Ilina Crowley (3)

It happened too suddenly.

That’s why it felt unreal.

“What is this……”

For a moment, I could only blankly watch the situation unfold in a state of shock.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!”

Ilina Crowley’s scream finally snapped me back to my senses.

I immediately drew upon holy power.

This time, the power I borrowed in exchange for holy power was the ideal of Pax, the goddess of peace.

The power that creates peace itself engulfs the inn that’s wrapped in flames.

“No.”

In that moment, I realized something was wrong. The flames wouldn’t be extinguished.

Bang!

I tried throwing my body against a wall that hadn’t been touched by flames yet. My body is blocked by some intangible something.

I immediately try to assess the situation – the inn’s kitchen, second floor rooms, and surroundings.

No one, nothing was there.

The innkeeper who had served me food must have been there, but their presence had vanished like mist.

Completely isolated.

I tried using holy magic again to extinguish the fire. This time not through a complete method like peace, but by calling upon Boreas, god of the north wind.

It was useless.

Next I summoned Neptune’s waves to crash against the inn.

This too was useless.

The only thing I discovered was that purple mist devoured my holy magic each time I used it.

At this point, I have to acknowledge it.

This is a power I cannot touch.

An ability of the original itself that cannot be resolved with borrowed power.

Unforgettably familiar.

“Dreamer……”

The power of Morpheus, god of dreams.

I still cannot suppress this power with my abilities.

Indescribable terror. Meeting it directly was different from summoning it myself.

I thought I had already overcome it, but it seems I hadn’t completely overcome it after all.

“Huff…… Huff……”

I steady my breathing.

Currently trapped in this inn are myself and Ilina Crowley.

While Ilina Crowley has fallen into panic and collapsed, I cannot allow myself to do the same.

To escape from Morpheus’ dream, certain conditions must be met.

Either break free from its sweetness, or overcome past nightmares.

This dream is probably Ilina Crowley’s nightmare. At least in my dreams, I had no experience of being engulfed in flames, and I’ve long since overcome that trauma.

“……”

The <Dreamer> is an elusive trial. That purple mist that can appear anywhere, anytime is exactly that.

I encountered it not long after setting out on my journey and lost my memories. It was precisely when I was at my most struggling and wanting to run away.

Almost as if someone had been watching me and sent it…

“Damn it.”

It would be a lie to say I hadn’t been suspicious. Ever since realizing Teacher had given me such an unusual item as the <Morpheus’s Dream Fragment>.

But I decided not to be.

Because I wanted to consider Teacher as my life’s benefactor.

But this……

“Teacher.”

No matter what, isn’t this timing too suspicious to ignore?

*     *      *

The Malice who drives dreams.

Demon of Sorrow, Revenna was watching the inn from afar.

Education carried out at Castian Crowley’s request. Add to that her own disciple being present – she believes they will surely overcome this.

“You will hate me. You surely won’t understand. But my Lost. That is right.”

She loves humans.

She hates humans.

Those actions born from that love-hate endlessly drove people.

In the name of love, she pushed people endlessly into despair.

While hoping they would rise up after overcoming that despair. She torments others by expressing one-sided love.

“This is necessary.”

Lost changed too quickly.

That’s impossible.

Hadn’t she taught him to always think coolly?

For him to lose his memories and become a priest in just over a year?

It’s impossible.

That’s why Revenna could deduce Lost’s regression.

A story of possibilities that she, who lived through the mythical age, could divine.

“Humans are beings easily influenced by their surroundings. Even more so for a child in their formative years.”

Revenna knew.

That someday Lost would leave her side and face the world.

Knowing that, she still couldn’t stop. She passed on everything she knew and dyed him in her colors.

She shouldn’t have.

“I knew you would speak the name Lost.”

Because she had taught him that way.

Because she had influenced him so.

Because she had made that word’s meaning special. Even after erasing and erasing, her influence hadn’t completely disappeared.

Therefore Lost would eventually reach similar conclusions as Revenna.

That self-destructive love that wounds others and oneself to save others.

“So Lost.”

He needs to be made directly aware of and wary of that aspect.

Lost must not become the same kind of being as herself.

Because that is a failed path. Because Revenna the pioneer has already explored that path. Therefore he must take a different path.

Therefore a different ending than hers.

“Now, show me. Your will, that path of pilgrimage. Soon to save the world, and also destroy it.”

Lost’s own chains.

*     *      *

There are two ways to escape this dream.

First, watching Ilina Crowley crumble just like this.

In other words, the same method as with me. In that case, whether memories or something else, Ilina Crowley would lose something she doesn’t even know about.

Second, making her overcome her trauma to escape the dream.

The first is abandonment not worth discussing. So I must somehow guide her to overcome her trauma.

Here a problem arises.

Will she even listen to me when she’s in such a state of panic right now?

Even if she listens, the relationship between us isn’t that deep. My words won’t carry weight and she probably won’t take them seriously.

“Princess Ilina.”

“Ugh…… Urgh……”

Ilina Crowley was trembling violently while clutching her arms.

The flames had already engulfed the entire building and all I could do was spread a barrier to keep the smoke out.

I couldn’t suppress the flames themselves.

“I need help. Right now, only Princess Ilina can suppress these flames.”

This is her dream.

If any change is to occur, it must be done by none other than her.

“Could you perhaps help extinguish these flames?”

6th circle.

That’s the level where one can draw power from the natural environment. Things like causing earthquakes or drawing up magma.

Being able to become an army by oneself.

The important point here is being able to draw power from the environment.

Meaning she could even move these flames themselves that have engulfed the surroundings.

Moreover, since she has the fire attribute, the method should be even simpler.

This is the answer.

Since there’s a high chance the fire won’t be extinguished by other methods anyway.

Well, even if I wanted to try other methods…

“I, I can’t.”

This is the situation we’re in.

If it could be resolved simply, it wouldn’t be called trauma in the first place.

We need measures.

Harsh and violent methods.

Yes, like Teacher’s methods of strictly teaching me.

“Then I’ll try to do something about it, Princess Ilina.”

“……What?”

She must know that I can’t do anything.

After all, I already made many attempts when we were first engulfed in flames.

Though Ilina Crowley had collapsed in fear, she hadn’t taken her eyes off me.

She must have been watching continuously with eyes hoping I would somehow help.

“H-how?”

So she must be curious. Just how exactly I plan to do this.

“If holy power doesn’t work, I’ll have to resort to physical force.”

I don’t have my sword. No firearms either.

No other weapons, and we’re currently isolated in a dream.

The moment I realized Ilina Crowley would come looking for me due to the holy magic’s effects, I left them at the lodgings.

“Phew……”

This is madness.

Both Ilina Crowley and I will get hurt.

Though it’s a dream, the sensations felt are real. The pain felt here is real too.

So what I’m about to do…

“Kuk…!”

Sizzle!

I grab the doorknob of the door engulfed in flames.

Along with a sound like meat grilling, unbearable pain surges through me.

Right, I didn’t expect there to be no pain just because it’s a dream.

If it were that simple a structure, it wouldn’t be called a trial.

When showing happy dreams, this being perfectly recreates that moment’s warmth, fragrance, and touch. Why would pain be any different?

“Kuhp…!”

“What are you doing right now?!”

After my palm melted and fused to the heated doorknob.

From the sounds and smells, Ilina Crowley who had been watching only my back must have gradually realized how the situation was unfolding.

Still not enough. She remains collapsed.

But that’s fine. I know this is a dream but she doesn’t.

For her, every moment of this is reality and my crisis is real.

Though I feel pain, dying here would just mean waking from the dream, but still.

“Ugh…… Urgh!”

Still, this pain is hard to endure. Even knowing it’s someone else’s dream, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Would I lose my memories even if I die? My precious memories?

If so, that would be a catastrophe.

But…

“It’s al… alright.”

I told Ilina Crowley. It’s fine. It will be fine.

When I think about repaying what she did for countless people before my regression, this much is natural.

Rather, I gained this opportunity in exchange for just one person’s memories.

That’s how I’ll think of it.

“L-let go! Quickly!”

“Princess Ilina.”

Let go? I can’t do that.

It’s already become impossible by my own will.

My melted palm that’s fused to the doorknob won’t come off.

Even if my heart wavers from the pain and I want to give up, it should be fine.

“Urk?!”

That’s when the flames flickering around the doorknob grabbed my wrist.

Yes, grabbed. That’s how the phenomenon felt.

“Yes, come……”

Excruciating pain spreads throughout my body.

The flames coil around my flesh like living insects.

This is Ilina Crowley’s nightmare.

The form of parents who tried to save Ilina Crowley by burning themselves.

Illuminating that moment.

Flames using various powers including mana as fuel.

It had already become a fire that couldn’t easily be extinguished and would not go out until I died and became ashes.

“Ah, aaaaah!!”

Ilina Crowley screams. The nightmare has begun.

Crack!

The handle crumbled.

Because of that, I was finally able to fall away from the burning doorway.

But that’s all. No, rather the situation worsened.

Ilina Crowley who had been watching only my dignified back would now see me collapse.

“Ugh……”

I forcefully stood up.

Not yet. I don’t intend to end this after just causing pain.

The flames are already attached anyway. Excruciating pain is consuming my body and it’s too late for regrets.

Thud!

So I crashed my body against the wall.

To show Ilina Crowley what I’m doing right now.

This is not a nightmare. It must not remain a nightmare.

This is the will of parents who sacrificed themselves to save their daughter, though it may have been foolish. The spirit of self-sacrifice.

I will remind her of that.

Of their dedication that she has covered with fear.

Thud!

I crash against it again.

My legs buckled. It seems I won’t be able to move my body anymore.

Treatment through holy power is also impossible due to the flames.

Now there’s only one thing left I can do.

“It will be alright.”

Only then did I speak to Ilina Crowley who had collapsed and was screaming.

Without showing pain. In the most dignified and reassuring voice possible.

“You’ll be able to survive.”

“……”

I’m reenacting her trauma.

It’s an act of rubbing salt in wounds. But it’s also an opportunity for her to look back on the past.

This is Teacher Revenna’s method that harshly taught me.

Though unpleasant, just this once I had to employ that method.

It’s the best option.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to become a great magician? You can do it. So survive and……”

Words that stimulate her trauma, dreams, desire for improvement.

Using such words as foundation, I pushed Ilina Crowley to her limits.

Now there are two possible outcomes.

Either she completely collapses, unable to overcome it in the end.

“You crazy bastard!!”

Or she forcefully stands up.

Ilina Crowley chose the latter. Of course she did.

Because she was a hero who sacrificed herself for the world. Because she was able to overcome this trauma alone someday.

In a terrible way. In a way that couldn’t be more detestable.

I pushed her back.

“Mooooove!!”

As Ilina Crowley who had been screaming swung her staff, the flames move as if dancing according to her direction.

Then the flames eating away at my flesh also converge at the tip of her staff, transforming into a beautiful flower.

Though Ilina Crowley’s eyes were gathering that countless heat at her staff tip, they showed no fear.

Yes, as if that was natural.

As if returning to where she originally belonged.

She had shaken off her trauma.