# 48. The Encroaching Fog, Swept Away Emotions (4)
The first floor of the dungeon.
Inside the dungeon, which had a structure similar to a sewer, a terrible stench wafted through the air.
The other children probably couldn't sense it, but a nose-piercing smell of food waste flowed through the dungeon.
Luna, who seemed unable to hear the hallucinations or auditory illusions, searched her surroundings without grasping the situation.
Just like I'd seen in various media, Luna appeared to be immune to status ailments.
"Sniff sniff, I've smelled this somewhere before! Where was it...?"
"...There's no need to smell it, Luna."
"It's not the old man's smell... Anyway, got it!"
Should I call that composure, or obliviousness?
Black magic flowed through the dungeon, using scent as a conduit to cause auditory and visual hallucinations.
That's probably why Aina appeared ahead of us.
What a truly unpleasant ability.
I wanted to eliminate the Demon King immediately. Just as I was about to step forward—
*Tap—*
Hare grabbed my sleeve tightly and asked.
"O-old man... I keep hearing strange sounds... telling me to stab Luna in front of me... S-strange sounds keep coming..."
"Eh...? H-Hare... you're going to... stab me...? I-I thought we were friends!!"
"S-someone's ordering me to stab Luna..."
"It's an auditory hallucination, so don't worry about it. It will keep poking at the uncomfortable parts of our hearts."
That's probably why the Demon King keeps placing Aina in front of me.
It's a method of poking at the most painful place in my heart and making me lose my reason.
I patted Hare's head and walked forward.
"It seems today's field trip will be a bit difficult, Hare. Follow me while ignoring those sounds as much as possible. You must never give in to the whispers."
"O-okay. Old man... B-but the sounds saying you'll abandon me... *hic*, they hurt... so much... *hic*..."
"...I've never said such things."
A vulnerable fourteen-year-old in puberty.
Hare wiped her tears and followed behind me.
After today's events, Hare might suffer the most aftereffects.
With that almost intuitive thought, I looked at Saten walking beside me.
She wore a comfortable, expressionless face.
"...Saten, are you alright?"
"It's noisy."
"Huh?"
"The hallucinations are a bit noisy."
...I thought she was talking to me.
As her expression showed, Saten didn't seem particularly affected by the auditory or visual hallucinations.
Since they were just hallucinations without substance, to her they were probably similar to dogs barking.
*'Is Saten the most reliable person in the Hero Party?'*
The moment I thought Saten was the most capable—
Estia suddenly burst forward.
Calling out the name of a friend from her memories.
"Uh, uh...? R-Rachel...! Let's go together...!! D-don't leave me behind—!!"
"...Damn it."
Though I'd seen it in the future, I couldn't help but feel heartache.
I grabbed Estia's body as she lunged forward.
She began struggling in my arms.
"L-let go—!! R-Rachel—!! D-don't go—! If you go there, you'll die—!! P-please don't go—!!"
"...Estia. Please stay still."
Close your eyes.
It will get a bit better.
When I covered the struggling Estia's eyes with my hand, her thrashing gradually subsided.
When she had calmed down somewhat, I whispered in Estia's ear.
"It's a hallucination, Estia. Don't believe what you see before your eyes."
At those words, Estia shouted back.
"H-how can you say that—!! It might not be a hallucination—!! Rachel might be alive—!!"
...No.
Rachel is dead.
There's no chance she survived in that prison.
I wanted to say those words to make her face reality.
But even I kept thinking, 'Isn't that Aina smiling in the darkness actually alive?'
So I spoke to Estia as gently as possible.
"Estia. Are you saying there's a child named Rachel ahead?"
"I saw her—! R-Rachel was there—!!"
"...Then let's go check."
It would be better to show her directly.
We walked in the direction Estia pointed with her finger.
It didn't particularly matter anyway, since Aina was smiling at me in that direction.
"R-Rachel! There, Rachel is there! O-old man, hurry!"
Was Rachel really there?
Luna also seemed to have that question, giving me a suspicious look.
And when we reached the direction Estia indicated—
I looked up at the sky.
Huge thorns were descending to pierce through us.
*Kwagang—!*
"It's a trap."
"R-Rachel...? Wh-where are you—"
"It's a hallucination, Estia. Do you understand now? Rachel isn't here."
"She left me behind again... Rachel..."
Estia looked shocked.
As if there was no time to worry about her, Luna screamed at me.
My ears hurt.
"Aaah!! L-Luna's dying...!!"
"O-old man...! I want to confess my feelings one last time—"
"You're not dying. Don't make a fuss."
I sliced through the descending thorns in one stroke, knocking them aside.
*Bang—!*
Zero casualties.
There's no way we'd die from such a crude trap.
No matter how dangerous dungeon traps were said to be, this was the lower level.
The traps weren't that lethal.
In that sense...
"Hare, come here. I'll teach you how the traps work."
"Y-yes...!"
While teaching Hare about the traps, I walked toward Aina, who was beckoning to me from afar.
And just as Estia had become certain Rachel wasn't there—
I too became certain.
That woman with long red hair beckoning to me from afar—
I became certain that Aina wasn't here either.
But somehow...
*'I don't feel very good about this.'*
Perhaps the person who didn't want to believe that illusion was false wasn't Estia, but me...
The third floor of the dungeon.
When we descended the stairs, a cave-like structure built with bricks unfolded before our eyes.
I realized we were getting closer to the source of the stench, and the children's auditory and visual hallucinations intensified accordingly.
"Ah, ah. D-don't... S-sorry about the injection... Stop, please stop..."
"Old man, what's wrong with Estia...?"
"...She's a sick child."
As if there were injections before her eyes, Estia took a defensive posture and trembled.
Her pitiful voice pleading for it to stop echoed through the dungeon, and Estia's mind seemed to be collapsing.
It was probably because of trauma.
*'...But to eliminate the Demon King, I need Estia's power.'*
There's a reason the Hero Party has four members.
No matter how much of a holy water addict the Saint was, I needed her power to eliminate the Demon King.
So I had no choice but to administer the drug.
I took out a bottle of holy water from subspace.
"K-kids, I'm sorry... I-I survived alone... I miss everyone... Save me... I'm sorry..."
"...Estia, open your mouth."
"Sorry... sorry... I'm sorry for everything... for not being able to save you... I'm sorry..."
...Looking at her condition, I'll have to force-feed her.
I forcibly opened Estia's mouth as she kept apologizing, and poured holy water into it.
Once it entered her mouth, Estia's body trembled, and as if pleasure had arrived, she began drooling.
The children were horrified at seeing Estia like this.
"Th-this is h-holy water...?! This is totally a drug!"
"I don't want to keep watching. Honestly, it's a bit unpleasant."
"It's medicine for Estia. Please understand."
"Hehe... heuuk... heuuu..."
*Heave—*
I hoisted up Estia, who was mumbling like a baby.
I felt like drool was dripping onto my hood, but I didn't care since I wanted to escape this place quickly.
More importantly...
"Hare."
"Y-yes...? Old man...?"
"Put the dagger in your hand back in your pocket. It's an auditory and visual hallucination."
"Y-yes... I-I'm sorry, old man... I'm not in my right mind... I'm sorry..."
...As if she understood her situation, Hare apologized and put the dagger in her pocket.
But the muttering didn't stop.
"What...? Luna, you and the old man are... in that kind of relationship...? You're telling me to g-get lost...?"
"Eh? What are you talking about, Hare! I didn't say that!"
"S-Saten, you... you're going to kill the old man...? Y-you can't do that... I'll die instead... Please spare the old man, Saten..."
"She's crazy. I don't want to use vulgar words, but that idiot is insane."
She's right.
Hare was in a half-crazed state.
Since she was probably mentally weak, she was likely sensitive to auditory and visual hallucinations.
The key would be to escape this dungeon before she went completely insane.
Seeing how she was apologizing and trying her best to follow my words, she was making quite an effort.
"...Let's pick up the pace. We'll move faster."
"Yes!"
Luna, the only one who couldn't hear the auditory and visual hallucinations.
She walked beside me in excellent condition, like a fish in water.
Compared to Saten, who was starting to break out in cold sweat, she was in very good shape.
Thus, we picked up speed, getting closer and closer to the stench.
Sensing the garbage-like smell, I could tell the Demon King of Lust was nearby.
And the moment I felt something unpleasant from behind—
"You finally came~?"
A vulgar woman's voice mixed with coquettishness was heard.
The tone was 100% different from the one I knew, but the voice was too familiar.
The voice of Aina that remained in my memory.
"You piece of trash. Who are you imitating?"
At that voice, I turned around to check.
"You son of a bitch."
"Hehe, how is it? Since you're the biggest person in your heart~ I tried imitating her~ I was happy you found your way here so well~ Should I introduce myself~? I'm Lust, the Demon King of Lust. No wait, am I Aina now~?"
"Shut that mouth."
Aina, who had red fox-like features and gray eyes that seemed bored with everything.
But Lust, the Demon King of Lust, had horns on her head, eyes dominated by pleasure, and a vulgar appearance ingrained in her body.
My master, my memory, my past—
She was trampling and defiling her.
"You vulgar dog-like bastard. Keep your mouth open, will you."
"Uh, uhh...? O-old man?"
"Mmm, I feel so good that you like me~? I feel like there's going to be a flood. Big brother with tremendous energy~!"
"Don't open your mouth in that form. I'll tear you apart and kill you."
Lust, the Demon King of Lust, answered with a vulgar smile.
"Such harsh words~ As expected, big brother is my type... Hey, want to live with me~? I can make it fun for you every day... How about it~?"
*Slurp—*
Lust licked her lips, trying to charm me.
But my mind was already made up.
I would kill that Demon King no matter what.
The one who always agreed with my heart was Minerva.
[Choose the correct answer, Jun-woo. That Demon King's appearance is just Aina. She's absolutely not that woman. So take heart, Jun-woo. Come find me after this is over. Understand? So choose.]
[1. Let the Demon King of Lust in Aina's form go.]
[2. Eliminate the Demon King of Lust.]
Option 1 probably considered my feelings.
Killing a Demon King in Aina's form would be mentally painful.
Minerva was being considerate.
But I was fine.
More than the sadness of killing a Demon King in Aina's form—
My anger toward the Demon King in Aina's form was far greater.
"The answer is number 2."
"Mmm, what did big brother say?"
"Shut up."
I don't want to hear that voice anymore.
Aina's voice, which remained faintly in my memory, felt like it was being forgotten.
*'So now...'*
I took out Aina's staff from subspace and gripped it in my hand.
I recited toward Lust, suppressing my anger.
"I will eliminate you."
Before the memory fades.
I'll deal with the being resembling Aina before my eyes.
Toward me, Lust smiled and answered.
"It would have been nice if you stayed with me~ Well, if that's big brother's choice, it can't be helped~ It's a shame, but I'll invite big brother and the little ones behind you too~!"
To the dream world.
Everyone enjoy good dreams.
With those words in a voice resembling Aina—
My vision went dark in an instant, as if the lights had been turned off.
*Thud—*
Her vision suddenly went dark, and though she didn't properly remember what had happened—
Hare was feeling happiness.
"Today's wedding! The groom Jun is entering! The bride is Juliana Hare!!"
*Ba-ba-ba-bam— Ba-ba-ba-bam—*
The sound of trumpets echoed through the wedding hall, and people sent cheers and applause.
Lee Jun-woo, groomed and clean in appearance, wore a suit and was approaching the bride.
Hare was moved.
"Old man..."
I'm so happy...
To be marrying you...
I'm so happy...
"Th-this isn't a dream... it's reality..."
He finally understood my feelings.
*Drip drip—*
Hare shed tears, accepting this situation as reality.
That well-groomed Lee Jun-woo approached Hare.
Making eye contact with her, he knelt down.
"Ah, the groom kneels before the bride Hare! And...! He takes out a box from his pocket...!!"
*Click—*
Lee Jun-woo opened the box with an embarrassed expression and exchanged glances with Hare.
In his hand was a small ring, one that seemed perfectly sized for Hare's finger.
A ring that seemed born just for her.
"*Sob*... O-old man... C-can I really be this happy...?"
"Don't cry on such a good day, Hare. You're the only one for me."
Though Lee Jun-woo spoke in a mechanical tone—
"I-I'm happy, old man... Hehe..."
Hare liked even that.
Though she vaguely knew it was a dream, she absolutely didn't want to let go of this happiness.
"I-I only have you too, old man... I love you, old man..."
"Yes, Hare. Hold out your hand. This ring is for you."
"O-okay. Old man... We're getting married... We'll live together forever...!"
Hare held out her hand with a tearful voice.
Lee Jun-woo put the ring on Hare's hand like a machine.
Hare shed tears of joy.
It was the moment her happiness reached its peak.
"O-old man... *sob*, I love you... Thank you for liking me."
"Yes, Hare. I'm glad you're happy too. But you know..."
Do you really think this is reality?
"...Huh?"
"You're stupid, Hare. Really stupid. Stupid enough to want to abandon."
"O-old man...? J-just now you said you loved me...?"
"I didn't know you'd be happy with such simple words, Hare. Face reality."
"Y-yes...?"
Hare checked her surroundings, which had turned cold.
The people who had been clapping just moments ago were all expressionlessly staring at Hare, seeming emotionless.
The music playing at the wedding began creating dissonance.
Hare got goosebumps all over her body.
"Wh-what is this... s-situation...? O-old man...?"
"You still don't understand, Hare. You've been abandoned."
"Huh...?"
Lee Jun-woo sneered at Hare and beckoned someone to approach.
When she turned her gaze, the red-haired woman who had just been talking with him shared a deep embrace with him.
*Crash—*
It was the moment Hare's mental state cracked.
"Wh-what is... h-happening...? The old man... abandoned me... and another woman...?"
"Rather than a child like you, this woman is much better, Hare. You're just a bothersome child."
"Th-that's...! It's a lie...! O-old man wouldn't abandon me—"
"Even seeing this, you still think that?"
Lee Jun-woo grinned and made eye contact with Aina.
An adult's sticky exchange of glances.
As if certain of what they would do, they brought their faces close to each other.
And then...
"*Slurp— slurp—* Haa, I love you, Aina."
"I love you too *slurp—* Jun. *Slurp—*"
"Ah, aah... Th-this is a dream... *hic*... it's a dream..."
Hare, who had shed tears of joy—
This time shed tears of sorrow.
After showing the target their happiest dream, show them their most desperate dream.
Feel like you're falling from the highest place to the lowest.
That was the authority possessed by the succubus, the Demon King of Lust.
'Dream Amusement Park.'
Absorbing Hare's desperate emotions, Lust watched this situation with amusement.
She muttered as if finding it interesting.
"Hehe, nice~! If only this man hadn't put up a barrier at the end, I could have cut off the heads of all the kids trapped in dreams~ What a shame~"
The moment the children's heads fall...
Will be the moment this man succumbs to my dream.
I'm so looking forward to that situation, aren't I?
With that curiosity, Lust decided to peek into someone else's dream.
"This time... shall I try this one...?"
A blonde-haired girl.
Luna.
Lust's next target was her.