Volume 2, Chapter 0: Whose Dream is This?
“Hmm…?”
I notice that I’m in a strange place.
The white stone of the building was decorated with precise workmanship.
Things like a wood carving of a dragon and lion, painted in primary colors have been lined up like in a shop.
Various uncut shiny rocks have been piled carelessly, this place looks like some sort of art house exhibit.
The material of the castle I’m in looks smooth, like glass.
I see a horse-drawn carriage, humble, but made of gold.
An elaborate chariot made of iron and rock.
From the ceiling, a tapestry hung, woven out of golden thread.
All alone, a pure, glossy white sphere thing sat. I don’t know how I would use that vehicle.
There are some obviously ancient things here, but also technology I’m unable to comprehend.
In a nutshell, the timeline, places, and even laws of physics seem to be different for these random things that have been gathered and spread out along the streets in front of me.
Also a…
“Department store?”
It was made of concrete, tiles, and glass, on top were colorful signs both in [English] and [Japanese]
Have I been summoned again, no, was I reborn into this strange world?
“…No”
My hands still look small and thin. Touching my hair with my fingertips, it’s disgustingly glossy and golden… the hair of a demon, as usual.
I can tell I’m still wearing what I wore to bed, feeling the silky material of the sleepwear on my body.
It seems to be night time, as there’s a little moonlight shining from the sky. All the lights in the building in front of me are lit, but there are completely no signs of living creatures.
To think there’s such a random, stupid world.
“Yup, you guessed it, this is a dream.”
“………”
All of a sudden, I heard the sound of a voice behind me. Surprised, I looked behind me slowly.
“I’m not surprised…?”
“… You certainly look surprised”
The person, who looked like a man in his mid-twenties, narrowed his eyes happily at my answer.
He wore a black tailcoat; it was Jet-black… with no shine, not even a shadow. In the unfamiliar man’s hair, a mix of pale indigo shines in the light. Looking at me with soft scarlet eyes, he snaps his fingers in an elaborate way.
“For the time being, would you like some tea?”
Without any light from the sky, the place we went was illuminated by spotlights, there were tables and chairs made of glass, a mannequin in a maid uniform and a human-sized stuffed toy rabbit were awkwardly brewing the tea.
“…Thanks for the meal”
He muttered when I sat face-to-face with him at the table… Ah, I understand now, it really must be a dream
However, it’s amazing how handsome he is, sex appeal and charm are pouring off of him.
“Seriously, my heart won’t last…”
I mumbled out quietly.
He heard it, though, and started laughing.
“It can’t be helped. In a certain sense, we’re brother and sister.”
“Siblings…?”
“I’m a demon just like you… Yurushia”
Ah, I see… Yurushia. The demon knows my name. I can’t really concentrate in this place, so I didn’t hear what else he said.
Is it from my memories…?
“Can you… tell me your name?”
“Well, I have a large variety of nicknames, since my first name is too long…”
He makes a thinking pose for a bit,
“Please call me Mefi for the time being”
“Mefi…”
A girl-like name. It’s probably a nickname, I think. After Mefi has a sip of a crimson tea I don’t recognize, he finally cuts to the chase.
“Tonight, I have come to have a conversation with Yurushia.”
“With me…?”
“Yes. You’re a very interesting thing to me. With all my traveling between worlds, you can’t possibly appreciate the [Luck] you have for me to meet with you.”
“What is this world…?”
“As far as I can tell, this world is, as I said, a dream world made in a single night.”
“Then, is this dream made by me? Or by you?”
“I have no idea. I’ve been traveling for so long I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.”
A long journey, huh. I wonder if he gets lonely during the incredibly long travels.
Finding me by chance, coincidentally speaking with me…
“Yurushia. Your very existence is facinating. To create something like you, a lot of luck and time were necessary.”
“Even if you say that…”
“It’s not your fault. There’s no way this could be anything other than an impressive cheat.”
Mefi said with narrowed eyes as he laughed.
“…Cheat… hey.”
I say without thinking. I guess I’m the product of chance, then.
More and more, his speech made my cat head tired.
“One piece of advice… a word? Make sure not to drown in your power. Don’t get overconfident…”
Why is he saying such a scary thing? I haven’t beaten nearly enough demons that I’d overestimate myself.
“I hope that when I see you again, you’re still [You].”
“…Y, yup”
I didn’t understand why he said that, but nodded my head anyways. Staying me was my intention from the start.
He stood up from the table, and, approaching slowly, he rested his hand on my forehead.
“Soon, it will be time to say farewell. Thank you for your company, Yurushia.”
He said…
“…!?”
Mefi gently kissed my forehead, and slowly moved back.
Wh, What was that so suddenly…
“I do not know when we will meet again… Yurushia.”
As Mefi slowly takes a graceful, noble-like bow, on his back, three pairs of bat-like wings, the same pale indigo color as his hair, spread out, dancing before the moon of the night sky.
“… In my thousands of years, I’ve never come upon a girl of the same [Species] as me…”
＊
“… What was that?”
As I wake up in the soft morning sun, those words spilled out of my mouth
I’m in my new, unfamiliar room; I’m still not accustomed to such a large bed.
After I check that my appearance is still the same, I give out a breath of relief.
For some reason, that dream felt important.
I remember a little, but the [Shocking] part almost were overwrote the important parts in my head.
I can still [Feel] his remains when I touch that spot. I murmured.
“Pedophile.”
As usual, a peaceful day begins for this demon.