Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Axiom's Festival
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"Holding back from devouring each other must be quite the ordeal."
Marlboro took the lead, heading toward the massive front gate.
He pulled an invitation from his pocket and casually placed it in the center of the door.
Rumble...
The black door split apart to the left and right. An entrance appeared.
This couldn't be called an ordinary building.
It felt exactly like a dungeon entrance.
"Let's go in."
As soon as Marlboro spoke, I tightly gripped Esira's hand.
I felt her hand trembling slightly. I squeezed it even harder.
Reina, following behind, swallowed hard with a face frozen stiff. I could clearly hear her gulp.
"Wow..."
Esira let out an exclamation as we stepped inside.
"Vast" didn't even begin to describe the interior.
The ceiling soared impossibly high, and the floor was covered in mirror-like marble that gleamed endlessly.
Every step we took lit up patterns beneath our feet.
It was like a modern art gallery fused with a fantasy demon king's castle.
The Commander was already glancing around, his face calculating estimates in his head.
"Man, this place is fancy. Snagging just one chandelier would keep me fed for a year."
Marlboro shook his head.
"Hey. Stop. Don't touch anything. You could really die messing around here."
"Security systems or something?"
"Who knows. I'd prefer if it was something that sensible."
"First time here?"
"Not exactly."
Marlboro shrugged. He started to grin playfully but then stared up at the ceiling.
A strange tension flickered across his face.
"But here's the thing. I don't know exactly what's inside or how the layout changes."
"Why not?"
"It's an Axiom building. Takes after its owner—totally capricious."
Reina pressed her lips tight and glanced down at her feet.
Her eyes held suspicion that the floor might give way any second.
Esira, on the other hand, looked up at Marlboro with curiosity outweighing her fear.
"Then who made it?"
"Number 5."
The Commander tilted his head, a slight furrow forming on his brow.
"Number 5—who's that?"
I answered for him.
"Sage."
Marlboro nodded.
"Right. Sage. Specializes in buildings."
The Commander swept his gaze around again.
"So he whips these up like a simulation game?"
"Not instantly. But in a short time, he can shape it into whatever structure he wants."
"That's incredible."
"Where walls pop up, where paths bend, how many rooms— all up to him. He rearranges the whole building like a puzzle."
"Maybe we should beg him to build our infrastructure?"
"Impossible."
Reina asked cautiously.
"Could he make a dungeon too?"
"Twist paths however he likes, plant traps, hide exits. This place we're walking could be a dungeon right now."
"Eek."
Reina gasped and clutched her skirt tightly.
The Commander fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Impressive architect."
"Too dangerous a type to call an architect, though."
"Here's hoping we never cross him as an enemy."
"Yeah. Amen to that."
Marlboro pointed toward the interior with a finger.
"Elevator. Over there."
A dark slit in the wall—not quite a door.
Its smooth surface somehow felt like the skin of a living creature.
After hearing Marlboro's explanation, it made me a little uneasy.
I tried to dismiss it as an illusion, but it felt like the wall was breathing.
We stepped inside.
It looked like an elevator. But no buttons. No indicators. Simple to the point of rudeness.
Esira tilted her head, her eyes darting up and down busily.
"Mr. Marlboro, no buttons?"
"None here."
"Then how do we go up?"
"The invitation acts as the button."
He placed the invitation against the center of the wall.
Whirr...
No sound of gears, no jolting vibration. It felt like a giant hand lifting us whole.
The Commander scratched his head.
"Not science, huh. Magic's really convenient."
"Too dirty to call it magic."
"Dirty? It's spotless in here."
The elevator interior was sleek and pristine—far from anything dirty.
"The maker's nasty temperament is baked right in."
"For example?"
"Once locked people in one spot and ran a murder game."
Reina's face twisted in disbelief as she protested.
"Why the hell would he do that!?"
"For fun, he said."
Marlboro shrugged nonchalantly, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Fun with people dying?"
"Sage gets excited watching life fade. Gasping breaths, shaking eyes, the moment the mind breaks—that's his thrill. He loves blood flowing, people crumbling."
"What a total pervert..."
"Can't argue that. I hate that a guy like him was one of Axiom's founders. Back then, he even used a goofy bear robot yelling 'Wubwub!' for his murder games."
I quietly shut my mouth. As Axiom's Number 4, the Silver-Haired Butcher, it wasn't my place to chime in.
Even recalling the original story, Sage was one of Axiom's top scumbags.
That was when it happened.
I realized the elevator had stopped.
The wall parted silently to the sides.
Light poured in, along with a distant murmur—music or noise, hard to tell.
The moment I took one step forward.
The Commander, Reina, and Esira all froze at once.
I hesitated too.
'Why is she here?'
Thinking about it, there was no reason it should be strange. This was Axiom. An Axiom gathering meant Axiom members—that was normal.
Dancing Butterfly stood there, holding a wine glass.
With every step, her dress fluttered like butterfly wings.
Just her smiling lips evoked the word "stage."
She tilted the glass slightly and took a sip. Her long lashes lowered, then slowly rose.
Her gaze met mine exactly.
Dancing Butterfly paused for a split second. Even the timing as the glass left her lips froze perfectly.
A smile bloomed.
'Ah, found you.'
It was exactly that kind of smile.
She lightly shook the hand holding the glass and approached with light steps.
Beside me, the Commander turned to stone. His mouth half-open, eyes blinking rapidly.
Reina was much the same.
They must remember the last incident vividly.
"Uh. Wow. That woman over there."
Instead of the short-circuiting Commander, I named her.
"Dancing Butterfly."
"Right? The one who fed me something weird."
"Yeah."
Dancing Butterfly stopped in front of us. Up close, her scent hit strongly—floral with a sweet thread woven in.
"My goodness."
She laughed. It was so beautiful it was eerie instead.
"Didn't expect you to show up here."
Under the lights, the red wine sparkled like blood.
"Marlboro invited you?"
Marlboro shook his head.
"Ran into her by chance."
"I see."
Dancing Butterfly brushed it off perfunctorily and turned her gaze back to me. Her face said she couldn't care less about his answer.
Marlboro tossed out words to forcibly change the mood.
"Long time no see."
"Long time, huh..."
Only then did Dancing Butterfly curl her lips toward Marlboro.
"Hanging with the kid Commander before, now pioneering new paths? Got a new hobby?"
As Marlboro geared up for a slick comeback, Dancing Butterfly stepped even closer abruptly.
Too close.
I pulled Esira half a step back. I didn't let go of her hand. Her fingers wriggled in my palm.
Dancing Butterfly whispered.
"Brought the kid along too."
"Can't leave her home alone."
"Oh my, how sweet. I'm so, so jealous."
It wasn't stage acting.
She genuinely looked envious.
Dancing Butterfly smiled and extended her wine glass toward me slightly. The red liquid gleamed once more.
"Care for a glass? We should commemorate today."
"Commemorate what?"
"Getting invited means someone wants to see you."
It's just a formality invitation.
'She dresses up her words so prettily.'
That's what she's best at.
Reina drew in a deep breath, and the Commander swallowed. Even Marlboro's expression stiffened just a bit.
Dancing Butterfly narrowed her eyes, savoring the reactions.
As if it were nothing, she crooked a finger.
The surrounding lights softened a tone. I thought it was my imagination, but the noise from inside cut off abruptly.
It felt like a thin membrane separated us, the air flow shifting briefly.
Dancing Butterfly tilted her head slightly.
"Ah, everyone's so tense."
She smiled as she spoke.
"This is a festival. The day Axiom pretends to have a gathering."
The wine in her glass shone again.
"Isn't it fun?"
"Dunno about fun, but 'pretend' fits perfectly."
"Oh?"
"Holding back from devouring each other must be quite the ordeal."
Dancing Butterfly's eyes curved like crescent moons.
"I like how you talk sense."
She twisted her body slightly. Her dress fluttered lightly like butterfly wings.
"But, Lady Asrania."
Dancing Butterfly smiled softly.
"I'm not thinking of devouring you right now. So relax. Hehe."
Do I look like I'd lose to Axiom? I won't be eaten.
"Do I look like easy prey?"
"Eh?"
"I've been quiet lately, so everyone's getting delusions. There's a line to nonsense."
"...Understood."
The thin membrane around us dissolved smoothly.
"Whew..."
The Commander finally exhaled the breath he'd held. He looked almost teary.
Reina shook her head in disgust.
"She's really tough to deal with."
"Makes me wanna go home."
"We haven't even started, Commander."
"Sniff sniff."
Once Dancing Butterfly walked away, Marlboro clicked his tongue with a face of revulsion.
"Damn, she drains the energy right out. She's always been a pain."
"Thought you two got along."
"Hell no. She's totally nuts."
Somehow, that rang true.
As we entered deeper, the chandeliers caught my eye first. Golden glass pieces dangled in layers.
Thick perfume and wine scents assaulted us—sweet, yet edged somewhere.
Dancing Butterfly waited at the entrance.
"Come on in. Tonight's main stage."
She spread her arms wide. Pure showman pose, like ushering an actor from behind the curtain.
Her face screamed, 'This way, applause!' any second.
The hall was packed with nothing but the strong ones.
Their outfits screamed, "I'm no ordinary human." Every decoration, every feature strayed from the norm.
The instant we stepped in.
It was like someone hit mute. Silence descended.
The vibe plummeted.
There were fearful eyes for sure.
But more were filled with interest and curiosity.
The Commander tilted his head.
"This ain't exactly a fun party atmosphere."