry, and in the meantime, the city councilors will continue to turn a blind eye to his quarters. Do you have the resolve to endure through all that?”

“I couldn’t endure alone.”

“And do you think we’ll fare any better by banding together?”

“If we band together—and lend our strength to Ran—I believe it could change a great deal.”

“...Ran is indeed a woman worthy of admiration. Every citizen of Bondales likely respects and loves her.”

“I feel the same.”

But—

Once again, Bellas added:

“More than that, the citizens fear Gadum. While Ran invests all she has into helping the poor and the common folk, Gadum invests just as fully into exploiting the city. Do you truly believe Ran can stand against him? When even the other councilors line their pockets with his money?”

“...I used to think the same as you, Sir Bellas.”

“Oh?”

“Until I learned that the mastermind behind the disbanding of Left-Hand and the Barbarians... was Ran. She ruined one of Gadum’s operations and stole his people—and then had the gall to show up here. That’s not something you’d do without solid backing.”

“Solid backing...”

The lines deepened in the middle-aged nobleman’s face.

Bellas thought of a certain honorary mage.

“So what you’re suggesting is that we gamble all our fates... on that young mage.”

“...”

Morren’s once-confident expression darkened with uncertainty.

“He’s certainly an impressive individual. But can you swear on it? That with his support, Ran now stands equal to Gadum?”

There was no way to swear on that.

How could he?

Could a newly-come-of-age noble really possess the power to oppose someone like Gadum?

Morren fell silent.

“...”

Bellas had won the upper hand in the debate—but his expression wasn’t particularly bright either.

He, too, had been hoping.

That Morren might manage to persuade him.

A discomforting silence fell over the room.

As the city nobles looked around at each other in silent calculation—

Knock-knock-knock!

“Master Morren!”

“Sir Bellas! It’s urgent!”

“Galuan—!”

A commotion erupted at the door.

The guards and attendants accompanying the nobles rushed in to deliver the news.

“...What? The guard force?”

Morren hastily pulled back the curtains and looked out the window.

“...!”

The city guard, fully armored, had locked down the annex.

No one in, no one out.

“That madman Gadum—”

“He sent the guard after us?!”

The city nobles paled in shock.

They had anticipated some response from Gadum, but not such speed or ruthlessness.

“We need to check the situation, quickly.”

***

Morren’s group made their way down to the main hall, just ahead of the disruption.

There, they found a different group of city nobles who had arrived before them.

Unlike Morren’s group, these were men with true, intimate ties to Gadum.

In the truest sense—partners in crime.

Those who had partaken of Gadum’s vile hospitality and willingly joined his filthy enterprises.

“This must be a mistake! A complete misunderstanding!”

Morren and his companions were visibly flustered.

“I’ll say it again—there are no exceptions. Orders are that no one is to leave the premises until the investigation concludes after daybreak.”

The city guard blocking the mansion’s front entrance didn’t budge even for their “closest friends.”

“If that’s really the case, I won’t stand for this! Move aside! I must return to my quarters at once!”

One of the nobles shoved forward in frustration.

Shing—

A guard leveled his blade without hesitation.

“Approach again, and we’ll subdue you immediately.”

“Wha—”

The “close friend” was struck dumb, frozen in place.

The other “close friends” weren’t much different.

Morren’s party, too, stood frozen in place, sharing the same kind of disbelief.

“We’ve received intel that someone among tonight’s banquet guests may have colluded with the cultists.”

“...Councilor Ran, what do you mean by that?”

Ran stepped toward them, offering a calm explanation.

“It seems someone’s trying to make an example.”

“An example...?”

“To remind us not to defy him. Under the pretense of an investigation, he’ll keep us harassed for a while.”

How absurd...

Morren and the others swallowed the words that had risen to their throats.

It was entirely plausible—given Gadum’s current sense of crisis.

“This... this won’t do...! We need to act, do something—!”

Morren and his group looked around in panic.

Their gazes, unconsciously, all landed on a single man.

Then, someone murmured absently:

“Come to think of it, that Lisir guy—”

Ran responded with a wry smile.

“I saw him before I came here. His door was shut. Looks like he’s still inside.”

“In this situation, he’s just holed up in his room?!”

Bellas shouted in disbelief—

“Well, I imagine he has his own reasons for that.”

Heh.

Ran’s meaningful smile quickly overwhelmed them.

“What in the world...”

In this current scenario, the person in the most precarious position was none other than Ran herself.

From Gadum’s perspective, the other city nobles could simply be subdued through fear—but that wouldn’t work on Ran, and he knew it.

And Ran knew that he knew.

So then... how could she remain so calm?

“Don’t tell me—you’ve already spoken to Lisir?”

“I was just about to. If you don’t mind, would you like to come with me?”

“No—”

She hadn’t even spoken to him yet? And she was this composed?

They couldn’t understand Ran’s composure.

Which was precisely why, as if under a spell, they followed her.

To Lisir.

To the room where he was staying.

***

“Come in.”

Lisir’s voice came from behind the door as soon as they knocked.

It was an infinitely tranquil voice.

Morren’s group followed Ran, who was leading the way, and stepped into the room.

“...!”

They involuntarily held their breath.

Moonlight streamed faintly through the window, casting pale light across the room.

Lisir sat on the bed.

Not lying down—sitting in a lotus position.

His posture exuded a strange, dignified mystery, even a subtle sense of awe.

He’s meditating? At a time like this?

Some of the nobles stared at him, as if entranced.

And then—

Lisir, fully returned from his inner world, opened his eyes and looked straight ahead.

What the hell—geez, what is this. Why is everyone here all at once?

He maintained composure with effort as he spoke.

“What brings everyone here like this?”

“What brings us—? Didn’t you hear the commotion?!”

Morren blurted out, frustrated.

“Commotion?”

Ah.

Lisir gave a bitter smile.

Ah, Berbandes... you little pest!

He realized it at once.

The trickster from the dunes had caused another problem.

To restore calm, he quickly addressed them.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

“Don’t need to worry?!”

She might once have been a mischievous creature of the sand, but now she had become a proper, upstanding spirit.

Lisir believed whatever mess she had caused couldn’t be anything serious.

At worst, a repeat of the “Sandstorm Diner Raid Incident” maybe?

A sand spirit girl gobbling down food.

To those unaware of Berbandes’s true nature, it would be quite the shock.

But that was all it was.

A spirit driven by ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) appetite—no more, no less.

“Yes. On the surface, it may seem chaotic, but in truth, it’s likely nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious? How can you say that so surely—”

“I promise I’ll take full responsibility for everything. So please, trust me.”

“...”

Morren’s group—and even Ran—were taken aback by Lisir’s words.

His assurance and sense of responsibility radiated calm.

As if the entire situation lay comfortably in the palm of his hand.

“It’s late now. Let’s continue this conversation after sunrise.”

As if entranced, they followed his instruction without protest.

***

“Lord Gadum. As you ordered, the annex has been sealed off.”

“See that no one leaves until morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

Captain Dogal of the guard completed his report and exited Gadum’s room.

Now alone—

“...”

Gadum nodded to himself repeatedly.

Ran, Lisir. So you want to play this game? What do you think you can do?

The fact that they’d gotten the better of him was entirely due to his own complacency.

But if he applied sufficient pressure, there was no way they could slip from his control.

Having mobilized the city guard to assert his dominance, Gadum now felt his confidence returning.

From here on...

While organizing his next moves, he left the office and headed for his bedroom.

Throughout his luxurious chambers stood ornate display cases.

One of Gadum’s most prized hobbies—each case held an artifact imbued with sinister power.

What brought him joy was the fact that he alone could control these dangerous objects that others wouldn’t dare handle.

He had, at times, used these artifacts to inflict harm upon his political enemies.

Maintaining these items, stored in magically shielded display cases, was how he usually ended his day.

“...”

After some time—

Once the maintenance was complete, Gadum looked over his collection with satisfaction and lay down on the bed.

While those fools in the annex tossed and turned in fear of unknown threats, he would sleep peacefully in this perfectly controlled sanctuary.

Good.

And just like that, Gadum fell asleep—his shaken spirit soothed, reassured by the belief that all future events were once again firmly within his control.

***

Deep into the night, when all had fallen asleep.

A most unwelcome guest slipped into Gadum’s mansion, now locked down under heavy guard.

Thick doors. Locks. Watchmen.

None of it mattered.

The intruder passed through it all and reached the innermost chamber—Gadum’s bedroom.

Sssrrrk...

It began as a handful of sand.

Flowing through the gap beneath the door, the grains scattered across the floor... and then gathered, taking form before one of the display cases.

The sand spirit girl stood before it, arms raised high.

“I’ll eat you all!!!

It’d be best if you just let me devour you!!!”

It was a gesture filled with dreadful menace.

To human eyes, it might have looked merely adorable.

But—

Rattle rattle rattle rattle...

The opinion of Gadum’s prized artifacts was evidently quite different.

The display cases shuddered violently.

After making her rounds through the collection, Berbandes approached Gadum’s sleeping figure.

Her gaze landed on the necklace buried deep in the folds of his thick neck.

“So it was you! This smell!”

The flesh of Gadum’s thick neck trembled ever so slightly.

The girl’s hand reached for the necklace.

And a moment later—

Having finished her satisfying midnight snack, the girl left the room without hesitation.

Sssrrrk...

Leaving trails of sand behind in every corner.

***

The next morning.

As always, Gadum began his day tending to the artifacts in his display cases.

“...!”

But the moment he opened one, his face twisted in horror.

Dust clung to the relics.

Some bore faint scratches, as if something had scraped them.

As though they’d been swept up in a sandstorm.

“What in the... huh?”

Gadum touched his neck.

Rustle.

Grains of sand clinging to his thick neck dropped to the floor.

“...”

He turned pale and looked around.

There were no signs of a break-in.

Only the aftermath.

“Is—Is anyone there?!”

He shouted, and the guards immediately burst through the door.

“What’s wrong, sir?!”

“You—you didn’t maintain the watch last night, did you?!”

“What do you mean, sir? Of course we did. You ordered us to guard your chamber all night.”

“...Haaah! Haaah—!”

Gadum’s breath grew ragged.

Remember this well. Your pathetic life could be taken at any time.

In his mind, a masked man removed his disguise and said those words.

The ones under complete control... weren’t his enemies.

It was himself.

***

“Jjuinni! Wake up!”

“Huh?”

A voice called Lisir out of sleep.

And what greeted him as he awoke—

Was a small sand girl, perched lightly on his chest, looking down at him.

“Jjuinni’s a sleepyhead?!”

“Says you... Berbande... are you an earlybird?”

“No I’m not!!!”

“Huh?”

“Berbandes...”

Her body gave a sudden little shiver.

Lisir instinctively tensed in response.

“Ssuuya!”

“Aw, I was saving that.”

“Here! Jjuinni, you can have it!”

Aah—

Berbandes pried open her mouth with her index fingers and let a yellow mineral tumble out.

“...”

A familiar sight.