Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 1: Make Dark Fantasy Great Again ()

It lulls players into a false sense of security with a peaceful atmosphere. Then it kills them.

All of them. Heroines or not, it doesn’t matter.

Another Tale—a notoriously dark fantasy game.

Naturally, I never played it myself. Killing heroines is taboo in our industry. We’re told not to touch, write, or even think about such things.

I was more of a spectator, watching from afar as the first wave of gamers obliviously blew themselves up and the reckless followers prepared to meet the same fate.

For a while, Another Tale was popular in that way.

YouTube Shorts channels featured videos titled [Reactions of Players to the Ultimate Backstabbing Game], edited compilations of posts from Another Tale forum users.

Famous streamers uploaded videos of themselves playing Another Tale and writhing in agony.

Instead of playing the game directly, others enjoyed the core of the game through YouTube, the forum, and wiki pages.

I participated in the trend the same way. Which, in other words, means I don’t know much about Another Tale. I barely remember anything about it.

I probably wouldn’t even recognize the main character if I saw them. Unless I saw the scene where they die, that might jog my memory.

It wasn’t even a particularly meaningful game in my life. If it had been, I would have played it myself.

...Yet for some reason, sometimes that game comes to mind. Out of all the games, why only that one?

A sudden thought occurred to me.

Maybe. This world. Could this fantasy world possibly be the world from Another Tale?

“...Nah.”

It can’t be. It’s too peaceful here to be the world of a dark fantasy.

***About a year ago, I became aware of my past life. As a result, my modern Earth consciousness merged with my existing identity as a character in this fantasy world, creating who I am now.

Not much changed. I was still the young master of the noble Bendel family.

***The Bendel family was what you’d call a prestigious house. The Bendel Territory was isolated from the central region, but that was the result of the previous family head’s lack of interest in politics.

Bendel had been producing renowned swordsmen for generations, a family famous for its swordsmanship.

In other words, everyone in this family had an uncannily sharp eye. They were human weapons raised from childhood, honing their skills with the blade.

So, the first emotion I felt upon becoming aware of my past life was fear. What would happen if my family noticed the change in me?

This world is a fantasy realm where all sorts of mysteries and miracles actually exist. A family member’s consciousness suddenly changing one day? While that might be impossible on Earth, it’s entirely plausible here.

But the problem was, in this world, those who swap bodies and souls like changing parts are universally considered prime targets for elimination, regardless of their nature.

A young master whose consciousness suddenly changed?

The two options that would likely pop up are [1. Interrogate] [2. Torture].

So I tried my best to act as I did before my consciousness merged. To prevent my family from noticing the change in me.

It was all in vain. Before long, I realized that all of it was meaningless.

The keen eyes of a renowned swordsmanship family were not so easily fooled by the likes of me!

...But in a completely different way than I had worried about.

I was...an illegitimate child. My mother was a mere servant. She became pregnant with the family head’s baby, but that fact didn’t change anything.

My father was much too blue-blooded to take a servant, not even a lady’s maid, as a concubine.

As a child born of such a servant, the family paid no attention to the likes of me. And since they had no interest in me to begin with, they were unlikely to notice any changes. Even if they did notice changes, they wouldn’t consider them significant.

I was confused. Should I be happy about this?

But then I decided to think positively.

Yeah. At least the biggest problem’s solved.

Also, in this world, ‘bastard’ was the most common and insulting curse word.

Being born immune to such an insult? It couldn’t be more encouraging, like being born an orphan and thus immune to parental insults.

Having overcome the crisis caused by my past life awareness, I faced a new phase.

-So. What now?

I became the young master of a prestigious noble family in a fantasy world, only to find out I’m a bastard. Someone treated as a nonentity not only by family members but also by retainers and servants.

What kind of future awaits me if I stay here?

-Enlist...!

In the bastard industry of this world, there was a culture of volunteering for the military to gain parental recognition.

But I swear on my goddamn pride. Never. Ever. Will. I. Do. That.

In my past life, I was twenty-one years old. I finally escaped the cursed shackles of military service through death, yet there aren’t even smartphones here.

Without a doubt, enlisting was out of the question.

So let’s think about it. What if the family’s disgrace, an illegitimate child, boldly declares, “I don’t want to join the military like other bastards?”

The family members would surely hear me out, ears perked and eyes sparkling. And then send me to the harshest unit, full of contempt.

Finally, I came to a very reasonable conclusion—escape.

No one would complain if an illegitimate child treated as a nonentity really disappeared.

Based on this logical judgment, I’ve been pushing forward with escape preparations lately. The early bastard bird catches the worm of independence, as they say.

Today too, as soon as dawn broke, I left the annex of the Bendel manor where the servants lived.

“Lord Risir.”

At the entrance of the annex, there was a woman greeting me.

It was Maya, the dedicated lady’s maid of my younger sister, Roera.

“Miss Maya, good morning.”

“Lady Roera requests a meeting. The time is today at noon. Please come to the front yard of the main building.”

Her attitude of ignoring my greeting and immediately announcing as if giving orders might seem a bit impudent for a lady’s maid, but this is quite an improvement.

Between a Bendel lady’s maid and a Bendel bastard, who’d have the higher status?

Without a doubt, it’s the lady’s maid. Most of these lady’s maids were of noble origin. Unlike me, a half-breed, they were completely pure.

The retainers of the Bendel manor treated me like a young master, but it was merely formal. Underlying their actions was deep contempt.

Maya used to treat me as if I didn’t exist. But now?

“...”

“...”

Look at this. Maya bows her head slightly when our eyes meet. This happened because I greeted her warmly every day.

It’s a tremendous improvement. To me, it’s almost like being treated as an emperor. Since becoming aware of my past life, my life has been improving day by day.

...But Roera wants to meet me?

It’s not a good sign. Generally, when a Bendel seeks out a bastard, it’s usually because they’re itching to cause trouble.

“Oh dear. I have some business to attend to today, you see.”

It was a very important matter that just came to mind. Spending time outside until evening to avoid encountering Roera.

“In that case, shall I inform her that you will visit once your business is concluded?”

“Please tell her not to wait.”

“Of course. I’m sure Lord Risir won’t keep my lady waiting.”

I don’t think so. Oh, definitely not.

Of course, the Bendel young lady who’s been stood up won’t sit idle, but that’s not my problem.

What can you do about it? Tattle to daddy? And what can daddy do? Kick me out of the family?

Oh please do. Give me that industry award.

“...”

“...”

Maya raised her head, eyeing me with suspicion. But when I gave her a friendly grin, she hurriedly averted her gaze and left.

I should be on my way too.

***

▶Another Tale◀

This is another story.

***Father. If I manage to return, will you acknowledge me then? Will you regret the days you treated me with such harshness?

I choose to believe you will.

So please, God. Haven’t I suffered enough already?

“I beg you...”

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The man sobbed. He instinctively sensed that he would die here on this nameless snowy mountain where icy winds howled.

Suddenly, his father’s face came to mind.

The man came here for his father’s honor, yet the father he recalled still gazed at him with contempt.

From that moment, the man’s sobs became indistinguishable from laughter. His breath ran out before he could express all his emotions.

As all warmth was about to be lost from his lips...he began to mutter while staring into empty space.

Very well.

Eventually, the man ceased to breathe and his body went limp. Simultaneously, an ice pillar fell from above, piercing the man’s crown.

A moment later, the bastard child rose.

He gazed toward his homeland with lifeless eyes.

▶Fate 19: The Returning Bastard

***

▷Fate 19: ‘The Returning Bastard’ has been deactivated.

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