The world of the Voice continued out like a wave. Even she, a developer, didn’t know it yet, but the concentric circles that composed it were stored in her memory.
“…So, there could be dead people in this world.”
Lia explained it to Leo and Carlos. The three were wearing robes and sitting in a corner of the tavern. Leo’s eyes went wide as he tilted his head.
“Why?”
“What, are you stupid? The memories of the dead are also stored in this world. A dead person can live on with their memories of when they were alive.”
Carlos’s answer was partially correct.
“Yeah, it’s something similar to what Carlos said. But…”
Lia paused for a moment, her eyes darting up. Two Named, Sylvia and Julie, were at a table eating, and not only that.
Screeeeech—
The wooden door of the tavern creaked open. At that moment, the temperature inside suddenly grew cold. Lia and the children naturally looked to the door. No, everyone in the tavern did.
“…It’s Professor Deculein.”
A noble who attracted everyone’s attention, and a magical villain who would captivate you if you let your guard down even by a little. He was an irregular that couldn’t be expressed by Lia’s status. That Deculein.
Step—step—
His stride was regular, and his elegance flowed like an icy cloak behind him. He was always tidy and clean, to the point it was morbid, and that didn’t change even in the Voice. Leo was surprised to see him.
“Huh. Huh. Lia! How-“
“…Shh.”
Lia, who was watching vacantly, put a finger to her lips. Leo nodded, and Carlos pulled the hood of his robe down.
“…Lia, what should we do? Should we run?”
Leo whispered.
“No, we won’t run away. He’s someone we are going to meet eventually anyway.”
Deculein was essential in the Voice now that he had become much, much stronger than the original. In the first place, the final boss of the Voice was his father, Decalane.
Tremble—
But suddenly, the table began to shake. Lia noticed Carlos was trembling.
Tremble—
The child’s eyes had already lost focus, and his complexion turned blue. Fear had been imprinted in him, activated by Deculein’s mere presence. Carlos was twice as strong as her now, so she couldn’t help but feel sad to see him shaking and breaking out in a cold sweat.
“…It’s okay, Los.”
Lia held Carlos’s trembling hands. Leo, who was beside her, also put his hand on top of them.
“That’s right! It’s okay. We won’t get caught~.”
Carlos grinned at his carefree attitude.
*****
As soon as the tavern door opened, all attention was on me. I sat down at the bar with Epherene. I didn’t want to associate with those bandits.
“…Professor, everyone is looking at us.”
Just as Epherene said, everyone was openly watching us, but Sylvia and Julie were desperately pretending to not notice as they kept their heads down.
“Is this your first time here?”
The owner, who was cleaning a cup, asked. Epherene answered.
“Yes, why?”
“Hmm, I didn’t expect to see Professor Deculein in this place.”
“You know the Professor?”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t? I even heard of the rumors that he buried the Demon Blood alive.”
“…”
Epherene trembled then mumbled softly, wary of me.
“That’s a bit too much…”
“I want to hear a different rumor.”
I moved straight to the point. All sorts of rumors could be heard at a tavern, and all kinds of quests appeared. Therefore, it was the starting point in the Voice.
“Hmm. Rumors. If you were someone else, I would have just snorted at you… but it’s a different story with the Professor. You have a reputation even in this world.”
The owner raised his eyebrows and handed over a beer, but I didn’t drink such cheap things.
“Ehem. Count Demetheon is looking for people.”
“People?”
“Yes, to kill the demon covered in human masks.”
I didn’t say anything but leaned back in the chair and watched the bar owner.
“…”
Calmly and peacefully. However, my Psychokinesis manifested and shook the tavern, rattling the bottles and tables.
Dadadadadada…!
The small earthquake even moved the walls and the floor. This Psychokinesis that had reached its peak was becoming my aura. It was at the stage of unifying my will and the outside world.
“Woah, Woah. Calm down.”
The owner was freaked out and my mana subsided a moment later. The angrier I grew, the colder my heart became, thanks to the predisposition of my Composure.
“I know Yukline, the clan of hunters, very well. Will you accept this?”
[Main Quest 3333: Voice (1)]
◆Goal: Demon Hunting
◆Reward: Store Currency +10
Ten units of store currency. It was an opportunity to finally strengthen the quality of my mana once again, perhaps for the last time. I couldn’t refuse this.
I nodded.
“I accept.”
“Good. You can go inside from there.”
The owner pointed to the door next to the counter.
“Good luck.”
I stood with Epherene following behind me.
Screeeeech—
I opened the door using Psychokinesis. When I passed through, I could see two men. One appeared to be sleeping on a sofa, and the other was sitting in a chair. He was holding his forehead with his eyes closed.
“Hmm. How dare someone… huh? Deculein?!”
He slowly raised his head to reveal his face. I recognized him as Zukaken of the Six Snakes.
“…Ehem, Deculein, is this the first time we’ve seen each other since the incident?”
When I didn’t respond, he straightened his expression with some embarrassment.
“It’s awkward, but it’s a relief. There’s no one like you when it comes to knocking down demons.”
The Six Snakes was an underworld criminal organization. They referred to themselves as a guild and committed all sorts of crimes for money. I didn’t have to be nice.
“I don’t want any small talk. Where is the demon?”
“…I also don’t want to talk to you for long. Here, take this.”
Zukaken pulled out a briefcase. I took it before asking.
“Who is Count Demetheon?”
He closed his mouth.
“…That’s for later. You go and see for yourself because he’s the demon that you’ll hunt. For your information, the down payment is ten brass coins, ten times that once completed. Ten brass coins are equivalent to one thousand Elnes in the Empire.”
Tak—!
I opened the case. There were two pictures inside.
“…”
I glanced over at the first picture. It was a familiar face.
“To briefly explain the mission, there is a demon here. To be more exact, a human brought back to life by the Voice.”
Zukaken’s words reached my ears and scattered.
“They are dolls made by the Voice by instilling parts of their soul. But, what if you kill that doll? The Voice becomes incomplete, too. This is the most straightforward way of defeating the Voice.”
The person was someone I had never seen before. But, the woman vividly remained in Deculein’s memory. I spoke her name.
“…Sierra.”
“That’s right, but don’t be mistaken. The memories and mask belong to her, but inside her is a demon. It will act like her, but it’s not real. But… it should be easy for you.”
Zukaken smirked.
“Because you’ve already killed her once before.”
“…What?”
Then, Epherene flinched.
“Who… is she?”
I looked back to Epherene. Her round eyes were blinking on and off like a light bulb.
“It’s Sylvia’s mother.”
“…What?! That, that, uh-“
I ignored Epherene’s shock and turned to Zukaken again.
“Zukaken, don’t you want to maintain the Voice?”
“Hmm? No, I don’t. You, think about what I’ve accomplished in the underworld. Do you think I would want to abandon that gold and my treasures to live in this world made by demons? Also, underworld guys easily fall for these fakes. So, the existence of this place is bad for us. Shouldn’t we break this fake world as soon as possible?”
His words were surprisingly convincing. He didn’t seem to be lying.
“Ah, more than that. There’s one more in there. You have to take a look at it now and decide.”
Zukaken’s expression became quite serious. I lowered my gaze again. Behind the photo of Sierra smiling softly was another paper. The moment I peeled it away to look at the third-
“…”
I became flustered. No, I even stopped thinking.
“Professor?”
I couldn’t answer. It felt like my lips were glued together.
“Professor…?”
Epherene looked at the photo. Then, in a small voice, she muttered the name written on the paper.
“Yoo Ara… von… Vergiss Meinnichtt…?”
Yoo Ara von Vergiss Meinnichtt. The first woman that Deculein had loved, more than anyone else. At the same time, she was the Easter egg that the girl Kim Woojin loved had put in the game. Maybe, it was her alter ego…
“Who is this?”
Of course, I didn’t have any memories of this woman. In the first place, it wasn’t even the real Yoo Ara. Vergiss Meinnicht, I also didn’t even know this family name that was hard to forget. However, the picture resembled her.
No, they were the same. Hers was a face I hadn’t seen in a long time. Her black hair and dark eyes, playful lips… it was still vivid enough in my mind. It had been too long, I didn’t remember her voice at all…
“Professor?”
Epherene shook my shoulder. I heard Zukaken speaking from far away.
“You can choose between the two. You can avoid it if it’s too hard. I understand love, too.”
“…”
I frowned while looking at him. I could feel his insignificant compassion.
“When did you lose your boyfriend again?”
“…Ah, this crazy fool! Don’t bring that up!”
“Boyfriend?”
Epherene raised an eyebrow. Zukaken swept his hair back.
“You don’t have to know.”
“Hmm… ah, okay. I know what it is… but more than that, who is this person?”
Zukaken answered Epherene in revenge.
“She’s Deculein’s first fiancée. The only one he ever loved.”
“!”
At that moment, Epherene shook.
“Then… eyy! Then, this isn’t right!”
Epherene swung her arms around. Zukaken asked back sarcastically.
“Why not?”
“Why not? …Even if it’s a demon, she looks exactly like his loved one.”
“It’s not that she looks like her. It’s the same person. Her memory has also been copied over.”
“Then, even more so!”
Epherene shouted.
“It doesn’t make sense. How…”
She started to retort again while I just looked at the picture. Her face, which I had longed for, seemed a treasure that I had lost a long time ago…
Thud—
I gently put it down.
“No, it doesn’t make seeeense—~”
“This crazy girl! Let go! Why are you making a fuss! Are you crazy?!”
“Whatever, give it to someone else-“
“Epherene.”
I stopped Epherene from arguing with Zukaken.
“…Yes?”
I spoke in a low voice.
“If your father was revived as a demon… would you kill him?”
“…”
Epherene didn’t answer. She bit her lower lip, dissatisfied with my question and angry since I killed her father.
“What about you, Professor? If ever the person you love-“
“I.”
I looked into Epherene’s eyes. Her eyes were as clear as the sea, not knowing any deception. My face was reflected from them, and I answered assuredly.
“Willingly.”
[Quest Accepted: Voice (1)]
*****
Meanwhile, Sylvia was glancing at the door by the counter that Deculein went through.
“Lady Iliade.”
She was trying to peek through and spy, but the woman in front of her kept getting in the way.
“…”
Sylvia puffed her cheeks and stared angrily at Julie, who continued without noticing.
“Are you saying that’s possible?”
“…Yes, if you want it”
“Yes. I want it.”
Julie’s voice was colored with desperation.
‘This woman, she doesn’t know anything. What a fool.’
Sylvia kept her thoughts quiet.
“You might regret it.”
“I’m good.”
In the world of the Voice, all voices and memories from the continent were stored. Therefore, what Julie wanted was the truth, the voices of Veron and Rockfell when they died. Sylvia nodded.
“Then, cooperate with me. I also need a knight.”
“Yes, of course. But may I ask what kind of cooperation you are asking for?”
“…”
Sylvia thought for a while, then decided to speak honestly.
“My mother is alive in this world.”
Julie’s eyes narrowed as Sylvia continued in a low voice.
“I know it’s only a fake, but I want to meet her once. To do that, I need the help of a knight. There are many hurdles in this world. There’s also a tiger.”
“…Okay, I understand. Then-“
“Us too!”
At that moment, a high-pitched voice cut in. Sylvia and Julie looked back to find Lia, Leo, and a child they hadn’t seen before. The three children came closer.
“I don’t know what it is but take us too! We can help as well! We need to earn brass coins!”
Lia made the request. Sylvia frowned, but Julie jumped in to explain.
“Oh, Lady Iliade. These kids are adventurers-“
“I know. We’ve met. On the way to Reccordak.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Julie looked at Lia, who smiled brightly and nodded.
“Hmm. Lia successfully protected Professor Deculein during the Great Tiger hunt. She is young but has incredible skills. So-“
Sylvia stood up without saying anything. Julie followed her, and the five of them left the tavern together. It was noisy outside.
—Okay, okay. Everyone take this~. I have a lot of things you can’t find on the continent~.
There was an actual market. Sylvia tried to just pass by, but a silver dagger for sale suddenly caught her eye.
“It’s good for self-defense. A lady can swing it around, and if you can score a hit, your opponent will die right away! It’s on sale for one brass coin.”
“…”
Sylvia turned around silently. She was, so to speak, a penny pincher. Though, in truth, it was just because she didn’t need to buy anything. If she recalled what she just saw, and drew it using mana-
Whooosh—
An item exactly like the one she just saw formed in her hand.
“Whew. There goes Deculein.”
Carlos sighed in relief, drawing Sylvia’s eye.
“…Oh.”
Deculein was walking ahead, and Epherene followed three steps behind him. Epherene looked depressed, while gloom hung around Deculein.
“…”
Deculein… Sylvia vaguely understood her feelings towards him. Her love and hatred, those contradictory emotions that couldn’t be mixed.
“Lady Iliade, where should we go now?”
Julie asked. The three children stood next to her. Sylvia didn’t like children, but as Julie said, their skills seemed to be useful.
“Can we join, too? Oh right! From the right, it’s Carlos, Leo, and I’m Lia!”
Lia spoke energetically. Sylvia’s answer was brief.
“I know, follow me.”
“Yes!”
“What a noisy kid. Quiet. Lower your voice.”
“Okay…”
