Chapter 63

"You're the type who attracts trouble, or rather, you seem to draw in troublesome situations on your own."

"I always get dragged into various things. I’m troubled by it too."

"I think the cause is mostly you, big sister."

This dream again. The boy standing in the pitch-black space claimed to be the god of darkness, Remun. His all-black attire, from head to toe, was clearly of high quality, giving off an air of a well-bred young master.

Why did I forget about this during the day?

The black-haired boy, who called himself a god, smiled, showing his white teeth.

"Did you remember yesterday's dream?"

"It was about whether I am sacred or not."

"…Well, if you remember, that’s fine."

He tilted his head and smiled, looking adorable, not at all like a god. I wished I had a brother like him. God, please give me a brother.

"Why don't you ask your parents for a brother?"

"I don't want a brother after all."

It would be incredibly awkward to have a brother at this stage. I should accept my situation and enjoy my life as an only child.

…Wait? Did I say anything about a brother out loud?

"I can understand even if you don't say it out loud. After all, this is a dream. In dreams, there's no distinction between what you really think and what you pretend to think, right?"

"Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing."

Think of nothing. Don’t even think about thinking of nothing. Try to empty your mind. Even if you try to empty your mind, it’s not good. If you reach the state of enlightenment, even a mind-reading demon won't be a threat.

Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing.

"It wouldn't be so hard if you could empty your mind. …Patrick."

Nothing, nothing, Patrick, like, really like, super like, Patrick… No good, Patrick is interfering with my enlightenment.

No matter how much Patrick is, if he stands in my way, I’ll… hate him… No way, I love him. Love, love cannon, four bases, sixteen gates, all fire!

"…What’s a love, love cannon?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Receiving a reasonable comment from Remun, I collapsed to my knees. I repeatedly hit my head against the black floor of unknown material while letting out a roar.

I want to wake up, I want to wake up. I want to escape this public execution space as soon as possible.

◆ ◆ ◆

I sat up with a groan. This is my room.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead and checking the window, I saw gentle light filtering through the gaps in the curtains.

It was early morning, and it seemed I had woken up early again.

I got out of bed and slowly walked towards the direction of the sunrise.

I opened the window wide and squinted at the light. The cold, refreshing air felt good.

The worst morning wake-up was at least balanced out by this sunrise. Still, a god appeared in my dream. Is there a death flag on me?

"…That was a strange dream."

"It’s not a dream."

"Wha—!"

A voice definitely came from behind, and very close. It was the voice of a boy who hadn’t yet gone through puberty.

I immediately turned around and looked around the room, but I couldn’t find the source of the voice.

Am I still in the dream world? While remaining on guard, I pinched my own cheek.

"…Doesn’t it hurt?"

"No, maybe your pain receptors are just dead. I’m here."

The voice came again. From my feet… no, from the shadow cast by the sunlight behind me.

Staring at my shadow, the human-shaped darkness swayed. Ripples spread like on the surface of water, and a black-haired boy emerged from the shadow.

"Nice to meet you in reality, my priestess. I am—"

I’m used to something coming out of my shadow.

In the dungeon I used to frequent, there was a monster called a Shadow Assassin that would emerge from shadows and launch surprise attacks. It was troublesome at first, but I can now react instinctively.

The moment something emerged from the shadow, I automatically attacked. I’m conditioned to do so.

Naturally, even if what emerged from the shadow looked like a human, I kicked the boy’s jaw without thinking.

"I am the god of darkness… Whoa!?"

"Ah, I’m sorry."

I managed to weaken my strength at the last moment.

He bounced off the ceiling and landed on the bed. His well-defined face didn’t get messed up. Safe… I think?

Holding his jaw with both hands, he got up and said,

"It hurts… I knew you were a bit rough, but still, big sister?"

"I’m sorry, it’s just a reflex. So… who are you?"

"As I introduced myself in the dream, I am Remun, the god of darkness. Call me Remun-kun casually."

The self-proclaimed god Remun-kun, who emerged from the shadow, didn’t seem like an ordinary human. Is he really a god?

What kind of being is a god? Why does he call me a priestess? Can I also enter the shadow? There are too many questions.

The most important one is how to enter the shadow. Compared to that, the others are trivial.

Just as I was about to ask, Patrick’s voice came from outside the room.

"Yumiera, are you awake? What was that sound?"

"Ah, that was… um…"

Patrick must have heard the sound of Remun hitting the ceiling. If I want to hear more from Remun, I should have Patrick join us… Wait a minute?

Early morning, a mysterious handsome boy in bed… I’ll definitely be suspected of infidelity.

Even if Patrick trusts me, I’m prone to being misunderstood. It would be very bad for infidelity to be suspected at this timing, just before the wedding.

Ignoring my frozen state, the door slowly started to move.

"Yumiera? I’m coming in."

"Wait! I’m completely naked right now!"

"What!?"

The door, which was about to open, slammed shut. Good, I’ve bought some time.

The culprit of this crisis, Remun, was sitting on the bed, looking carefree.

"What’s wrong? You’re wearing clothes, right?"

"Quick, hide."

Where should I hide him? The closet? It seems too obvious.

Why did this happen? I can’t believe someone came out of a shadow… Oh, right, the shadow. The boy who came out of the shadow should go back into it. Back to where he belongs.

I dragged Remun off the bed and pushed him against my shadow.

"Come on, go back into the shadow."

"It hurts, it hurts, that won’t work!"

I pushed the boy into the shadow with all my might, but the floor just creaked.

Is it because I don’t have enough momentum? I grabbed him and slammed him onto the floor repeatedly, like making soba noodles. Over and over and over.

"Smack, smack, smack"

"It hurts, no, stop!"

I repeatedly lifted and slammed the black-haired boy. The floor just echoed with thuds.

Is the angle wrong? He came out headfirst, so should he go back headfirst?

I straightened Remun upside down and tried to put him into the shadow headfirst, like a lottery ticket. I moved him up and down repeatedly. Since brute force didn’t work, I had to try more times.

"Go back, go back, please go back, please."

"……"

No good, he won’t go in at all.

The noises from my attempts must have been heard by Patrick on the other side of the door. He finally lost his patience and entered the room.

"What’s that noise!? I’m coming in!"

"Wait, wait."

Patrick, who saw me, froze.

Of course, he did. My fiancé in the bedroom with a mysterious handsome boy. It’s understandable that he would be suspicious.

But it’s okay, I have nothing to hide. If I explain sincerely, he’ll understand.

"It’s not what you think! Remun-kun, explain too."

Huh? God, say something. The boy I’m holding upside down has his eyes closed and is silent. He seems a bit limp?

The frozen Patrick finally spoke.

"Finally, you did it…"

It’s understandable that he would suspect infidelity given the situation.

But he said “finally.” He thought I would do it eventually. Did I have so little trust? The realization weighed heavily on my heart. It was unbearably painful and sad.

It’s not true. It’s just a misunderstanding…

"Finally… did you kill someone?"

"Wait, it’s really not that."

No matter what anyone says, Remun-kun is a mischievous handsome boy character.