He's a strong kid.


　I thought I heard the voice of such a spirit.

　◇

...mea...n...t...t... ...Reme-san.......Reme-san.......!

　Raindrops dripped on my cheeks.
　No, the rain is cold. This is very warm.

　Tears, I guess.
　When I open my eyes, the beautiful vampire's crying face fills my vision.

"..........!　Mr. Leme!

　As if melted out of her jewel-like eyes, tears flowed in trickles and fell as drops.

''Mira........?''

　My head felt lightheaded.

　The dream that had felt so real just a few minutes ago was rapidly fading away.
　I can still remember the content of the dream now, but I wonder if it was also a dream.
　Something that will gradually fade away once you wake up and return to your daily life.

'Reme-san...!　Thank God....really...!

　I seem to be lying on the cold floor.
　She supported me as I raised my upper body up.

　A moment later, she holds me close.
　Her sweet scent and soft warmth envelops me.

''Reme-san, you didn't wake up easily... I was really worried about you...?''

Yes.

''.........It was a very tempting dream. I didn't expect someone as good as Reme to take so much trouble....

　They had all been tried and tested.
　The moment they walked through the door, they all must have fallen into a dream.

　The first one to wake up was Mr. Fulkus. Almost at the same time, Arthur-san. Mira and Merlin were next, and then Citry was a little later. And me.

''It seems that Mr. Ex is still trying. The people in the village have already taken him out when he wakes up.

Yeah.

　Somehow, I get it.
　I think I heard someone say that if one of them clears it, even the dropouts will wake up, but that was true.

　The reason why the other members didn't wake up after Fulkus-san's trial breakthrough was because they were asleep but not eliminated(,).
　It would mean that they would not force those in the challenge to wake up.

　So, does that mean that all the villagers have dropped out?
　

''Leme........?　Oh, do you still feel dumb...?

　Her caring voice.
　Certainly, I still can't get my head around it well.

　I could feel her trying to move away.
　Unconsciously, I put my hand behind her back.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Re-Re-Re-Me-san...?

　She shook her head as she rubbed her cheek against her neck.
　Her body froze from the tension.

'Mira-san's dream ... what was it about?'

''Uh, oh, hi.

''.................Huh. Mira-san is strong.

　The dream was easy to imagine.

''Well how was Leme's dream?　Did you and your vampire wife have about three children and a happy family...?

　Mila asks in a hushed voice, "I didn't see you again in my dream.

''Well I didn't get to see Mira-san again in my dream. I doubt the events of two years ago ever happened either...

　I must have lived a decade, but it's not a real memory. When it came to the memories of a few years ago in the dream, I didn't have a good grip on it.

　It's not uncomfortable while I was dreaming, but maybe it's more like I was given that kind of setting rather than a happy life.

'--Yeah, right.

　I think I've put away as she says it in a voice that stifles my grief.
　I didn't have enough words.
　I pull the words out of my head, which doesn't turn well, in a hurry.

'That's why I came back,'

!

　Her body twitched.

'Well, that's, uh, that's not, I mean, what's the...'

"In my dreams, I was a [brave] guy. I was living a full life with the best of friends. If I woke up too late I'm sure I was very, very happy...

..........

　I squeezed her arms around me as she held me close.
　As if to hold me back to reality.

'But you know what, it wasn't enough.'

Not enough...?

　I didn't get to meet my mentor. I didn't even get a lifelong rival named Fenix. In reality, I certainly made my parents sad, but that's why I had the opportunity to know their strength and kindness.

　I didn't have the opportunity to become friends with Blitz, get a secretary named Kash, meet the Demon King to serve, or meet many friends and colleagues in that world.

　I wonder if Nicola-san would have admired me in that world. Would Aerialist and Wraith have wanted to invite me from that world to their parties?

　Did Mira-san want to invite me from that world?

　In that world, the way we interacted with our loved ones was very different. There were even those who disappeared from our lives.
　Still, it was a dream that made my childhood dream come true.

To be honest, I think I was on the edge. But the fact that I'm back is...

　I'd like to have a [Brave Man of Fire] for Fenix.
　I don't want to pretend that my encounter with the best master didn't happen.
　I still want Kash to be my secretary.
　I can't let the training I received from Fourcas-san go to waste.
　I want to believe that my life that Nicolas admired is not meaningless.
　And...

It reminded me of Mira. I really thought the reality (this) was better.

.....................

　And many more. The list goes on and on. I've left so much good in reality that it's impossible to keep track of.

　The ideal world is comfortable, though.
　I've had the good fortune to meet people and meet people in this painful reality.
　I want to live in this world.

Mira-san...?

　.........Somehow, I felt like Mira-san in my arms was getting hot. No, it was warm to begin with, but like this, it was hot.

"Yes, that's.........that's.......that's.......Plopoz..........?

　...........
　.........................

Eh?

It's not like the world I'm in is better than the one I'm in... there's no other way to take it...!

Well, I don't know if it's called that, but...

It's the same thing!

　I desperately look back at the conversation we had a little while ago.
　Then I realized that I couldn't remember how much of what I'd said in my mind because I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't remember what I'd said.

　I'm not sure if I've just said the words about Mila-san.
　If so, then surely.........

　I am pushed down with a bang. From her mouth, fangs peek out.
　The golden hair that flows in a fluttering manner spreads like a veil.

'No, Mira-san, um, I need you to listen to me.

A lie, is it...?

　Her eyes moisten.

'No way, I'm not lying.

　I will have to say that clearly.

''Then there's no problem........!

But I didn't say enough.

No more words, Mr. Leme. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything.

　What...?
　Mila-san with predator's eyes is breathing heavily and brings her face closer to mine.


''Oh........!　It looks like those two are going to get it done in the deepest part of the dungeon. You're young.

"Well you're in bad taste, Merlin. You should leave him out of your seat.

Mila, you're so cute with that red face.

''...Immature. Even though you're dealing with a vampire, you're pushed down too easily.

　A voice. From the other side of the door, four of them.

What a good place to be interrupted........!

　Mila looked really frustrated.
　As expected, it wasn't enough to force her to do it with everyone watching.

　Just before she pulled away from me, she whispered in my ear, "I'll see you later.

'I'll see you later.'

　The sweet, brain-numbing voice didn't disappear for a while after she left.


''Haha!　Are there still men and women in heat in dungeons?　It used to be pretty much like that because it was life threatening... When you feel like you're in danger of dying, you try to leave your offspring~'


　I already know, as expected.
　The owner of this voice is the spirit that created the original dungeon.

　The other four people immediately entered the room, I also grab my staff that was lying nearby and stand up.

　Can I say that the spirit was like a spirit? It was something shiny. It floats and changes shape constantly.

'Eh, what?　You don't have to be so hostile........ In the first place, a human can't even touch a spirit, let alone kill it, let alone touch it with a finger.''

　It's frustrating, but it's true.
　The spirits seem to be in the same place, but in reality, they are like they are in a different world.

　And yet the other side can interfere with us.
　But that doesn't mean they'll let their guard down.

Hmm, well, that's fine. Anyway, congratulations~. You're really strong-minded people. You know, the villagers were wiped out. Of course, everyone would be better off if they could find a world that works for them. But that's so boring. You guys who came back this way are interesting kids. We have to thank you for the good stuff you showed us, so reward time~'

　It is pointless to measure the spirits by human values.
　But I must still say.

You're an a**h*le.

Hmm?

'It was decent until the fourth level. We were trying to establish offense and defense in the dungeon, and it was a challenging, if difficult, dungeon.

'Yeah, yeah, I've adjusted the difficulty to match your strength. If you performed at your best, you managed to clear it, right?

'But taking the villagers away to try the fifth level isn't a dungeon attack anymore.

'You don't stop in the middle of a dungeon attack now, do you?　You attacked it to the end and called it "stepping over"?　You feel like it's meant to be fulfilled, right?　You were the ones who gave it up first.'

　Yes, the spirit's argument was expected.
　From her point of view, she would recognize that it was the survey team that escaped first.

'The dungeon attack now is entertainment. In your fifth tier, everyone in the village was terrified, tearful, and resentful. If you're the only one having fun, then this dungeon is a failure.

Can I say that?　If you displease the genie, you might not get paid.　You might be a step or two closer to your dream of becoming a hero in [Black Mage]?''

I don't need it. How can you be a hero with something given to you by an entity that hurts people so easily?

'....Hee~~~. You're indeed interesting. But it's a pity. I said that earlier, but a spirit's promise is absolute. It's a good thing that you're not the only one. Now, what do you want?

''Wait, Ex hasn't woken up yet. Why is this timing?

　Arthur's words.

　Our attention was drawn to Ex-san, who was still sleeping on the floor.
　The holy sword had been removed from its scabbard and removed from his belt, and Arthur-san's jacket was placed under his head as a pillow.

Don't you get it?　'Now that the final results are in, we've talked about the rewards?'

I'm not sure...

　We were speechless for a moment.

　The next moment, Arthur-san ran up to Ex-san.

'Ex!　Wake up!　You've made it through the ordeal too... haven't you!

　Arthur must have believed in it.
　That's why he and the other members of the group accepted the role of delivering the villagers to the outside.

　Just like Mira-san did with me, both Arthur-san and Merlin-san must have wanted to stay by my side until I woke up.
　I knew that the easy-to-understand title of World Rank #2 would be useful in reassuring the villagers, who had just awakened and were still confused.

''Ex........!

　Mr. Merlin gently stops Mr. Arthur from shaking his best friend's body significantly.

'Merlin!　Why are you so calm?　This can't be happening...!

　For the first time, I see the always calm Arthur is distraught.
　That's how important Ex-san is to him.

　It's the same for Merlin.
　But Merlin-san knows. I know that Ex-san is in trouble.

　Xu-san was trying to keep Arthur from knowing that.
　There are some things you can say because you're your best friend and some things you can't say to your best friend.

'Spirits can mislead people, but they don't lie.

　As I said earlier, 'You might not get paid? That would be a deceptive phrase. He didn't make any assurances, but he tried to sway us by suggesting the possibility of not getting a reward.

　As long as he said, 'The final results came out, so we talked about the reward,' there's no lie there.

　Mr. Xu was eliminated.
　The dream has consumed him.

So, what do you want in return?

You're gonna wake up Aix.

"Impossible. That's the deal with the trials. You clear them, there's a reward for completing them, and those who fail get penalized. You can't invalidate another contract with that reward. This is beyond the scope of what a genie can do.

Don't be silly.

''Shut up. Oh, and by the way, there's only one trial per person, right?　You can't just get a bunch of rewards when you know you can complete it. If you want to help the dropouts, why don't you bring someone else who hasn't tried yet?'

　So here's the thing.

　If you clear the game, the dropouts at that point will wake up.
　The reason we didn't wake up when Mr. Fulkus cleared the game is because he was still a challenger at that stage.
　Mr. Xu didn't wake up because he was still a challenger at that stage when I cleared him.

　He was eliminated after the ordeal was over, except for him.
　The genie is not telling a lie.
　It's just a matter of timing. Now, to save Ex-san, as the genie said, a new challenger would have to break through the ordeal.

　But I think it's because of this group of people that there are so many clearers.
　And a dream so great that even Ex-san was trapped. That's how ideal the world is.
　It's not an easy option to try.

　Honestly, I couldn't believe that this spirit would make me take a penalty like 'eternal sleep'.
　I believe that the purpose of the spirit was to enjoy watching the survey team conquer their own dungeon.

　So even if they had left the villagers alone like that, they would have woken up with the disappearance of the original dungeon.
　I had that thought in my head.

　But even if that was the case, they couldn't leave it alone. I don't know when the dungeon will disappear, and this is just my prediction.
　The existence of spirits can give people benefits, but they can also cause harm.

　So, yes.
　I can't leave Ex-san alone with the expectation that this spirit won't take away a person's entire life just because he or she will wake up.

''My wish, it's decided.

'Oh, I thought you didn't want it?　Well, if you don't tell me, I'll be in trouble.

Put me in Miss Ex's dream.

What, Reme...?

'No ... well ... You describe it as falling out, but Ex is in a state of being consumed by a dream and living in an ideal. You just can't get out of it on your own. If I could intervene........

　Arthur is surprised and Merlin puts his hand to his chin and looks thoughtful.

'I can do it - but it's only a challenger's dream, right?　You can't decide what role you want to play. Can a mob voice change the mind of a leading man?'

Don't worry about it.

　It was my dream, and I was able to grasp it to some extent.
　I couldn't interfere with myself as a complete stranger, for example.

　But with the appearance of Remegeton, I was able to use that body.
　Aix-san's ideal world is definitely related to the adventurer.

　Then he should come - to the Demon King's Castle.
　Then I can meet him.

　I can be his world's Remegaton.

"Wait, Leme. "Wait, Leme, I appreciate the sentiment, but I can't let you do that. I'll take the lead on this one.

No, Arthur.

'Merlin...?　Why stop?

'You're too virtuous. That's a virtue, but beauty doesn't save all men.

What do you mean by that?

Your 'best' won't bring Ex back in hundreds of years.

Well you're hiding something, aren't you?

That's not what I'm talking about.

We don't have time for that...!

'You don't trust my word?　Do you really think that this [visionary wizard] will hide the information he needs in the face of his companions' plight?

　Mr. Merlin says with a serious look on his face.

''No I don't think so. I don't think but...'

　Mr. Arthur's expression twisted painfully.
　He had been told that his closest friend could not be saved by himself. The pain must be considerable.

　Nevertheless, Mr. Arthur took one deep breath and calmed it down.

'Leme,'

Yes, sir.

...take care of Ex. Can I leave it in the hands of [best black mage]?

I'll be back with you.

　He looked around at everyone.
　Mira smiled, as if she knew.

'If it's too late, I'm going to cry again, aren't I?

So I've got to get home early.

　Mr. Citry said, "That's very Leme-kun," and Mr. Fourcas said nothing. But I could tell that she was worried about me.
　When my gaze met with Merlin-san's, she nodded, and I nodded back.

'You're really going to go. Isn't it a waste of time?''

Nothing.

"You're not very selfless, but you're good at it. Fine, I'll do you a favor. If the Challenger can find the strength to come back with you, you can come back with him. But if the challenger keeps dreaming you know what I mean?

Come on, just do it quick.

　He's the one who came with me to help the villagers. He is a respected mentor and my favorite adventurer.
　I have no hesitation in going to help him.

Then, go ahead and go to your boring dreams of convenience for others.