Chapter 15
Helios gave a low warning.
“Stop talking nonsense and explain properly. What kind of magic is this?”
“I already explained earlier. It’s an illusion cast by a first-class nightmare.”
“And explain specifically what this illusion has to do with this ring.”
He spoke, almost obsessively keeping strength out of his hand.
Even on the carriage, even when she grabbed his collar, this woman’s hand was astonishingly soft. Not only soft, but the scars and traces between her fingers were vivid enough to be impossible to ignore.
It was so unpleasant that every touch forced him to clench his jaw. Unaware of this, Enya shrugged her shoulders and continued caressing his silver ring.
“First-class nightmares, unlike ordinary illusions, show visions based on the prey’s memories. We call this a ‘memory illusion’ for short. It’s an all-around attack, and one illusion can be cast on multiple people at the same time.”
She added that because it was more realistic and alluring, it was easy to get drawn into.
“But there’s a condition to cast a memory illusion: there must be a shared memory between the people involved.”
Enya slowly rubbed his ring.
“Nightmares usually find shared memories in objects. Rings, in particular, are frequently targeted by nightmares.”
“This ring has nothing to do with Grei.”
“Shall we see?”
Still smiling, she intertwined her fingers with his and gripped firmly.
Before he could react, in the blink of an eye, the entire scene transformed. Instantly, a tavern rose from the floor of the mage tower.
[Hey! Drink! Drink!]
[Now all that’s left is the Demon King. If we kill him, we can finally live properly.]
The noisy voices reached Helios’ ears. The scent of strong liquor and greasy meat. Cheap crimson lights and worn circular tables. The mercenaries seated there—no, the Western paladins.
[For Helios! For us!]
[No, for the captain!]
They chattered among themselves, seemingly unaware of Helios standing frozen. It was as if he were just a line in an illustration.
‘A memory illusion, huh.’
As Helios suspected, this place was an illusion created by Enya. More precisely, it was a memory illusion formed from the memories shared by Grei and Helios through that ring.
He moved slowly, surveying the surroundings. Old faces from the final battle with the Demon King appeared: the aged knight Offen who died in that fight, Gupenheim who married immediately instead of following him after the Demon King’s death. Many familiar faces were there.
He vaguely recalled the moment—how he had been thrilled to find a crucial clue to the Demon King’s lair and had returned for supplies, sharing a brief reprieve. Back then, he had thought he would find the Demon King quickly, but it ended up taking seven more years.
He seemed to have drunk a few cups and gone to bed early, but what exactly had happened? He tried to piece together the faint memories.
“Here, here.”
As if answering his question, a voice rang clearly through the illusion.
“Come, sit here.”
Enya, seated as if part of the tavern, gestured to an empty spot across from her. Grei also rolled his eyes repeatedly and sat beside her. Helios joined them cautiously, avoiding the illusion. As he casually observed Enya, Grei scratched his neck and flushed, like a thief caught in the act.
“I don’t understand what this memory has to do with the captain. Haha…”
Enya rested her chin on her hand, clearly pleased.
“Memories are frightening. Even if you want to forget, you can’t. Even if you pretend you have, they can linger in your consciousness, in your subtle gestures, in your eyes.”
“You didn’t create this illusion falsely, did you?”
Helios asked sharply. Enya, still smiling, twirled a finger and pointed in one direction.
“See for yourself and decide. I have no idea Grei was ever like this.”
At her fingertips, a younger Grei appeared, holding empty bottles and acting spoiled.
[Ah, I’m an adult now! Give me some drink!]
It seemed he was angry that older companions wouldn’t let him drink. A figure presumed to be Mari clapped enthusiastically in front of him.
[What adult are you? You barely killed a goblin yesterday.]
[Barely? I risked my life to catch it.]
[Same difference. Seeing blood and demanding drink, you’re just a brat.]
The paladins watching the fight were mischievous but warm. The tavern, filled with laughter and elevated voices, radiated human warmth.
“Nice to see, isn’t it?”
Enya’s soft question reached Helios. Like a leashed animal, he slowly turned his eyes. Enya didn’t avert her gaze from the illusion.
“That’s why memory illusions are scary. Past memories are often packaged beautifully, making them easy to fall into. I didn’t understand before, but now… I see why it’s easy to get drawn in.”
A sense of discomfort washed over him. If she had treasured memories to reminisce on, she would understand why one could get lost in nostalgia.
Enya, however, had no such memories, so she spoke as she did. Perhaps all her good memories had been lost.
Her faint smile seemed to vanish into the ground. She herself seemed as if she might disappear. Helios suddenly felt anxious. The Enya in front of him was an illusion and could disappear at any moment; he needed to check. He intended to call out to her.
[You… you’re not a child, are you? Huh?]
But the violent shout from Grei ruined the attempt. Precisely, it was the illusion of Grei speaking. Helios slowly steadied his mind and returned his gaze to the illusionary Grei and Mari.
[That’s why I don’t drink. I’m a baby.]
When Mari replied coyly, the short quarrel reached its conclusion. Defeated, Grei jumped up.
[I’ll ask the captain myself.]
Ignoring the mocking thought that the captain would, he stomped out of the tavern.
Enya rose with equal excitement. She could hardly contain her joy at the thought that the true nature of the silver ring would soon be revealed. Even seeing the real Grei pale with fear, there was clearly something there.
“Let’s follow him.”
Leading the way, Enya and the others pursued the illusionary Grei’s retreating back.
Outside, night stretched endlessly. The tavern’s Grei navigated the early-formed castle with ease. Though long ago, guards patrolled and fertile farmland could be seen. The Western lands in the illusion resembled a bustling minor territory rather than a wilderness.
[Brother, where are you?]
[Do you know where the captain is?]
[No, do you know where Helios is?]
Grei asked the stablemaster, the castle guards, and a few supply soldiers, searching for Helios. Finally discovering his location, Grei climbed the thick outer walls facing the border.
How high had he climbed?
At the top of the wall, bathed in moonlight, a figure sat perched on the battlement.
It was Helios, his long blond hair tied halfway, clad in a black cloak and form-fitting armor.
He stared blankly beyond the border outside the castle. Unrealistically beautiful as ever, the past Helios wore a youthful expression, unable to fully contain his emotions.
The long greatsword across his chest had a worn cloth binding it, revealing the hardship he had endured, and the way he held the sword showed constant vigilance.
Grei, unable to step closer, could only watch silently. Enya felt the same.
Even she would not approach if Helios had been silently shedding tears.
A disaster.
The memory Enya had hoped for was Grei witnessing Helios with a hidden lover during a passionate night. Not seeing him crying like that.
‘Just scrap it all?’
Enya did not want to pity him.
She didn’t want to imagine the harsh trials he faced alone in the West. Nor would she recall her own past struggles, similar and equally harsh.
Like that first night they met, they would not sneakily spy on each other.
Who could empathize with someone committing extreme, eternal murder?
No one.
I have no right. Neither to pity nor be pitied.
So, shamelessly using someone’s past might be justified. That was the original plan, Enya reassured herself, turning away from Helios.
Just as her heart grew dry, the illusionary Helios spoke.
[I hope you are doing well.]
The earnest voice was almost a whisper. Expressionless, he silently shed tears, raising his left hand. Clutching his fist, he pressed his lips to the ring on his left ring finger and wrapped it with his right hand, as if it were something precious.
Solemn and sacred.
He spoke to someone unseen.
[I hope you are well.]
[I hope you stop crying.]
[I hope you haven’t forgotten me…]
His words seeped like tears between his fingers. As his head nearly buried in his hand, the entire scene froze at once.
Enya had stopped the illusion.
She couldn’t watch any longer.
His evident longing could easily twist into lust, but delving into it was uncomfortable. Seeing his past was like crushing an unripe body inside a cocoon.
Tender and delicate… she didn’t want to exploit it.
Enya bit her lips. Regardless of victory, she needed to wrap up the situation quickly and show at least a lower-class nightmare illusion. She hurried to transform the illusion.
“…Ah!”
But before she could even change it, a sharp pain struck the back of her head. It was not a physical attack.
The vast holy power had mercilessly affected her body.
When she lifted her head, the illusion had completely vanished. Around the Radiant Helios, hundreds of white streams of holy energy undulated like snakes.
