145. The Dream Witch (3)
145. The Dream Witch (3)
- 1 -
"Thank you, Sonia."
"It's nothing. Sleep well."
Sonia's bedtime assistance had ended, and I was just about to retire to bed.
Tok-tok -
"Master?"
It was also just before I began my conversation with Evangeline, who had come to see me before I fell asleep.
"What brings you at this hour?"
"It seems to be an urgent matter."
The crystal ball installed in my private quarters glowed with light, and seeing it, I decided to delay sleep a little.
It wasn't an emergency, but it was the light signaling news that needed to be delivered as quickly as possible.
"Sonia, go in and rest. I shall see you tomorrow morning."
"Yes. Good night then."
The report Talhan brought was about a criminal who was very likely to become my enemy or an obstacle.
"Kkumui Manyeo Areupina... That is a name I've heard before."
"There is a high probability you have heard it in children's tales, proverbs, or the like."
"Children's tales? ... You are right."
After hearing Evangeline's words and thinking for a moment, it came to me right away.
Kkumui Manyeo, Arpina Mailtrom.
She was a famous murderer who had operated in the northern continent, a woman once called the very epitome of 'witch'.
Not long ago, she was even treated as the main character in the proverb 'If you cry too much at night, the witch will come and take you away,' so anyone could guess the extent of her notoriety.
- In reality, the number of people she killed wasn't that high...
"I hear the targets were famous Gangsters in the northern continent."
"Correct. Among them, some cases were distorted as having been killed by her."
The people she killed were all individuals who possessed Gang-like power, and because of that, the status of the woman who killed them rose as well.
Areupina had originally been known as an unidentified assassin who made all the mana and power in a corpse vanish.
But because of her own arrogance, she lost her most fatal weapon: stealth.
- If 'Noble Abelos' had not faced her, she would still be going around assassinating numerous Gangsters.
"She would have."
Instead of killing one of the continent's supreme Gangsters, she ended up getting caught by him.
And 'Noble Abelos,' one of the greatest human adventurers on the current continent, publicly revealed her identity—which had become known that way—to the entire continent.
'A woman with the power to steal memories and abilities from her victims' dreams and make them her own...'
Thanks to the ability revealed in that manner, she was able to earn a proper nickname for herself.
'Kkumui Manyeo.'
An epithet that meant 'She appears in the dreams of the dead and torments them.'
Before that, she had been called Nightmare, Suppression, Phantasm, Black Mist, and so on. It was a coincidental Fate, but the nicknames people created had accurately guessed her true nature.
"I do not know why she is coming to the Central Region."
- There could be several reasons. Perhaps she wishes to distance herself from the northern Demon Realm where she was captured... Or perhaps she harbors a desire to challenge Abelus, who exposed her identity, once more.
Talhan mentioned several reasons, but I somehow felt that none of them would be the case.
'Intuition' whispered to me.
"It's Dantalion, Master."
Evangeline spoke to me.
Her single phrase instantaneously gave form to my intuition, and I extracted the highest possibility from it and laid it out in my mind.
"It was said Dantalion released her."
- As you say.
"Then it is as Eve says. The two barons I killed previously were both subordinates of Dantalion."
- Then... could it be a grudge?
I shook my head.
There could be cases where a superior Dungeon Lord cherished a subordinate Dungeon Lord especially, but my assumption was that this would merely be treatment befitting a useful pawn.
And usually, intelligent beings do not treat objects they lack attachment to with such care.
"It will not be a grudge."
- Then...
But if the one who sent her was indeed Duke Dantalion, or one of his subordinates, then it would be correct to assume that Areupina's target was us, or me.
"Thinking that way will make it easier to respond."
"As you say."
- That would be the case...
"Talhan. Check if there is any information in Hysen that is Fated to connect to me, and crack down on the Cerebrum Skulls. We shall not withdraw the personnel, but it is better to use the human subordinates more actively."
At this point in time, the Cerebrum Skulls were each working as key figures within the various information guild branches in southern Hysen.
It was practically as if half the information network of the southern continent had fallen into my hands.
If Arpina Mailtrom, who had come down to this place, could evade such an information network, there were only two possibilities.
"On top of that, intensify surveillance on the 'Gray Eye.'"
One was the possibility that the 'Gray Eye,' the sole unique rival group of the Information Guild, had taken a contract and was concealing her.
- The Information Guild is already keeping them in check, so if there are circumstances suggesting they are hiding something, we will be able to find out quickly.
"Good."
This possibility could be prevented to some extent by intensifying surveillance through the eyes of the Information Guild.
Since intelligence agents were experts at recognizing their own kind.
"And Eve."
"Shall I summon Queen Orea?"
"Please do."
And the other possibility was that she moved without showing herself in human society at all.
'If she moves only through the wilds, no one would ever know unless an adventurer coincidentally saw her.'
But eyes existed everywhere.
If there was a place without eyes, then one simply had to 'make them exist everywhere.'
For the ants' most powerful strength was their queen's control and their numbers.
"The last possibility is that she hides or alters her appearance to infiltrate, but..."
I decided not to consider that possibility.
There were very few ways to detect a high-ranking ability user if they were determined to hide themselves, and there was a certain anecdote about her.
The story of what happened after her face was revealed by Abelus and she succeeded in escaping from him.
"There was an episode where she saved a child who recognized her as that 'witch.'"
- Couldn't that be a distortion or a story she spread herself? High-ranking ability users often wish to mythologize themselves...
"It is the same either way."
If it was a distortion, then regardless, an episode that served as a foundation would have existed.
Even if she spread it herself, there must be a reason she wanted rumors about herself to spread.
"'The child who recognized her face.' And 'the act of spreading rumors.' Both speak to some desire of hers."
The desire to be recognized.
In other words, a powerful need for recognition.
I should not be certain, but if she had such a desire...
"She might, perhaps, show no intention whatsoever of concealing her whereabouts."
- ... Come to think of it.
Talhan's subsequent report included her movements after she broke out of the northern Demon Realm.
It said that while visiting all sorts of major cities, she did not hide her face at all.
- Was she not afraid of the kingdoms coming to capture her?
"It must be the opposite. Whether they come to capture her or not, she is confident she can escape."
She was a woman who had already succeeded in escaping from 'Noble Abelos,' one of the continent's supreme Gangsters.
Even considering he was alone, it was obvious that this was an immensely difficult feat, and it was something she could take 'pride' in.
"At the very least, wouldn't she have developed enough confidence that the inland ability users cannot capture her?"
- Certainly...
Also, this simultaneously meant that she was an existence that would bring me new headaches.
"... If we clash with that woman, our dungeon's existence will inevitably become known."
She was a woman who so flamboyantly announced her return.
Thus, many across the continent would surely be focused on that wicked woman's movements.
If she suddenly vanished or started a large fight, it was clear that many would learn of it.
"We will need to think of a way to lure her."
"Yes... and also add a way to conceal her tracks."
To be honest...
'More than being afraid, she's just incredibly annoying.'
She was an existence that made me feel that way.
- 2 -
"So. What was the reason you came to see me?"
The faint light streaming through the window made by magic fell upon her hair, making it glimmer faintly.
Her golden hair shone brilliantly just from receiving that midnight light.
"It was nothing much. I was thinking of telling you that I have finalized the list of mercenary corps to recruit, and I will be going to visit them."
"Overly Fated."
The important part of Evangeline's report was not the former.
It was the latter.
Whatever she did, it was mostly reliable.
In fact, she did everything well, and she was honest about what she couldn't do.
Although the range of things she couldn't do was very narrow and shallow.
'No, wait. In this case, should I say it's high rather than shallow.'
As I watched Evangeline's eyes sparkle even bluer along with her mana, I briefly had a thought that made me tilt my head inwardly.
She was always so utterly trustworthy. The things she couldn't do were surely matters of a very high level.
"Come here."
"Yes."
A blue shirt, not black.
The shirt symbolizing her bright side beautifully wrapped her elegant curves.
As she approached and held me in her arms, I first felt her firm body through that shirt.
Haa...
The breath she exhaled tickled my ear, then traced down my neck.
There was no scent of perfume, but I felt a body scent even fresher than that.
I felt my heart, which pumped mana rather than blood, beat a little stronger.
'... It's warm.'
I could feel her body heat.
Though cooler than a human's, it was definitely something that should be called warmth.
It was only a separation of a few days, but Evangeline always wanted to perform this ritual beforehand.
She said herself that she had to recharge her 'Master's Essence.'
"... Pfft."
Remembering her serious and resolute face when she said that, a laugh naturally leaked out.
Simultaneously with my laughter, her hair tickled my cheek and neck as her body shifted slightly in puzzlement.
I felt a sweet stimulation.
"What are you thinking about?"
Her voice resonated low, as if about to break off.
"That you are a very peculiar person."
"That very person happens to be the Evangeline you like, Master."
Her lips curled up slightly into a smile.
"I'm sure it's you who likes it."
A calm, long embrace continued, exchanging playful words.
Though there was no sound of a heartbeat from her, her warmth and voice alone were sufficient.
We, who had been holding each other and sharing warmth, were at some point facing each other with our faces slightly apart.
The blue mana contained in her eyes sparkled like starlight.
I...
"Wouldn't this be enough?"
With a strange sense of regret, I gently pushed her away.
"That's a shame."
"What?"
Evangeline smacked her lips, openly displaying her regret.
Her attitude was so transparently clear about what she wanted that an incredulous smile naturally flowed out.
"I said there is no rush until everyone gathers. Wasn't that so?"
What I had said on the day I gained certainty about their secret.
Evangeline only smiled a coquettish smile at those words, but she couldn't hide the slight reddening of her cheeks.
"We never said we wouldn't approach you ourselves. Not a single one of us."
That was a crisp voice, but at the same time, it was a statement revealing her sly psychology.
"What you're implying is that if I approach, you won't refuse."
"How could we ever refuse what you wish, Master? That is an impossible feat for all of us."
The love contained in her eyes stared at me.
I pretended to turn my head away and spoke as if joking.
"Even if I were to trample you underfoot?"
A question asked purely in jest.
So when she answered with a serious face, I couldn't help but be flustered.
"I wish you would. Sincerely."
Because what she said, with audacity and urgency in her voice, was just that.
"... Get out. How foolish."
"Hehe. Sleep well."
She looked back at me once more at the door.
Her unique blue-hued mana followed behind her, briefly creating a fantastical scene.
"I'll leave right now and be back quickly. Master."
In the spot where she had stood after finishing her report on a brief outing, the trace of the blue mana she left behind and the moonlight remained, tangled together.
Dalkak.
The door closed.
"Haa..."
I felt the warmth I had sensed in my arms slowly dissipate.
Sarak-sarak.
Wanting to hold onto that body temperature, which was cool yet moderately pleasant, I pulled the blanket closer...
But naturally, there were limits.
"Once everyone gathers... huh."
The question was whether I could truly endure it until then.
While watching those women who worshiped an existence as clumsy as myself.
With those alluring women who constantly shook me by my side.
'She wants to be trampled.'
"Pfft."
A hollow laugh leaked out.
Come to think of it, when she was a Skeleton, she often chose to lie down in my path whenever she wanted to dissuade me from going outside.
In truth, a rational suspicion arose that perhaps those two genuine feelings—the desire to be trampled and the desire to stop me from going out—were mixed together.
As she spoke of those true feelings, she looked dark and dangerous, like the black version of herself.
'When she returns... what shall I say.'
I was an existence that didn't need sleep, but somehow, I felt like I would sleep in late today.
If, by chance, she appeared in my dreams, the most dangerous 'Kkumui Manyeo' to me right now was not the enemy, but Evangeline herself.