<em>Step. Step.</em>
As Deus, who was speaking with Mul, gradually walked away, the sound of the dining hall door closing followed.
<em>Creak</em>.
At the same time, a woman emerged from a room. Long traces of stitches were all over her body, and her sunken eyes darted around.
It was the woman who had been severely beaten by Jortu. Although it seemed like her body might have been fractured all over, her upper body had returned to its original state.
However, her lower body remained twisted oddly, as if she had run out of time while fixing it.
Because of that, the woman quickly crawled towards the first-floor entrance.
Blood sttered all over the floor.
The white robe worn by Mul was already stained crimson, and his beautiful face was soaked in blood.
“Heh.”Looking at the corpse, the Cadavermancer couldn’t help but smirk.
Other than the stake lodged in his neck, his corpse was clean. He was a bit lean but as he was tall, it didn’t matter.
“<em>Hihihihi.</em>“
The woman bit in his cor and started crawling back to her room.
“<em>Hihihihi.</em>“
A truly eerieughter resounded.
***The three of them fell silent as I entered the dining hall. With Luh sitting in the middle, the Dark Spiritualist and Han So looked as if they were interrogating. However, It seemed like their conversation was more trivial than serious.
“What about that bastard?”
The Dark Spiritualist asked nonchntly, and I answered without hiding anything.
“He is dead.”
“Did you kill him?”
Han So inquired with a ratherplicated expression, but of course, I shook my head.
“He took his own life. He asked me to meet him outside.”
After that, I exined the new rules I saw after Mul’s death.
11. The higher the room number, theter the time period the guestes from.
15. There is no daytime in the Dream Demon Manor.
“Hmmm, I already knew this wasn’t an ordinary ce, but it’s rather bizarre.”
“I stay in room 101, so I must havee from the most distant past.”
“No daytime?”
Han So, Luh, and the Dark Spiritualist each showed different reactions. However, I paid close attention to Luh; unlike his young age, he was surprisingly calm and cautious.
“Hmm, there seem to be some strange ones among the guests who are with us. What do you think? Shall we join forces just among us and escape together?”
When Han So made the suggestion while stroking his chin, Luh was the first to respond.
“C-Can I join too?”
Seeing the kind boy worried that he might be a hindrance, Han So ruffled his hair and replied.
“Of course. Didn’t we all manage to make it out thanks to your help?!”
He then nced at the Dark Spiritualist and me to see if we were okay with it.
The Dark Spiritualist epted him due to her interest in Luh’s ck Magic. Meanwhile, knowing the boy’s future, I had no intention of leaving him alone.
Thus we began to share the rules we discovered.
The rules we had knew of were listed as follows:
- Rules of the Dream Demon Manor -
1. Private rooms will be assigned to each guest. Your room is number 110.
2. Please refrain from going outside at night. If you happen to go out, the responsibility lies with you.
3. The owner of this abode is the Demon Lord Lehric. Please keep that in mind.
4. Guests are only permitted up to the third floor.
5. One can only stay in the Dream Demon Manor for five days. Exceeding this period will result in a forced expulsion.
6. Engaging inbat within the Dream Demon Manor is not rmended.
7. The clock is located at the center of the first floor. Please do not ask other guests about the time and rob them of their time.
8. If you are expelled from the Dream Demon Manor after five days, you will lose all memories of events that urred here.
9. Rules about the Dream Demon Manor are hidden all over the Manor. You will be rewarded for finding them.
10. Among the guests –
11. The higher the room number, theter the time period the guestes from.
13. Do not let the other guests know how you came to the Dream Demon Manor.
14. You are only permitted to carry up to two items as rewards. (Provided by Han So)
15. There is no daytime in the Dream Demon Manor.
17. Cleaning is performed daily. (Provided by Luh)
20. The Rules of the Dream Demon Manor are still applicable even if you are unaware of them.
21. Meals will be replenished daily. Please feel free to eat as much as you like.
22. Any deceased guest will leave behind the rules they knew.
23. The belongings of a deceased guest will remain in the mansion without an owner.
24. When a guest dies, the room they upied will be opened. However, until then, entry is forbidden even with permission from the room owner.
27. Guest rooms only go up to number 110. There is no Room 111. If you find Room 111 and someone is staying inside, kill them immediately. They are an uninvited intruder.
28. There are no servants in the Dream Demon Manor.
29. There is no fourth floor in the Dream Demon Manor.
With the additional rules known to Han So and Luh, I realized that we had already found quite a lot.
“So Rule No. 10 has been missing from the start?”
“Yes, it has.”
It had been missing since I first came here.
Han So agreed with Luh, although he felt uneasy about the answer given by the boy residing in Room 101, the first to arrive.
Right from the start, I was already concerned about the missing portion of Rule No. 10.
There must have been a reason why it was cut off like that.
“Rule No. 27 scares me a bit.”
“Hmm, we have checked all the room numbers. There was no Room 111.”
As I pondered over the rules while letting the conversation between Luh and Han So about the rules pass through one ear and out the other, the Dark Spiritualist beside me suddenly asked.
“What’s up?”
As she swept away her fallen hair, she gazed at me with a strange sense of anticipation.
“Upon closer examination, the rules seem to contradict each other.”
After reviewing the rule list of the Dream Demon Manor, it was clear that the Demon Lord named Lehric had quite peculiar tastes.
“For example, Rule No. 2 says to refrain from going outside at night.”
My finger slid down the rules and pointed to the number 15.
“However, Rule No. 15 states that there is no daytime in the Dream Demon Manor.”
In other words, the rulespletely forbade us from leaving the Dream Demon Manor.
“Also, Rule No. 4 says that guests are only permitted up to the third floor.”
I slowly dragged my hand while ncing at the rule at the very bottom.
“But Rule No. 29 says there is no fourth floor in the Dream Demon Manor.”
Themon trait of both these contradictory rules was that they presented non-existent things as if they actually existed.
No daytime, no fourth floor.
However, when you knew only one of the rules, it cleverly insinuated the existence of the other, as if it naturally existed.
“It’s exactly how a Demon Lord of Deception would behave.”
Upon hearing my exnation, the Dark Spiritualist sighed aimlessly and sank into a chair in the dining hall.
So, after our discussion about the Dream Demon Manor, we headed to Mul’s room, 109, and Jortu’s room, 107, to find the rules and collect the rewards they received.
Jortu, who knew three rules in total, had received three rewards: a ring, a ne, and a bracelet.
I wondered if these pieces of jewelry were enchanted with magic, but that wasn’t the case. They weren’t items with mary value that surpassed their worth.
On the contrary, Mul, who knew four rules, had obtained magnificent treasures.
A staff made from ckwood, which gave the illusion that it was prepared just for me.
A robe with a red magic circle drawn on a ck background that provided absolute defense magic for ten minutes.
In addition, there were other treasures such as a white dagger imbued with various magics and a thick round shield with a golden lion inscribed on it.
The dagger was given to Luh for self-defense, while the shield was given to Han So since he was the only one who could handle it.
I took the staff and robe.
The Dark Spiritualist looked envious, but I had ownership for now since it seemed like I had contributed to Mul’s death.
And so, time went by.
“<em>Yawn</em>.”
Seeing the youngest Luh yawning from exhaustion, he and Han So returned to their rooms first.
I also rose up and nned to return to my room, but I noticed that the Dark Spiritualist was still sipping on her coffee.
She was simply staring at the rules we had written down without any intention of getting up.
It seemed like she wanted to be left alone, so I didn’t speak to her and was about to leave the dining hall.
“Hey.”
The Dark Spiritualist’s trembling voice held me back.
I slowly closed the dining hall door which I had opened, and looked at her. The Dark Spiritualist had aplicated look as she shook her head.
“No, it’s nothing.”
It felt like a lingering remark.
If it were someone else, I would have probably left without a care, but because it was the Dark Spiritualist, I didn’t.
“It seems like you have something on your mind.”
“Huh?”
My sudden question seemed to have surprised the Dark Spiritualist as she didn’t expect me to continue the conversation. In response to her reaction, I slowly returned to the dining hall.
I sat down not too far from her. I thought about having some coffee as well, but I just put my hands on the table and folded my fingers instead.
“Did you get attached to yourpanions?”
“Me? To you guys?”
Seemingly puzzled by my question, the Dark Spiritualist shrugged.
“From what I know, you were a warmhearted woman.”
As I uttered those words, the Dark Spiritualist stiffened, and her eyes were now solely focused on me.
“…Didn’t you say that you hardly knew me?”
When we first met, I told her I didn’t know her well. She kept probing me, but I didn’t bother responding.
She would have noticed that I was deliberately keeping it hidden, even if I hadn’t bothered to exin.
“What kind of rtionship do we have in the future?”
Upon hearing the Dark Spiritualist’s question, I finally answered without much hesitation.
“You are my mentor.”
“…What?”
She definitely did not expect such a response from me.
With her mouth slightly agape and eyes wide open, the Dark Spiritualist looked at me as if expecting further exnation, dragging her chair closer.
However, instead of an exnation, I continued with a question.
“Anyway, there is one thing I am curious about.”
The question I wanted to ask the Dark Spiritualist if the opportunity ever arose.
I had tried to voice it several times, but in the end, it was a question I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Although this was somewhat deceitful, I asked her about it, the one from the past.
“What is your reason for seeking the end of Necromancy?”
“…”
That made me curious for a long time.
In the end, the reason the Dark Spiritualist was apanying me was to master all aspects of Necromancy.
However, during her fight with Magan, she had left a meaningful remark, expressing hope that I wouldn’t end up like her.
If the Dark Spiritualist from my timeline knew about this, she would have most likely scolded me for being unfair.
Nevertheless, as someone who was traveling alongside her, I needed to know.
The Dark Spiritualist slowly closed her mouth in response to my question. Yet, it did not seem that she found it difficult to answer; rather, it seemed like she was organizing her thoughts.
After a brief wait.
I waited for the Dark Spiritualist to give me an honest answer without much agitation, while momentarily ncing around the dining hall.
“…What was it again?”
***<em>Thud</em>.
Luh entered Room 101 with an unusual rxed expression, as if he had a morale boost.
<em>Comrades.</em>
From Han So to the Dark Spiritualist and Deus Verdi, bing arade of the three impressive individuals was an exhrating feeling for the young Luh.
Born as the king’s illegitimate son, he was treated like an exile and was expelled from the capital, Graypond.
At least, the asional letters from his father had be his only sce and connection with others.
When the equal rtionship ofrades, where they each took responsibility for each other’s lives, formed, Luh felt like he was so happy that he could fly.
“I must not be a burden to them.”
Despite feeling tired, he didn’ty down on his bed immediately. Instead, he swung the white dagger he received.
Since the magic it contained couldn’t be used in the room, he intended to at least practice some basic self-defense moves.
Coincidentally, although the royal family did not acknowledge his existence, he was still a prince. With a good learning capacity, he recalled the self-defense martial arts using a dagger he had learned in the past.
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
Startled by the rough knocking on his door, Luh asked in surprise.
“Who is it?”
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
He thought he had concealed his trembling voice well, but the presence outside the door remained insistent with the knocking.
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
The heavy sound of the knocking as if the person were using something weighty instead of their hand.
The highly intelligent Luh quickly figured out that the person outside was headbutting the door.
First, he was sure that it was not one of hisrades.
Hence, there was no reason for him to open the door.
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
The knocking persisted.
At this point, he started to wonder if anyone nearby would notice themotion.
Should he go out and fight?
Luh entertained that thought for a moment, but he immediately shook his head.
Although he knew how to use ck Magic, he was still inexperienced when it came to using it inbat.
Just as he was about to cover himself with the nket and pretend to be asleep, the knocking suddenly ceased.
Thinking it might be over, he cautiously removed his nket and peered out to check the door.
However, as if mocking the boy’s expectations, a thin thread snuck in through the door’s gap, rapidly multiplying until it took the recognizable shape of a human hand.
“Huh?”
Luh, whoy on the bed as he tried to ignore it, was unable to react upon seeing that.
<em>Click</em>.
The hand made of thread proceeded to unlock thetch and turn the doorknob.
Then, the door to the boy’s room opened smoothly, as if weing the uninvited intruder.
Luh immediately grabbed his dagger and stood up.
The boy’s mind was remarkably sharp that it was hard to believe he was still so young.
<em>If the intruder is a guest like me, they cannot enter this room.</em>
24. When a guest dies, the room they upied will be opened. However, until then, entry is forbidden even with permission from the room owner.
Even if Luh permitted them to do so, one still couldn’t enter as they wished.
However…
“Huh?”
Standing before the boy’s door was Mul, wearing an iron mask and a robe stained with blood.
In other words, it was the man who had justmitted suicide. Seeing that the corpse had disappeared, he thought that perhaps the Dream Demon Manor had taken care of him.
“<em>Hi… Hihihi.</em>“
A chillingughter resounded from behind Mul’s corpse. It was theugh of the woman who was a Cadavermancer.
“You’ve grown up nicely, haven’t you? It’s quite obvious.”
“…”
From beyond the threshold, the woman continued speaking while looking excited for some unknown reason.
“I can’t believe this… the corpse of a child, who could at least be considered to be a high noble or royalty… This is the first time I’ve touched something like this!”
“You’ll regret it if you enter my room!”
It was a sort of warning and Luh’s only form of resistance.
“It is not me who is going in.”
The woman’s remark implied that she already knew about Rule No. 24.
At the same time, Mul, now a corpse, began moving towards Luh.
Shortly after, the Cadavermancer crossed the threshold and entered the room.
Room 101’s door shut behind her.
24. When a guest dies, the room they upied will be opened. However, until then, entry is forbidden even with permission from the room owner.