Demons...?

　Are you suggesting that this case involves the strongest species?

　I mean, demons....
　Like the Rifa thing, there's been a lot of edge lately.

Can you tell me more about it?
Yes, of course. Though I don't know much about it either...

　Here's how Iris sums up her story.

　The culprit in this case is a demon race named Alpha.
　He seems to be a very special kind of dreamer demon.

　The ability of the dreamer demon is to control dreams at will.
　They can show you happy dreams and nightmares as they please.

　This may sound like an unassuming ability, but in fact, it is a very powerful one.
　For example, you can keep having extraordinary nightmares.
　Since dreams are deeply connected to the mind, such a thing can have a serious effect on you.
　It's not a simple matter of mental illness.
　It's like a direct attack on the mind, and it can be crippling.
　Worst of all, it can be death as the mind is destroyed.

　Physical combat power is low but...
　A dreamer demon is superior in other abilities.

　A woman named Alpha, such a dreamer demon, is the one who caused this incident.
　Using her abilities, she draws those who live in or visit Kagne into a false reality where she thinks they are happy.
　Those who are taken in by the false world cannot understand that it is a place that was created.
　Indulging in the happiness in front of them becomes the top priority and they cannot think of anything else.

''So.....
'I can't believe that's happening...'

　It seems that I was caught up in something terrible without realizing it.

　But what is the purpose of this demon race called Alpha?
　They take the people of Kagne into their dreams and, for lack of a better word, restrain them.
　What purpose does he have in doing that?

　When I asked Iris about it, she was extremely confused.

''How... it's so unbelievable that it makes me suspicious of it, but from what I've heard, she wants to make people happy.
'Happy?　That's ... what?
'The word is true. Alpha wants to make people happy, and she is using her abilities to make people happy, and that is why she is causing this to happen. If you believe her words, there is no malice in it, what there is is pure goodness. The Alpha really believes that the dreamer will be happier, and he is using his abilities to do so.

　Listening to Iris, I'm equally confused.

　He says that the root of this incident is not malice, but good intentions.
　I've been involved in a lot of incidents in the past, but I've never seen a guy working with good intentions.
　Is it true?　I doubt it.

　But.........

　You're not being harmed.
　At the moment, he's just being shown a dream.
　And it's not a nightmare, it's a happy dream for him.
　I can't feel the malice of the person called Alpha.

'Why would this person called Alpha do that?'
That's ... I honestly don't know. I haven't had that in-depth conversation with her either.
Where is Alpha now?
'I don't know about that either. It disappeared as soon as we started working on it. It's a mystery to me, and even with my superior detection skills, I can't find it.
Hmm.

　The enemy's purpose and motives are a mystery.
　How do we deal with it?
　How am I supposed to act?
　I'm a little confused.

'Come to think of it, how does Iris know about the Alpha?　You seem to know a lot about it, but...
'Well...'

　Iris looked like a giggle.
　She looks like a child who's been found naughty.

　She wandered to the right and left, her gaze wandering to the left.
　Slightly, he turned to me.
　

''Actually, I have cooperated with Alpha-san.
...Yes?
'I had to go to Cagney for a little business and was approached by Mr. Alpha. Mr. Alpha was looking for someone with a lot of power to carry out his plan. So.....
Have you offered to help Iris, the Celestial?
Yes, you're right.
So, has Iris complied?
Yeah, that's right.

　Iris' eyes began to swim again.
　She's aware that she's done something bad.

''Why did you do that...''
'There's a lot going on, and I'm having a hard time with it myself... and I'm wondering if working with Mr. Alpha will solve that problem.　I thought to myself, "Well, the problem is never solved, and on the contrary, I'm trapped in a dream. Well, the problem wasn't solved; on the contrary, I was trapped in a dream.

　Iris made a bitter face and clicked her tongue in a small way.
　She must have felt humiliated to be trapped in her dream.

'So Iris was trapped in a dream too?
Yes. But I've managed to find myself again. Alpha's dreams are gentle and comforting. But they were never kind.
'Well yes. I can see that now.

　My dad and mom were alive and everyone was happy.
　That may seem like a kind and happy world at first glance.

　But it doesn't feel right.
　It's very distorted.

'Mr. Alpha is trying to make the unhappy one happy. From such an Alpha-san's point of view, I'm sure both me and Rain-sama are unhappy.
'It may look that way but I'm the one who decides that. I have no intention of leaving the decision of whether I am happy or unhappy to others. It's something I have to carry on my own.
Yes, that's right. That thought is the reason why Lady Lane was able to wake up.
'It's because of Iris. If you hadn't approached me like this, I'd still be stuck in my dreams.
Huh, your modesty. I'm sure Miss Lane would have woken up sooner or later even if I hadn't spoken to her.

　What do you think?
　Iris tells me that, but I'm rather unsure.
　That's how comfortable that world is.

It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of the game.　Do you accept Mr. Alpha's dream?
I don't think so.

　Like I said before, I don't think what the Alpha is doing is the right thing to do.
　Showing them happy dreams and just immersing them in a gentle world.
　It seems like the right thing to do, but it's also terribly distorted.

　I was so happy to see my dad and mom again, and that made me so happy.
　But originally, they are gone.
　I shouldn't be able to see them again.

　If you twist such an obvious thing, there will be a reaction somewhere.
　It might be an exaggeration, but it might disturb something like the reasoning of the world.

'Anyway, I won't start without looking into things. Besides, I'd like to talk to the Alpha as well.
Wouldn't it be quicker to knock him down?
'It depends on how they come out, but I wouldn't want to do that if I could. For the moment, it doesn't seem to have any bad intentions. If we can solve the problem by talking it out, then what's the point?
Feng. Lady Rain is as sweet as ever, isn't she?
It's...
But perhaps that's why it's so typical of Lady Lane.

　Iris laughs, as if she can't help it.
　I was a bit surprised.
　They're going to say a lot of things, aren't they?　I was ready for that...
　Are you stepping up to the plate?

So, what are you going to do now?
For now, I just want to check on everyone again.