Shattering Illusions on Summer Break
The fist sliced through empty air.
"Gaaahhh…!!!"
It smashed straight into Felix's face. Just the simple repetition of raising his fist and slamming it down. No mana or aura infused the punches.
Thwud!!!Splat!!!
The face that had brimmed with confidence just moments ago was already crumbling. Swollen flesh and droplets of blood trickling from his mouth. The guy who'd once dragged me to hell was nowhere to be seen.
"Master!! You said you wouldn't kill him!!"
"…Right. Yeah."
I'd been pounding away like I was possessed, without even realizing it. Did flashes of past memories surge up with every hit?
"Guhk… You think Father will just sit back and watch this…?"
Felix clutched his mangled face, glaring at me with murderous eyes.
I wondered why he wouldn't break after all that…
"Is that what you were thinking?"
Pathetic, really. It wasn't just limited to magic—his inexperience and narrow worldview extended everywhere.
"Do you really believe Father would help you, Brother?"
I swallowed a hollow laugh and gazed down at Felix steadily. Once, I'd been the one down there. Now our positions were reversed.
"…Father cherishes me. Not like you."
"That's not cherishing you. He cherished your talent and potential."
Felix's pupils dilated at my words. Yeah. He'd spent his whole life stepping on me as a ladder, so he'd forgotten.
Joshua Vergilius wasn't the type to be swayed by mere sentiment. He'd only favored what benefited him and the family.
"Right now, you don't seem all that valuable compared to me."
As soon as the words left my mouth, Felix gripped his face even harder.
"Gaaahhh!!!! No!!! I can't—I can't end up like thiiiis…."
His voice and eyes faded weakly. It was the telltale sign that Felix, who'd always blindly believed in himself, was starting to crumble.
"He's completely broken now."
"Yeah. Humans can shatter pretty easily sometimes."
"To break over something like that… So fragile."
Normal people don't crumble after just one go. It was just that his opponent was Felix, who'd lived off his sense of superiority his whole life—especially toward me.
…Hoo. Time to head back and crash for real.
Even though I'd just arrived today, I'd pushed my body way too hard. I'd only just reached 7th Circle and needed time to stabilize, but I'd gone and fought Felix on top of that. My body and mind were exhausted to death.
"Haa… Tomorrow's gonna be even worse."
I was already dying of fatigue, but by tomorrow, word would spread through the family that I'd turned Felix into that. It'd reach Joshua and even Ash's ears. I hoped it wouldn't rile them up more.
Whatever. For now, I needed to rest.
No matter how few good memories I had here, the main estate was honestly great. The family atmosphere was a dumpster fire, but the facilities themselves were top-tier in the empire.
"That's why this doesn't make any sense."
It was 3 a.m. sharp. I'd gone back to my room, crashed hard, and woken up—with a black-hooded man's neck gripped in my hand.
"Huerk…."
I wanted to snap his neck right then for ruining my rest. But first, I needed info to make sense of this absurd situation.
"Who sent you to set foot in the main house at this hour?"
"K-Kill meee!!!"
"This guy's insane."
I forcibly yanked his tongue as he tried to bite it off in suicide. No matter how I thought about it, someone inside must've helped him get this far… But he kept trying to die, so I couldn't get anything out of him.
"Lilia. Any way around this?"
"Hmm… I might have a method, but no guarantee it'll work."
"Anything's fine. Try it."
If I couldn't get answers, he'd die by my hand or his own anyway.
"Got it. Hold on."
Lilia, who'd been in spirit form, dissolved into smoke. Even in spirit form, I could usually see her, but now she was completely gone from sight.
"…Ahem. Ah? Feels like this might work."
A unfamiliar voice leaked from the man who'd been thrashing to die moments ago. Unfamiliar voice, but a familiar speech pattern.
"Possession?"
"Yep. Normally impossible, but it felt doable now, so I tried. Success."
Probably because Lilia had regained some demonic energy. She'd been purely parasitic on me for a while, but now she could sustain herself independently.
"So, what's the story?"
"…Well. Digging through his memories gives a rough picture."
She could even browse memories during possession. Demons really were something else. Even I, at 7th Circle, couldn't dream of it.
"Ah. The outline's coming into focus."
"Yeah? Spill the details."
What Lilia saw in the man's memories was straightforward. A high-paying commission from someone hiding their identity with perception-blocking magic. When he heard my location was Vergilius County, he'd almost refused. But massive cash and inside help were promised.
But in the family, few could prepare both.
Off the top of my head, only two who wanted me dead: Felix himself and his mother. Trying to rebuild his crumbling status by removing me. Yeah, they'd have the money and inside access.
"My head's killing me."
I wanted to rest, but no peace. An idiot in Vergilius County trying assassination? Unbelievable.
Even if they tried, Joshua—not me—would step in.
No one in Vergilius would accept an assassination attempt quietly. He'd handle it personally.
"Guess I have to trust that guy this time."
I didn't expect anything from Joshua, but right now, I could count on him. The man was thorough with stuff like this.
"Sigh… But now I'm wide awake. Doubt I can sleep."
A deep sigh escaped. Night was still long enough to sleep, but the assassin had ruined that. Deep sleep was essential for recovery and stabilization.
"Master."
"…Huh?"
"Lie here."
Hearing my lament, Lilia sat on the bed's edge, patting her lap.
Was this a lap pillow offer?
"Nah… Don't wanna bother you that much."
"No. I want to do it."
"…Oh."
It was clearly for me, but I hesitated a bit. Embarrassed? I'd never had a real relationship in my past life before dying.
Skinship and flirting like this made my face heat up.
"Dante."
"……Yeah?"
"Lie down. You need rest. Don't make me worry."
Not "Master," but my name—my body moved on its own. Normally, I'd react to "Master," but somehow it was the opposite.
Hearing "Master" too much?
"Ah, comfy…."
As I slowly lay my head on her lap, Lilia's unique scent tickled my nose. Sweet yet soft. Along with the scent, the plush give of her thigh cradled my head.
This might keep me more awake.
"Sorry. Making you go through this."
"It's not hard. Now shut your eyes and stop talking."
"Got it. No need to glare. I'll lie still."
I nodded, turning for a comfy position. Cracking my eyes open, Lilia's ample chest and jet-black hair filled my view, proudly on display. That'd ruin sleep, so I closed them and breathed slowly.
Peaceful. Maybe the most at ease since transmigrating.
Not even when I first felt alive again. Or broke the curse. Or recovered in the hospital.
Never this calm. I'd worried sleep wouldn't come, but my eyelids grew heavy. Mind at ease? Body relaxing too.
"……Thanks, Lilia. I think I can sleep deep now."
I murmured thanks softly, finally sealing my lips.
What a turbulent day, yet here I lay in comfort.
"Sleep well, Dante. You've worked hard enough today."
Her familiar voice tickled my ear. Soft, sweet tone brought a smile.
Yeah. What was happiness if not this?
"………Good night."