Ch 188
People sometimes assume things that will not happen and gain stability from it.
If this building collapses, I’ll probably die, right?
I’m glad the building is strong enough not to collapse.
If the plague that spread to other villages had spread to our village, many people would have died, right?
I’m glad the plague didn’t spread to our village.
Their idea also originated from that psychology.
Lisir.
They used to think while looking at The Man.
What would have happened if that Man had gone down the wrong path?
Anyway, I’m glad he was born with an upright heart that will not be corrupted.
Stability.
It was something that could only be enjoyed when the possibility of anxiety was blocked.
Therefore-
When that sense of stability collapsed, humans felt the greatest anxiety and Fear.
The Demon’s Power worked that way.
It saw their firm Faith in a Man.
It saw the stability that came from there, and the Anxiety that was being denied.
The Demon’s Power twisted it-
And presented them with a Mental Image.
Very kindly.
“…This is?”
That was why Chender felt a sense of unease.
The moment he came to his senses, he was immediately able to realize that the space he was in was in a Nightmare.
He looked around.
It was a familiar place.
One of the rooms in the Mansion where those who had fallen into the Nightmare, including Dray, were lying.
Now it was Chender who was lying there.
And-
“Chender, are you awake?”
“…Duke Pallag?”
Chender quickly got up.
When he looked at the place where the Voice came from, Pallag was standing there.
That wasn’t all.
“You are… Iron Sword Dwen? And the Hero of Ideal, and even the Hero of Insight… and━”
Chender, looking at the next person, trailed off.
Then, Pallag opened his mouth.
“Ah. Let me introduce you. These are Lisir’s comrades, Pien and Eron.”
The two Women who were gathered in one place bowed awkwardly yet politely.
After that Introduction was exchanged-
The only thought that came to Chender’s mind was.
“Duke Pallag… are you really, Duke Pallag?”
Pallag immediately understood the Intention behind that strange question and nodded.
It was a topic that had already been discussed once.
“Yes. Me too, and everyone here is the same. Apparently, we seem to have been summoned into this Nightmare as a group.”
Several people can have Nightmares as a group.
But, several people simultaneously having one Nightmare.
“Is that even possible…?”
“I was suspicious at first. I wondered if the Nightmare was trying to deceive me. But after talking to them, I changed my mind.”
Chender’s Gaze followed Pallag to the pure white Woman, Pien.
“I heard the story. Lisir caught another new Demon and absorbed its Power?”
“…?”
Chender doubted his ears for a moment.
Treating a High-Ranking Demon like some kind of Beast-
“I heard that Demon also had the Power to trap people in Nightmares, right? Maybe that’s why.”
Ah.
Is that why.
Everyone smiled bitterly at Pien’s explanation and showed a meaningful reaction.
Except for one person.
Chender was the only one who didn’t seem to understand the Situation.
“That’s why… what does that mean?”
“What else could it be? Lisir absorbed the Demon’s Power.”
“…Did I hear that correctly?”
Chender seriously doubted his ears this time.
High-Ranking Demon.
To ‘absorb’ the Power of that transcendent Existence.
‘It’s not like hunting down and eating some Beast…’
It was a story that was too far removed from the Reason of the World that Chender possessed.
So Chender thought.
Could it be that all of this is an Illusion created by the Nightmare to deceive him?
“Ah. How do I explain this again…”
Pien frowned, as if Chender’s reaction was frustrating.
“You. Don’t you know anything? About The Man?”
It was as if she was convinced that it was absolutely impossible to convince someone who had not experienced a ‘specific phenomenon’ with words.
Then, Pallag said to Chender.
“Chender. Do you remember the Fire Spirit and the Sand Spirit you saw back then?”
“…Ah, I remember it well. They were Spirits with very mysterious Power. I had never heard of such Spirits in my life.”
“Yes. That’s right. That’s because those Spirits were originally Demons.”
“…A Demon is a Demon, and a Spirit is a Spirit. What on earth are you talking about?”
Everyone, including Pallag, looked at Chender, who was confused, with warm Gazes.
Chender became even more confused by that Gaze.
In the midst of all this, the pure white Woman speaks.
“Think about it. Swallowing an Artifact containing Demon’s Energy. Would a normal Spirit be capable of that?”
“…”
Then, is it possible for a Demon to become a Spirit?
Chender tried hard to swallow that Doubt inside.
“Well, I understand. It’s not easy to accept right now. For now, you just need to know that’s how it is. Lisir’s ‘Spirit’ absorbed the Power of the ‘Demon’, and as a result, that Power became Lisir’s.”
“…So, Lisir used that Nightmare Power on us?”
“It probably wasn’t intentional.”
Pilgrim Chender.
The Paladin who wandered around the Continent and built up so many denials knew how easily human beings could be stained by denial.
Based on Chender’s Experience-
The Man named Lisir had Conditions that would not be strange if he fell into corruption at any time.
Right now, Nobles of the same age as him often caused problems by getting drunk on insignificant Power.
However, Lisir possessed a vast Power that could not even be compared to that.
It would be perfectly natural for him to lose control right now.
“…”
But why?
Chender couldn’t imagine The Man losing control and falling into the Apostles.
“If it wasn’t intentional?”
When Chender asked in a calmer tone than before, Pien shrugged and said.
“There must have been a problem for a moment. Isn’t that common? Power gained suddenly goes out of control━”
“The Power of a High-Ranking Demon has gone out of control…? Then, isn’t the Situation more serious than we think?”
“Don’t worry about that part. Also, it’s not just that.”
“What else is━”
“Could you look here?”
An austere Voice interjected.
Iron Sword Dwen made a Statement.
Before he knew it, She had drawn her sword and was holding it against her Palm.
Dwen moved the sword slowly.
Everyone could clearly see it.
Scars being engraved on her Palm.
And the Scars healing immediately.
“Hmm…”
A groan leaked from Chender’s mouth.
At that, Pien continued the story as if she had been waiting.
“Whether it’s been that way from the beginning, or whether The Man’s subconscious is at work. Anyway, it doesn’t seem like this Power intends to harm us.”
“…Perhaps, his subconscious is at work.”
“Oh my. How can you be so sure?”
The pure white Woman looked at Chender with an interested Gaze.
As if she didn’t like the fact that he was saying that he knew ‘The Man’ better than herself-
That haughty Gaze seemed somewhat displeased.
“When this Power was with the Demon, it wasn’t so kind. Rather, it was an extremely ferocious Power. Isn’t that right, Duke Pallag?”
“According to the story I heard from Dray, it certainly seems to be the case. Originally, it would be reasonable to assume that this Power has the Nature to completely destroy and subjugate the target. Lisir unconsciously controlled that Nature.”
“…”
Pien, lost in thought.
Soon, her lips moved slightly, drawing a Crescent.
“Well, I guess that’s like The Man.”
“…Miss Pien, was it? May I ask you something?”
“Yes. Ask me anything. I don’t like telling other people about The Man… but who else but me would tell you about The Man?”
Me?
Rona pointed to herself from the side and smiled playfully.
Pien glared at her once and then listened to Chender’s question.
“You said that this Power clearly has no Intention of harming us. Then━”
Chender looked around and said.
“How can we get out of here?”
“Actually━ we were talking about that before you woke up.”
“Has a conclusion been reached?”
“Conclusion, should I say.”
Clang.
It was the sound of Dwen sheathing her sword in the Scabbard.
She, who had finished preparing, said.
“He will soon grasp the Situation and take action. Perhaps, he has already taken action and left behind arrangements.”
“…You mean, go out and look for Clues?”
“That’s right. If you have any other plans, please feel free to tell us.”
“…”
Chender shook his head and checked his Condition.
“First, let’s take a look around The Man’s room.”
The exploration Party, led by Pien, left the room.
✦✦✦
“You are…”
When the exploration Party arrived at Lisir’s room, there was already someone there to greet them.
“…”
Blue Lotus Klana.
The Murderer got up from the bed and looked around.
“Were you also dragged here?”
Even to Pallag’s question, She was lost in thought alone with her unique aloof Atmosphere.
What is that again?
Another Woman.
Ignoring Pien and Rona’s whispering, as if it were natural.
Eventually, She nodded.
“I have a rough idea of what the Situation is.”
Klana looking around the room.
After finding and taking the Blue Lotus, She tried to leave the room alone.
“Wait, Klana. In this Situation, it’s better to act together━”
At that, Pallag was about to start persuading her.
-Aaaaaaah!!!
Everyone’s Gazes turned to the window at once.
A Scream was heard from outside the building.
“…Oh my god.”
Someone muttered blankly.
Bondales was on fire.
By Black Flames.
They immediately moved to the place where the Scream had been heard.
✦✦✦
“Duke Pallag!? Oh, heavens━ Thank you!”
Gus, the Merchant who encountered Pien’s Party, sighed in deep relief.
Around him were not only the Trading Company’s Escort Troops, but also the Guests staying at the Mansion and their Escorts.
Adding up all the numbers, it was roughly fifty.
If you put them all together, it was a force comparable to a Knight order, surpassing a decent Mercenary Group.
Nevertheless, Gus sighed in relief at the encounter with Pallag.
They were now at the Main Gate of Goose Manor.
There, they were stopping the endless surge of intrusion.
“Oh my god, Gus! Don’t tell me you’re real too!?”
Pallag said, looking around at the people gathered in the place.
“Am I real━ What are you talking about!?”
“When you came to your senses, didn’t you feel any sense of unease?”
“That’s… well, I don’t know! I clearly remember falling asleep in bed…”
At that sight, Pien said.
“Maybe━ it’s because he’s not as familiar with The Man’s Energy as we are, that’s why he’s like that.”
Rona then said.
“That guy. How many people did he drag into the Nightmare? Don’t tell me he dragged in the entire City?”
Hahaha.
Rona made a Joke and burst into her unique refreshing Smile.
That Smile gradually hardened.
“…No, it’s not really, is it?”
When I thought about it, I realized that The Man was capable enough.
“Uhhh, over there━ they’re coming again!!!”
At that time.
Those who were guarding the Main Gate with Gus shouted.
The Gazes of Pien’s Party naturally turned to the Main Gate they were pointing at.
“Gus! What’s going on! Explain!”
“I, I don’t know! They’re clearly ordinary humans━ but for some Reason, they’re all out of their minds and flocking to the Mansion!”
“Out of their minds!?”
“Yes! Out of their minds, they keep muttering the same words! For Master… for Master…”
“…Mental Interference, huh━”
Moment.
Pien and Rona’s Expressions contorted.
Could it be?
“They’re here!”
Pien and Rona reflexively stepped forward and carefully watched the group approaching the Mansion.
“…Oh dear.”
Rona made a sound of air escaping.
The two had faces that showed they didn’t know what kind of Expression to make.
Humans who have lost their Self and are flocking to the Mansion.
Because they realized that the Power that dominates those humans is similar to their own Power.
✦✦✦
“That’s can’t be…”
At the same time.
The Wizards of the Grey Tower were sighing as they looked up at the roof of the Magic Tower’s Main House.
Usually, that place was where the Half-Spirit, who hated humans and liked to be lost in Contemplation, often spent time.
Now that place was occupied by something else.
-Aaaaaaaaaah!!!
It was a Wolf.
A very large Wolf.
High-Rank Spirit-
Perhaps a Wolf Spirit with a higher rank than that howled as it looked at the sky.
✦✦✦
“Ah, ah…”
The Council Member’s Expression, looking down at her body, was filled with Despair.
Her body was turning black.
Like the Guards who had already fallen to the ground and were rotting away every moment.
The Curse was consuming the City.
✦✦✦
“Miss Pien!? Miss Rona!? Do you two have any idea what’s going on!?”
Humans flocking in, having lost their Self.
Pien and Rona’s meaningful reactions.
Gus asked urgently.
“That’s━”
“Uhhh, over there!!! They’re doing something again!!!”
Just as Pien was about to make a Statement.
The crowd flocking to the Mansion began to split into two.
Like Soldiers attending to their Lord.
In that way, someone appeared from between the crowd that had split into two.
It was a Dark Knight wearing the Black Fire that was consuming the City like Armor.
“This is crazy…”
Pien’s Party immediately recognized who was inside that Armor.
They realized.
Something that can never happen.
Therefore, the most terrible Nightmare━ is unfolding before their eyes right now.
Right now, the City was being conquered by a single Man.
✦✦✦
At the same time.
Lisir suddenly felt a sense of unease.
He listened to the Commotion coming from the Inner World.
-You!!! You shouldn’t do that!!!
Verbande was scolding someone.
✦✦✦
Leave a Reply