Chapter 527 – The Dream Stealer

– Within Xuan Kai’s Dreams… –

Right after I drifted off to sleep with the girls in my arms, I woke up again.

Not in the 5-star inn’s bedroom I was accustomed to, however. No… this place wasn’t in the real world at all.

All around me, white fog shrouded my vision, and beyond it, faint traces of a pink background could be seen. The combination of colors was quite calming and relaxing, but I knew there was more to this than just a pleasant white fog in this dreamspace.

‘This definitely isn’t right,’ I thought in my head, glancing around warily. ‘This is no normal dream… someone pulled me in here.’*

I haven’t had a dream in years now, not counting the Infinite Realm’s various meetings with Sylvie. It made no sense for me to randomly have one now. So… who was it?

“Who’s there?” I asked cautiously. “I know this isn’t some normal dream. Just come out already.”

“Fufufu…” A gentle yet seductive string of laughter came from all around me, and I narrowed my eyes. “… You are quite sharp, my little guinea pig.”

At this, I arched an eyebrow.

“Guinea pig? Who are you?”

“All will be revealed soon… you have already fallen into my trap. Heed my words closely, my cute guinea pig,” the voice said, and instantly, I felt my body freeze, utterly entranced by her words. In this virtual dreamspace, my Chaos powers and resistance did not work. I was completely vulnerable to her words, and I found myself unable to do anything but obey.

“Tomorrow is the day when you will leave your friends, your family, and come to me. Tomorrow is the day… when you will become mine. Travel over seas, soar over mountains, and come to me…”

As her alluring whispers faded away, I found myself completely trapped. Even as the dream broke apart and I was sent back to my fleeting moments of rest, I could not escape…

*****

– Next Morning, 4 AM –

Before anyone else woke up, my body did first. In a hazy state of mind, still under the effects of the dream, I stumbled my way out of the inn room, outside onto the beach, and without even putting on my proper clothes, soared into the air with Flight Magic.

Past clouds, above mountains, over the sea, I flew and flew, not turning back nor even thinking in my head. The only thing I had in my mind was that woman’s voice, charming and captivating beyond belief. Even though this was real life now and my Chaos resistances were up and running, the root was already planted in my head within that dream.

There was no escape now.

Several hours later, I was still flying. The girls must be up by now and wondering where I am, but that didn’t matter. I only had one goal in sight, and it was nearing.

I was completely alone—the Four Empyreans were staying up at the mountain surrounded by nature, and Lorelei was in her physical form. Yami similarly chose to stay up on the mountains, since Ignis offered to teach him to hunt—something he was eager to try.

My destination was nearing—the purple land below marked Demon Territory. But this was not my stop—it was a little further, down south, where France was. The slowly changed color, from purple to pink. And thus I knew—I was at my destination.

Heading for the tallest tower in the enormous castle that stood above everything else, I continued flying. There, the windows were open, as if inviting me in, and I complied without any resistance.

As soon as I entered, the windows shut once more through telekinesis, and I found myself at the feet of a woman.

She was beautiful.

I didn’t mean normal-level beauty. I meant divine perfection, like her very existence depended on her looks. Her figure was the most alluring I’ve seen yet, slim yet bold at the right places. From her back, two dark purple wings coiled around her body, and a black tail that ended in the shape of a heart shook side to side behind her, as if tempting me to go closer.

But I knew better.

The moment I entered this place, the seal was broken on me. I had followed the order to the end, and came to her. Immediately, my head cleared, and I realized what happened.

“Tch… damn yo-“

I began, about to lunge at her with my summoned Chaos katanas, but suddenly, I was pulled back by an invisible force on my legs.

“Wha-?!”

I glanced down to see what it was, only to see a searing pink chain anklet around each of my ankles, but it was too late. I collapsed onto the ground, and the woman did not hold back as immediately after my hands hit the floor, two more anklets rose, chaining down my wrists as well.

She had predicted this to happen from the very beginning.

“Fufufu… at last, we meet, my sweet guinea pig,” the woman said, smiling alluringly and rising from her throne before walking closer to me, bending down in front of my face.

“Mm… that expression… how cute.”

I wanted to spit at her wickedly beautiful face, but decided that probably wasn’t a good idea, seeing as how I was completely under her control right now. Even my Chaos powers, which should theoretically counter all forms of magic, failed to break free from these chains. As such, I decided to start off with a simple but useful question.

“… Who are you?”

“Me?” The woman laughed maturely. “You have met me once before though, have you not?”

… She was right. I had. During the invasion on Fragment, I had seen her—briefly, but even so, her appearance and body wasn’t exactly an easy one to forget.

“… I’m not talking about that identity,” I replied, clenching my fists. “I’m asking you who exactly you are, apart from one of the Four Cardinals.”

“My, my… so, you are interested in me?” The woman giggled. “Very well. Only for you, though, my little guinea pig~”

Rising to her feet once more, she spread her arms and wings along with it, showcasing the purple horns on her head and smiling seductively.

“My name is Eve—the Queen of the Succubi race.”

*… Well, I kind of figured she was a succubus, but to think she’s the queen of them all…

“… And? What do you want from me?”

“Please, there’s no need to be so wary,” she said, cupping my chin in her hand and staring into my eyes lovingly. “I have no intention of hurting you. You are my precious lab rat, after all. I just have a few questions I want to ask you. Depending on the truthfulness of your answers, I may even consider simply letting you go, no strings attached.”

“… Doesn’t your master want you to kill me, though?” I chuckled darkly. “You’re really going to disobey him?”

“Fufufu, if you think I would ever succumb to someone, you are wrong. I make men succumb to me… not the other way around,” she said, smiling. “Unlike the other three, X and I share a cooperative relationship, rather than one of master and subordinate. He cannot order me to do anything, and I am under no obligation to help him. We are simply working together because I was bored, and I found his goal interesting. But now… I’ve discovered something a whole lot more curious. Namely… you.”

Because I knew this woman was capable of Psychic Magic thanks to the display of telekineses earlier, I didn’t think about anything unnecessary—or, at least, I tried to.

“So, you’re betraying him?” I asked, stalling for as long as I could. Eventually, Mei Gui would be able to track me dow- shit, I can’t think about that…

Eve seemed to notice, but she didn’t care at all, and instead merely gave a short giggle.

“Perhaps. I am a very selfish person, you know,” she said, fake-pouting a bit to act cute and biting her own fist and pretending to be on the verge of tears. “I can’t do something fun for myself for once? How cruel…”

I ignored her little act and narrowed my eyes further in suspicion. “You say you won’t hurt me, but these chains aren’t exactly convincing. Tell you what—free me, and I’ll answer your questions, peacefully. We can be civil about this, no?”

“Fufu, as much as I’d like to, no can do,” she replied with a wry smile. “I have been observing you for a while, and have done a little research. You excel at trickery and combat—if we were to fight head-on, I would undoubtedly lose. Besides… you have a special power in you, one that I have yet to understand. It is too dangerous to let that roam free, so understand, these chains are in place for precautionary reasons. As much as I am a succubus, a being who deceives men for a living, I am also a queen. I honor my words, my sweet guinea pig. As long as you cooperate, I will not hurt you.”

Realizing I had no other options, I gave a sigh.

“… Fine. Ask away.”

At this, Eve smiled happily, and for a second, I was nearly charmed again, this time by her sweet innocent look. Too dangerous.

“That’s the spirit~!”