Chapter 40

### Chapter 40: The Price of Loss (1)

* * *

#1

"…Strange."

In the topmost floor of the Lunatic Hall in Frontier Academy's Fourth District, Eligos, who had been sitting on the sofa in the pitch-black laboratory with his legs crossed, suddenly opened his eyes and muttered to himself. His tone was half intrigued and half puzzled, as if he had observed something unexpected.

"…Why can't I see it? What did I miss?"

He tapped the tips of the horns on his head with his fingers, and Eligos, who had been insisting on using the respectful and gentle tone of Nadie Halenia, tilted his head back. He must have been too engrossed. The room was pitch black, but outside, it was the deep night when the world was asleep.

From the early hours of the morning until now, he had been continuously watching Elio's memories. A few times, he couldn't help but interfere a little, but after tasting that excellent flavor, he couldn't bear to stop. He restrained himself as much as possible and watched quietly.

"Hmm…"

What Eligos could see in Elio's mind was only Elio's memories. Although he couldn't see from multiple perspectives, he thought he could roughly understand how things had unfolded.

Humans are so fragile that they can collapse with just a little bit of heartache, yet at the same time, they are incredibly lovable.

He wanted to gently bite and slowly devour Elio, who was hanging in the air, bound by black chains, from head to toe.

He would save that pleasure for later.

Eligos, who had been watching Elio's mind for a long time, suddenly emerged from it, and there was a specific reason for his confusion.

"What is he hiding…"

When Elio faced the three demons, including the unpleasant Chimaris, and when he died once and was revived by Chimaris.

Even from a distance, the goosebumps that rose on his skin and the intense light that seemed to threaten to vanish if approached, though it was just an illusion, were palpable.

Eligos had a vague understanding of the nature of that light, but it was within the realm of his expectations.

What he was truly curious about was what happened next.

Elio had died twice.

Once in the forest barrier by Chimaris, and again inside the temple, where he barely managed to hold on for a short while before finally passing away.

Yes, Elio was supposed to die once, as Eligos saw it.

However, dying twice was unexpected, and that's where the question arose.

After his breath stopped, Elio's memories also ceased.

When he opened his eyes again, everything had changed.

What happened in between.

The entire process of Elio's dramatic transformation… it was as if someone had deliberately cut it out, leaving an unnatural gap.

Although the space where it should have existed was completely erased, a slight gap remained, and Elio, who had been resurrected, had to start a long journey. That was all Eligos could observe.

"Is it over just by waking up? Really."

It couldn't be that simple.

There must be something more. Eligos' insatiable curiosity was once again activated. He thought it was strange that it was blocked, but yes, if things went too smoothly, it wouldn't be interesting…

Swoosh.

Eligos looked up at Elio, whose arms and legs were bound by black chains and whose head was hanging down, with a loving gaze.

"I really want you."

Honestly, it was a pity to just kill such a body. Though not fully mature, it was a human who would be even more interesting when grown.

When he wakes up again, he will still be hostile. His face, body, and personality all closely matched Eligos' preferences, so why not leave him alive and make him a slave?

No, Elio could be a good assistant. Still, to be safe, he should be shackled.

Since there are still many issues to resolve before attempting demonization, it might be better to make him a subordinate of that insolent vampire woman for now.

Eligos swayed his tail and stood up from the sofa. Since he had descended into Nadie's body, his physical structure hadn't changed much. In other words, his explosive chest was still there.

He slowly approached Elio, who was hanging in the air, and wrapped his legs with both arms, smiling.

"You are my treasure, Elio."

The more he delved into Elio, the more interesting secrets he found. He wanted to know more. He wanted to explore everything greedily…

So, you must not hide anything from me. Show me everything without reservation, and when it's over, obey me and live out the rest of your life.

—Squish.

A sinister aura began to flow along the outline of Eligos' body, preparing to re-enter Elio's mind, which had been temporarily disconnected.

It would be a shame to back off now. It's enjoyable to savor secrets for a long time, but when you're this curious, you can't help but force it open.

Was it Elio's own subconscious that buried the memory, or did someone else delete or seal it away out of concern for something unknown…

He would find out from now on.

In an instant.

Eligos' consciousness vanished.

He soon emerged in a new place, not in the real world.

"You're sleeping well, our Elio."

In an infinitely deep and dark space, Elio lay at the bottom, unable to even open his eyes.

Eligos chuckled for a moment and then drifted away.

"Where could it be…?"

In the vast, infinite space, where more than half had collapsed and was now easier to approach, Eligos began to slowly explore the parts he had missed.

The many paths Elio Craniel had taken. The unfortunate emotions. He walked through the space, which seemed to endlessly moan and whisper like the hell of spirits, as if it were nothing. He had seen many human minds more complex than this.

So, he continued to delve deeper and deeper.

"…Ah."

Not long after.

"—I found it."

He discovered a point of light in a corner.

At the same time, he realized.

…Ah, that's it.

The memory wasn't erased.

It was compressed to the limit.

Hidden so deep and dark that no one, including himself, could touch it, and compressed so tightly that it would burst if touched.

This was what Eligos had been looking for.

What could be so significant that it was hidden so deeply? Even if it burst, the one who would suffer would be Elio, not himself. If it became dangerous, he could just escape.

Even so, he didn't plan to fully release it from the beginning. He only intended to poke a small hole. That would be enough.

Eligos approached the point, which looked like a small bead. It seemed to emit a faint light, and it was beautiful.

Eligos felt an uncontrollable excitement every time he faced such auras.

It was a tingling pleasure, as if his entire body was electrified, and his soul turned white.

A certain vampire, a friend of his, occasionally mocked him for enjoying being dominated, but Eligos didn't think of himself that way. If he enjoyed causing pain, that would be different.

—Tap.

Eligos carefully extended his finger and gently poked the surface of the sphere.

The intense tremor remained unchanged.

"…Huh, this… this…"

Instead, he received a pleasurable sensation through the direct mental connection, and with a blissful look, he extended his hand again.

"Ah, I can't hold it anymore."

This time, he pushed harder.

Eligos, filled with excitement, spread his hand.

And, he gripped the sphere tightly.

—Immediately.

Light burst forth.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii