Chapter 31

The Demon Hunting Method Of The Regressed Inquisitor 31

The Dreamer (2)

I assure you, the one who twisted my life the most was .

You could say it was my mortal enemy. Thanks to it, I even lost my name and the way back home.

And I must have lost many other things that I can’t recall.

But this time is different. This time, I decided to face that trial.

Not an unprecedented disaster encountered by chance, but a faith I summoned myself to call forth the mist.

Borrowing the power called , I bind the unstable existence with a complete contract to borrow that power.

“Please, call the dream into reality.”

The machine device, which was brightly lit by a white light bulb, became foggy.

Yes, this mist. The mist that took countless things from me is coming.

A mist so thick that I can’t see an inch ahead.

My hands tremble with instinctive rejection. I took out the cigarette from my chest and tried to light it, but even the faint light couldn’t be seen.

And with the sensation of being isolated from the world, it came.

-Dream...

Something seemed to move faintly in the gray mist.

It looked like a human figure, but without eyes, nose, or mouth, it merely appeared as a doll made of gathered mist.

“......This is something I didn’t know.”

To Morpheus, the , there is no form. Therefore, he is classified as a phenomenon even among trials.

Like a natural disaster encountered by chance, the mist that shows dreams is said to be drifting and blending into the world.

Yet, it includes a clear form....... Is this special this time? Or, have I always been like this but just couldn’t remember?

The doll made of gathered mist approached me silently.

-I will protect you......

It gently caresses my cheek.

Even without eyes, it seemed to have an expression of concern.

-I will protect you......

“Is that so.”

It was an emotionless voice.

It must be because I have lived crawling on the ground for countless years.

A being that appeared to show sweet dreams to those who are crying, with only the determination to protect people remaining.

A being that, without realizing its already pierced divinity, received compensation instead of showing sweet dreams.

-Don’t worry...... In your happiest moment......

The hand that was caressing my cheek moves up to my head. In that seemingly stroking action, the world surrounded by mist takes on color.

The dark sky, the pure white light illuminating, the small tea table, and the numerous sweets laid out on it.

The moment I was happy.

The time when I was having tea and small talk with the saint.

The stage is set. I am already dreaming. And Morpheus’s figure is no longer visible.

What is visible is just a chapter of memories.

“Mr. ■■■. Welcome. Thank you for your hard work on this mission.”

“You are too much.”

“Pardon? What do you mean? This mission wasn’t that difficult.”

“Didn’t you say it was the happiest moment? Morpheus.”

“Mr. ■■■......?”

What I saw in front of me was the saint sitting at the tea table.

Like a greedy child, holding a teacup and sweets in each hand.

At that sight, a bitter smile appeared for a moment, then my expression twisted.

“Saintess. Even in... even in moments like this, I can’t fully remember you?”

A pure white mask on the face.

Even though I am looking at the color of the hair, I can’t tell if it’s long or short.

I could feel her presence within me fading away more and more.

“Do you think it makes sense to wear a mask even when drinking tea?”

“Do you want me to take off the mask?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“...”

What kind of expression am I making right now? Perhaps I couldn’t hide the expression that seemed like I was about to cry.

I know. I remember.

I know well that Morpheus’s trial takes this form.

I’ve experienced it several times and haven’t I been frustrated several times?

I reach out my hand towards the mask covering the Saintess’s face.

But I can’t reach it. I must not reach it. Because I didn’t come here to sink into this dream.

“A friend is badly injured.”

“I see.”

I don’t forget Linea’s struggle.

The reason I called Morpheus is to overcome this situation, not to escape.

“So I must go back.”

“Without confirming the fragment of your happiest memory in front of you?”

“Yes, I won’t confirm it. Instead, I will pay the price, so please grant me a dream worthy of it.”

“What kind of dream do you want?”

“Then please, the scenery where you shone the brightest.”

I can’t do it with my current self. I lack the skill. But if it’s her whom I admired, it would be possible.

I borrow that power, that dream.

“The price will be high.”

“I will endure it.”

“You might end up wandering the back alleys in pain like before.”

“It’s different now than it was back then.”

“What point?”

“This time, it’s not a journey taken alone.”

Even if I make a mistake or fall, I have someone ready to move forward in my place.

Even in this isolated space, I can see the blue sky.

The pure white wings spread behind me are connected to the sky, like clouds blending into the heavens.

With the miracle of the gods, fueled by something precious, I wield the power of the one I admired the most.

“Hoo.”

A sensation close to omnipotence.

The feeling of divine power that doesn’t diminish no matter how much I use divine magic sends chills down my spine.

It’s an absurd power. Truly a power that could make one arrogant.

But even this is not enough. The view I desire is higher than this.

To accomplish what she couldn’t, I need to become even stronger than this.

The road ahead is still long.

“So...”

I can’t afford to struggle against this pile of scrap metal.

I break through. I surpass my usual limits over and over again. I get used to this sensation and internalize it little by little.

Like taking notes to remember the scene I saw in my dream.

So that I can remember even a little of the power that brought the dream into reality.

Bzzzzzzzz!!

A force that could be called a straight line of light rather than lightning sweeps through the mechanical devices.

The dull gray world brightens as if swallowed by dazzling light.

The ceiling disappears, and the sky reveals itself. It’s a view that not only I can see now, but also Titan, Linea, and everyone else.

At any moment, no matter when.

Even if Belial spreads his wings and dyes the sky itself black. In front of this power, the sky cannot be completely erased.

I keep raising the level as if I had just started running.

The pure white wings have already spread as if they were moving my body.

The lightning that envelops my whole body moves according to my will, turning all the mechanical devices into scrap metal.

The moment the gap between destruction and sprinting itself disappears.

Bzzzzzzzz!!

A light with incomparable power to anything before pours out.

The converged light flies in a straight line, containing intense heat and power.

The moment I fold my wings to block the attack, the advance halts for a moment.

It’s an absurd power.

This is not just an attack from a pile of scrap metal.

Yes, it’s close.

Where Pinocchio is.

“Don’t come!!!”

As if screaming, the boy’s cry is heard, and at the same time, the light beam from a moment ago splits into dozens and pours down.

He has noticed this side. Yet, he continues to attack.

As I expected, has Pinocchio really had a change of heart?

No matter how much he temporarily gained the power of the saint, he doesn’t have the strength to overcome the trial head-on.

Retreat or advance.

In the midst of that dilemma, I felt that no more beams of light were pouring down.

Pinocchio, who had been shouting not to come.

The attack stopped as soon as I stopped moving. A simple warning shot.

If that’s the case...

“If we go back without confirming the reason, we might regret it.”

I follow Linea’s words.

I temporarily set aside all doubts.

I reunite Geppetto and Pinocchio.

I move forward, recalling only that purpose.

Several beams of light pour down.

I block each one and minimize the surrounding damage as I advance.

The speed is slow.

But I move forward steadily.

At the end of navigating through the dazzling beams of various colors,

I realize the space has widened and I reach my destination.

The deepest part of Nidavellir.

Pinocchio’s self-evolution device exists at the center.

“That’s right, Linea. You were right.”

At the moment I saw it, I was convinced that Linea was right.

The sight of Pinocchio, shedding tears, adorned with all sorts of mechanical devices. The shadow reflected on the floor.

Seeing the shadow move as if pulling the strings of a marionette, I understand everything.

Solving the problem of the would end everything well?

We could prevent the harbinger of the flames of war?

It was an arrogant thought.

The demon I was trying to confront had been hiding in the empire for hundreds of years, hiding embers one by one.

How could I guarantee that such a creature was different before? How could I be sure it hadn’t done similar things before?

“If I had gone back like this, I would have definitely regretted it.”

A chilling voice comes from Pinocchio’s now expressionless mouth.

“Who are you?”

It feels like bugs are crawling all over my body, making me shiver.

But I have felt this sensation just recently.

Thanks to that, I could understand.

Geppetto did not lie.

Pinocchio did not change his mind.

The source of the weapon filled with malice that we saw was none other than.

“You were very thorough in your preparations. Damn b*stard.”



Malice

The shadow of the Dark King, Belial.

The malice towards that human was swallowing Pinocchio.