* * *
"Thank you, Sonia."
"It's nothing. Sleep well."
It was just as Sonia's bedtime service ended and I was about to go to bed.
Knock knock-
"Master?"
It was also just before I started a conversation with Evangeline who came before sleep.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"It seems to be an urgent matter."
Light shone from the crystal ball placed in my private room, and seeing that, I decided to postpone sleep a little.
It wasn't urgent, but it was the light of news that should be delivered as quickly as possible.
"Sonia, go in and rest. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Yes. Then."
The report Talhan brought was about a criminal who was likely to become my enemy or a nuisance.
"The Witch of Dreams, Arpina... It's a name I've heard before."
"You probably heard it in fairy tales or proverbs."
"Fairy tales? ...You're right."
After thinking for a moment upon hearing Evangeline's words, I quickly recalled.
The Witch of Dreams, Arpina Maelstrom.
She was a famous murderer active in the northern part of the continent, once synonymous with 'witch'.
Until recently, she was considered the protagonist of the saying "if you cry too much at night, the witch will come and take you away", so you can imagine how infamous she was.
-In fact, the number she actually killed isn't that many...
"You mean the targets were famous strong ones in the northern continent."
"That's right. Among them, there are also targets whose deaths were exaggerated as being killed by her."
The people she killed were all those with powerful strength, and because of that, her status also rose.
Arpina was originally known as an unidentified assassin who made the corpses lose all their magic power and strength.
But due to her arrogance, she ended up losing secrecy, her most lethal weapon.
-If 'Noble Abelus' hadn't dealt with her, she would still be assassinating numerous strong poeple.
"That would have been the case."
She tried to kill one of the strongest on the continent, but instead was captured by him.
And 'Noble Abelus', one of the greatest human adventurers in the current continent, thus announced her identity to everyone on the continent.
'A woman with the power to steal memories and abilities from the dreams of victims and make them her own...'
Thanks to the ability revealed like that, she was able to get a proper nickname for herself.
'Witch of Dreams'.
An alias meaning she appears in the dreams of the dead and torments them.
Before that, she was called Nightmare, Silencer, Dream Phantom, Black Mist, and such. Coincidentally, the nickname created by people matched her identity.
"I don't know why she's coming to the central region."
-There could be several reasons. Maybe she wants to get away from the northern demon realm where she was caught... Or she might want to challenge Abelus again, who revealed her identity.
Talhan mentioned several reasons, but I somehow felt that it wouldn't be any of those.
My 'intuition' whispered to me.
"It's Dantalion, Master."
Evangeline said to me.
Her one word instantly concretized my intuition, and I drew out the highest possibility from the end and laid it out in my mind.
"You said Dantalion released her."
-That's right.
"Then it must be as Eve said. Both of the barons who died by my hand were Dantalion's subordinates."
-Then... is it revenge?
I shook my head.
There may be cases where a superior Dungeon Lord particularly cherishes subordinate Dungeon Lords, but I expect that would be merely treatment for a good horse to ride.
And usually, those with intelligence don't treat objects they have no attachment to so preciously.
"It won't be revenge."
-Then...
But if the one who sent her is Archduke Dantalion, or one of his subordinates, it would be right to think that Arpina's target is us, or me.
"It's more convenient to think that way for responding."
"As you say."
-I suppose so...
"Talhan. Check if there's any information connecting to me in Heisen, and crack down on the Cerebrum Skulls. I won't pull out the personnel, but it would be better to use human subordinates more actively."
At this point, the Cerebrum Skulls were working as key figures in each information guild branch in southern Heisen.
In fact, half of the information network in the southern continent has fallen into my hands.
If Arpina Maelstrom, who came down here, can escape from such an information network, there are only two cases.
"In addition, strengthen surveillance on 'Gray Eyes'."
One is the case where 'Gray Eyes', the unique rival group of the information guild, receives a request and hides her.
-The information guild is already wary of them, so if there's any circumstance of trying to hide something, we'll be able to find out quickly.
"Right."
This case can be prevented to some extent by strengthening surveillance through the eyes of the information guild.
Because information agents know how to recognize their own kind.
"And Eve."
"Shall I call Queen Orea?"
"Please do."
And the other is the case where she moves without showing herself in the human world at all.
'If she moves only in the wilderness, no one would know unless an adventurer happens to see her.'
But eyes are everywhere.
If there's a place without eyes, you just have to 'make them be everywhere'.
The most powerful strength of ants is the control of the leader and their numbers.
"The last possibility is that she hides or changes her appearance and infiltrates..."
I decided not to think about that possibility.
Not only are there few ways to detect when a high-ranking ability user deliberately tries to hide themselves, but she also had a certain anecdote.
After her face was revealed by Abelus and she succeeded in escaping from him.
"There was an anecdote about her saving a child who recognized that she was that 'witch'."
-Wouldn't that be a distortion or a story she spread herself? High-ranking ability users often want to deify themselves...
"It's the same either way."
If it's a distortion, there must have been some original anecdote anyway.
Even if she spread it herself, there must be a reason why she wanted to spread rumors about herself.
"'A child who recognized her face'. And 'the act of spreading rumors'. Both talk about some desire of hers."
The desire to be recognized.
That is, a strong need for acknowledgment.
Although we shouldn't be certain, if she has such a desire...
"She might not show any intention of hiding her movements at all."
-Come to think of it.
The following report from Talhan contained her movements after she broke out of the northern demon realm.
The story that she didn't hide her face at all while visiting all sorts of major cities.
-Isn't she afraid of kingdoms coming to catch her?
"It would be the opposite. Whether they come to catch her or not, she's confident she can escape."
She was a woman who had already succeeded in escaping from 'Noble Abelus', who was said to be one of the strongest on the continent.
Even considering that he was alone, it was clear that this was a very difficult feat, and it was something to be proud of.
"Wouldn't it be natural to have at least the confidence that ability users in the inland couldn't catch her?"
-Certainly...
At the same time, this also meant that she was a being that would cause me new troubles.
"...If we clash with that woman, the existence of our dungeon will surely be revealed."
She was a woman who announced her return so splendidly.
Therefore, many people on the continent would be focusing on that villainess's movements.
It was clear that if she suddenly disappeared or caused a big fight, many people would know.
"We should think of a way to lure her."
"Yes... Along with ways to hide our movements."
To be honest...
'It's more annoying than scary.'
She was a being that made me feel that way.
* * *
"So. What was your reason for coming?"
The faint light flowing from the magically created window falls on her hair, making it glow dimly.
Her golden hair shone brilliantly just by receiving that midnight light.
"It wasn't much. I was thinking of telling you that I've finalized the list of mercenary groups to bribe, and that I'll be going."
"I see."
The important part of Evangeline's report wasn't the former.
It was the latter.
Whatever she did was usually trustworthy.
She actually did everything well, and honestly said when she couldn't do something.
It's just that the range of things she couldn't do was very narrow and shallow.
'No, in this case, should I say it's not shallow but high?'
Seeing her eyes sparkle even more blue along with her magic power, I briefly had a thought that made me tilt my head inwardly.
She was always so reliable, so surely the things she couldn't do must be very high up.
"Come here."
"Yes."
A blue shirt, not black.
The shirt signifying her bright side beautifully wrapped her wonderful curves.
As she approached and embraced me, I first felt her firm body through that shirt.
Haah...
Her exhaled breath tickled my ear and traveled down my neck.
There was no smell of perfume, but I felt a fresh body scent that was more than that.
I felt my heart, which pumps magic power rather than blood, beating a little stronger.
'...It's warm.'
I feel her body temperature.
Although cooler than that of humans, it was clearly something that should be called warmth.
Although it's just parting for a few days, Evangeline always wanted to perform this ritual before that.
She says she needs to charge up her 'Master component'.
"...Huh."
Remembering that serious and firm face when she said those words, laughter leaked out naturally.
Along with my laughter, her hair tickled my cheek and neck following her movement out of curiosity.
A sweet stimulation is felt.
"What are you thinking about?"
A voice resonating low as if about to break.
"That you're an odd person."
"That very person is the Evangeline that Master likes."
Lips smiling while curling up slightly.
"You mean the one you like."
A calm and long embrace continued while exchanging playful words.
Although there was no sound of a heartbeat coming from her, her body temperature and voice were enough.
We, who were embracing each other and sharing warmth like that, were at some point facing each other with our faces apart.
The blue magic power contained in her eyes twinkles like starlight.
I...
"Isn't this enough?"
With some inexplicable regret, I pushed her away slightly.
"It's a shame."
"What?"
Evangeline openly showed her regret while licking her lips.
Her attitude was so transparent about what she wanted that a smile showing bewilderment naturally flowed out.
"No progress until everyone gathers. Wasn't that right?"
The conversation we had on the day I became certain of their secret.
Evangeline just smiled a grinning smile at those words, but she couldn't hide that her cheeks had turned slightly red as well.
"We didn't say anything about not approaching from our side. None of us."
That was a refreshing voice, but at the same time, it was also words revealing her wicked psychology.
"It sounds like you won't refuse if I approach."
"How could we refuse what Master wants? That's impossible for all of us."
Affection contained in her eyes looks at me.
I turned my head slightly and spoke jokingly.
"Even if I trample you under my feet?"
A question asked purely as a joke.
So when she answered with a serious face, I couldn't help but be taken aback.
"I wish you would. Sincerely."
Because this is what she said with boldness and desperation in her voice.
"...Get out. You fool."
"Hehe. Sleep well."
She looked back at me once more at the doorway.
Her unique blue water-like magic power followed behind her, creating a fantastic sight for a moment.
"I'll leave right now and come back quickly, Master."
In the place where she had been after finishing her report about the brief outing, the traces of her blue magic power and moonlight remained intertwined.
Click.
The door closes.
"Haah..."
I felt the warmth that had been felt in my arms slowly dissipating.
Rustle rustle.
Feeling the desire to hold onto that body temperature that was cool but pleasantly moderate, I pulled the blanket, but...
Of course, there was a limit.
"When everyone gathers... huh."
I wonder if I can endure until then.
While watching them worship this clumsy being that is me.
Having those charming women who constantly shake me by my side.
'Wanting to be trampled.'
"Huh."
A laugh leaked out.
Come to think of it, when she was a skeleton, she often chose to lie down in front of my feet when she wanted to stop me from going out.
I had a reasonable suspicion that it might have been a mix of two sincere feelings - the desire to be trampled and the desire to stop me from going out.
The her who spoke that sincerity looked as dark and dangerous as her black self.
'When she comes back... what should I say.'
I am a being that doesn't need to sleep, but somehow I feel like I'll oversleep today.
If she appears in my dream.
The most dangerous 'Witch of Dreams' to me right now was not the enemy, but Evangeline herself.